[13][14][15][16] Kanza's second album, Wapi Yo (1995), yielded his highest commercial success, with the lead single "Shadow Dancer" charting in several European countries.

He enrolled in the CIM, Paris prominent operational base for Jazz and contemporary music, and fostered synergies with stars from the West Indies like Jean-Michel Cabrimol and his band the Mafia, as well as Francky Vincent.

Before its official release, he delivered two successful acoustic concerts at the Auditorium des Halles in Paris, alongside his brother, percussionist Didi Ekukuan, and Julia Sarr.

Kanza emerged as a musical star, celebrated for his mellifluous voice, guitar playing, and lyrical compositions, similar to Ismaël Lô.

[16][14] In May 1994, he opened for Manu Dibango at the Casino de Paris, and in November, French singer Jean-Louis Aubert invited him to perform as a warm-up act for large crowds.

[16][14] Following an extensive tour from November 1993 to May 1994 and the album's release in various countries, he reunited with Youssou in June for a concert at the Manhattan Center in New York City.

[14][16] During the summer, he collaborated on Papa Wemba's Emotion album, contributing to arrangements and production at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in England.

"[46] In October 1995, Kanza performed at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris for a sold-out week, becoming the first Congolese solo artist to do so since Papa Wemba in February 1990.

[15] While working on Lokua Kanza 3, he contributed substantially to Natalie Merchant's second studio album, Ophelia, as an acoustic guitarist by the summer's end.

[55] He also appeared on Portuguese singer Sara Tavares' second studio album Mi Ma Bô on tracks such as "I've Got a Song in My Heart" and "Tu És O Sol".

[55] In September 2001, Kanza signed a record deal with Universal Music to produce his impending fourth studio album, Toyebi Té, scheduled for an early 2002 release.

label in Paris, Le Monde praised the album as a "perfect dream of freshness, lightness and sweetness, with its silky voices and fluid guitars....".

[64][66] On 27 May, he performed at the Café de la Danse in Paris,[39] and received a nomination for Best African Artist at Black Music Awards in Cotonou.

[68][69] In May 2006, Kanza contributed as a guest artist to the No Child Soldiers project—an album dedicated to combating the use of child soldiers in Africa, alongside Alpha Blondy, Angélique Kidjo, Salif Keita, Ben Okafor, Tété, Corneille Nyungura, Aïcha Koné, Rokia Traoré, Youssou N'Dour, Madéka, Bibie, Mama Keïta, Extra Bokaya, and Geoffrey Oryema.

[26] The album reflects Kanza's connection to his mother tongue, Lingala, and spirituality, accentuated by sober and delicate notes: chiseled guitars, thumb piano, Martenot waves, and Cristal Baschet.

[73] The negro-spiritual inspired "Mapendo" advocates for peace, urging people to cease violence, while "Famille", a collaboration with Fally and a choir of fifty children from Kinshasa, emphasizes the necessity of manifesting love.

[73] The breakout single, "Nakozonga", tells the story of emigrants longing to return home and features bassist Pathy Molesso, percussionists Alex Tran and Komba Mafwala, and vocalist Fally.

[78] On 31 May and 1 June 2014, Kanza celebrated his 20-year solo career by giving two concerts: one at the Théâtre de la Verdure and the other on the stage of the eighth edition of the International Jazz Festival also in Kinshasa.

[79][80][81] He was accompanied on stage by Richard Bona, Jean Goubald Kalala, Sara Tavares, Fally, Olivier Tshimanga, and Malaika Lokua.

[82] In October 2016, Kanza became a member of the coaching panel for The Voice Afrique Francophone, alongside A'Salfo from Magic System, Charlotte Dipanda, and Singuila.

Reviewing for Le Monde, Patrick Labesse described the album as a "perfect dream of freshness, lightness and softness, with its silken voices and its fluid guitars, without anything of that order being planned".

It includes guest appearances by Manu Dibango, Richard Bona, Wasis Diop, Paco Séry, Sidiki Diabaté, Charlotte Dipanda, Pamela Baketana, Grady Malonda, among others.

[87][88][89] On 17 March 2022, Kanza appeared on the song "Leopards Fimbu International" in support of Les Léopards during the 2022 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers' playoff round.

[90][91] Other artists involved in "Leopards Fimbu International" included Félix Wazekwa, Flaety W. Manuke, Kadiyoyo, JB Mpiana, Barbara Kanam, Koffi Olomide, Cindy Le Cœur, Héritier Watanabe, Laetitia Lokua, Adolphe Dominguez, Werrason, Lemiran LEM, Kristy Diamond, Ferré Gola, and Innoss'B.

[93][84] In August 2024, Kanza guest-performed on Hervé Muthe's gospel single "Ekosimba Na Yesu", where the two vocalize trusting God through difficult times.