[7][8][9]: 249 In 1978 Mbenza moved to, in the words of Congolese-music historian Gary Stewart, "what looked — from downtrodden Kinshasa at least — like the more prosperous climate of West Africa," initially Lomé, Togo.

[9]: 249  There he joined the African All Stars of his cousin Sam Mangwana, with other Congolese musicians including guitarist Bopol Mansiamina, who would become a lifelong collaborator, and drummer Ringo Moya.

[5] In about 1981 Mbenza moved to Paris, where he has been based since, while frequently touring worldwide with other African musicians, including in Europe,[14] North America,[15] and East Africa.

[5][18][19] Mbenza released several more solo albums: Ilanga on Eddy'Son, Elisa Dangwa on Africamania, Sisika on Syllart, and Symbiose.

In 1982, initially for Outtara's label,[9]: 270  Mbenza and Bopol joined well-known Congolese singers Nyboma (Nyboma Mwan’dido) and Wuta Mayi to found the popular and influential soukous group Les Quatre Etoiles (the Four Stars), which released seven studio albums and three live albums (though two of those may be the same) through the mid-1990s, and played live shows as recently as 2010.

First, in 2000, with other veteran African musicians he formed Kékélé, a band that played slow-tempo Congolese rumba in a revival style harkening back to the 1950s, '60s, and '70s, using acoustic guitars.

"[3] He said that producer François Bréant "had the idea of asking me to form a band that would make records in the style [of vintage Congolese rumba] so that this great music should not die.

[1] The band's consistent core members were Mbenza on guitar and vocalists Nyboma, Wuta Mayi, Bumba Massa, and Loko ‘Djeskain’ Massengo.

Other members of the band's cast at different times included guitarists Papa Noël Nedule, Yves Ndjock, and Rigo Star Bamundélé, saxophonist Manu Dibango, and singers Jean-Papy Ramazani, Mbilia Bel, and Madilu System.

Its personnel included vocalists Wuta Mayi, Elba Kuluma, Ballou Canta, and Ketsia, guitarist Bopol, bassist Flavien Makabi, and saxophonist Jimmy Mvondo.

[4] It received positive notices from the Evening Standard (London) and Songlines magazine (UK),[24] the Australian Broadcasting Company,[25] RootsWorld (concluding, "Mbenza and his associates here salute the man in fabulous fashion"),[26] and Concertzender radio (Netherlands).

His work is recognizable, with solos featuring fast runs of sparkling high notes that circle around a short theme, restating and amending it.