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Two dates figure crucially in Bahati Sapiens Moïse Dhekanaâs artistic career. In 2002, in his hometown of Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congoâa city of 900,000, located near Lake Albertâhe formed his first band. Rapping over Congolese soukous, he earned his nickname, Rey Sapienz, el Rey Magoâthe wise king. He was 12 years old. Ten years later, he traveled to Kampala, Uganda, to collaborate with artists in the cityâs burgeoning electronic scene. But when civil war broke out in the DRC, just the latest conflagration in a long-running conflict that between 1996 and 2013 killed an estimated 3.5 million to 5.4 million people, Sapienz chose to remain in Kampala. He already had years of experience leading songwriting workshops in Buniaâs youth centers; in Kampala, he taught himself music production and co-founded Hakuna Kulala, the club-centric sub-label of Nyege Nyege Tapes, a hub for experimental electronic music from across East Afri
Nyege Nyege Tapes announce new album from Rey Sapienz & The Congo Techno Ensemble Na Zala Zala is a statement that speaks to the past, present and future of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Nyege Nyege Tapes announce new album from Rey Sapienz & The Congo Techno Ensemble Na Zala Zala is a statement that speaks to the past, present and future of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Kampala imprint Nyege Nyege Tapes have announced the debut album from Rey Sapienz & The Congo Techno Ensemble, a collective formed of traditional percussionist, vocalist and dancer Papalas Palata and rapper Fresh Dougis.
Since eight years old Sapienz has seen much loss and upheaval in his home of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Having lived through the Second Congo War, a conflict that lasted over five years and created mass displacement and loss of life, he went on to become a rapper in his early teens, before heading to Kampala to collaborate with local producers. But a civil war began b