This is a fascinating insight into a period of post-colonial musical history and the experiences of trailblazing young Congolese artists in Belgium. The compilation Les Belgicains – Na Tango Ya Covadia 1964-1970 tells the stories of the first Congolese student orchestras – referred to during that time as ‘Les Belgicains’ – and has been supervised by editor and producer Nikiforos Cavvadias (Ngoma label).

Nikiforos arrived in Belgium with his wife and two children around the same time as the Congolese musicians, due to the political instability in Congo, having worked there for the Ngoma label based in Léopoldville. Niki brought artists like Léon Bukasa and Wendo Kolosoy to global attention, as well as the student orchestras, like Los Nickelos and Yéyé National, on his new label Covadia in the 1960s.

Congo – the largest country in Africa – gained independence in 1960. During the subsequent period, Belgium invited many Congolese students to take classes at its universities, who were destined to become the middle class of the new republic. The students set up music groups – enhancing the music on 45rpm records that they had brought with them from home. Live music events followed for the Congolese diaspora and their own compositions fused traditional Congolese elements with new influences from their life in Belgium.

The collection of music on the compilation was recorded with renowned sound engineer Roger Verbestel, between 1964 and 1968, in the legendary Studio Madeleine in Brussels. The release is available in a deluxe vinyl edition with gatefold sleeve or a CD with a 24-page booklet. Both editions contain unique photos of the original orchestras and has been remastered from the original master tapes, except for Suena Suena.