Twice a year, Kinarmonik organizes a unique event: the “Coup de Spotlight”. The goal? To highlight an artist who has made his mark on the history of Congolese music and introduce his world to the younger generation. This event aims to promote Congolese musical heritage while opening a window onto the future of music in Africa. The last “Spotlight” was dedicated to a musical giant: Mr. Ray Lema. The Ray Lema Prize: A competition for emerging talents The Ray Lema Spotlight began with a competition rewarded by the Ray Lema Prize. This competition encouraged musicians to revisit the maestro's works by performing his iconic songs. It was an opportunity for young talents to measure themselves against Ray Lema's rich and eclectic universe, while showcasing their own musical sensibilities. The winner, Zil Lokua, is a promising musician who distinguished himself with his performance. As a reward, he had the opportunity to record one of his pieces at the Kinarmonik studio and to perform on stage at the Aw'Art Center (Kinshasa), during the concert dedicated to the work of Ray Lema. Zil Lokua gagnant du Prix Ray Lema A Tribute Concert to Ray Lema: An Unforgettable Evening The highlight of this Spotlight was undoubtedly the Ray Lema tribute concert, where several artists honored the maestro's musical legacy. For a week, many of them were at the center to rehearse the pieces they had chosen for this concert! It was in a serious, yet relaxed atmosphere that all the artists, under the direction of Eric Malu Malu, were able to discover the richness and depth of the maestro's music. On D-Day, on stage, we could hear the exceptional performances of artists such as Éric Malu Malu, Yotsi, the emerging group that is much talked about, the talented David Mayo, renowned pianist in Kinshasa, but also Harmonieuse, the singer of the group Elongo, as well as the percussionist Jerry Iba who knew how to capture the essence of the maestro's music. This concert was a moment of intense emotion, sharing and a living tribute to the art and musical passion that has spanned several generations. Consolation Mupepe, percussionniste lors du concert hommage à Ray Lema Testimonies: A link between generations Throughout November, Kinarmonik enhanced this tribute with a series of concert videos and testimonials. Among the speakers were prominent figures in the maestro's musical world, such as Cathy, his manager, who shared her experience and perspective on the artist's influence. Other testimonials enriched the tribute, including that of Cathy Renoir, one of his backing singers, as well as Niwel Tsumbu, the great Congolese guitarist. The icing on the cake ! : Ray Lema on video with the Young Musicians Perhaps the highlight of this Spotlight was the live presentation by Ray Lema himself. From Paris, the maestro took the time to engage with the young musicians at the Kinarmonik center, offering valuable advice and answering their questions with unparalleled generosity. This exchange allowed the young talents to connect with their mentor, strengthening the bond between generations and inspiring a promising musical future. Closing words: Ray Lema, a living legacy Eric Malu Malu et Ray Lema dans son studio à Paris The Ray Lema Spotlight was much more than a simple celebration of an artist. It was an invitation to rediscover the magnitude of his impact on Congolese music and to pass this legacy on to new generations. Through the Ray Lema Award, the tribute concert, testimonials, and live discussions, the event showcased the full richness of Ray Lema's music while opening horizons to new talents. It was a wonderful way to pay tribute to one of the greatest names in Congolese music, while affirming the vitality of this music scene, ready to renew itself and flourish in the future.

If Kinarmonik was a seed planted to nurture Congolese musical talent, then YOTSI is one of its finest fruits. This group, made up of Linda, Leah, Jephte and Tychick, perfectly embodies Kinarmonik's mission: to professionalize the music sector in the DRC, and to train, support and reveal the artists of tomorrow. Their story is one of encounter, alchemy and ascension, proving that Congolese music still has so much to offer the world. Kinarmonik, one center, four destinies that intersect ... In 2019, Linda, Leah, Jephte and Tychick, each at their own pace, enter the doors of the Kinarmonik Musical Center. They don't know each other yet, but they share a thirst for learning and creating. It was while jamming together that they discovered how complementary they were, and decided to form YOTSI, a free group with no musical borders, rooted in traditional Congolese rhythms - such as Mutuashi from Kasai - yet open to sounds from elsewhere. Their motto: No borders! They don't want to "confine" themselves to a single style or language, and want to collaborate with artists from all over the world! Right from the start, Eric Malu Malu, guitarist with Jupiter & Okwess and founder of Kinarmonik, spotted their potential. After training them, he accompanied them in composition and writing, encouraging them to refine their musical identity. Jephte, who arrived at the center at the age of 14, was a spirited young musician, but eager to progress. Leah, on the other hand, quickly became a key figure, taking on the role of cultural manager. Tychick, discreet at first, gradually asserted his rock'n'roll attitude. And finally, Linda, the last to join the adventure, naturally imposes her voice and becomes the group's lead singer. For weeks, Yotsi, Eric Malu Malu and guest musicians will be recording their first Maisha album at studio kinarmonik. The Maisha Album: From Kinshasa to Los Angeles Buoyed by this momentum, YOTSI set to work. The songs were fine-tuned, the lyrics deepened, and the Kinarmonik studio became their second home. A team formed around them to accompany them on this new adventure! Lou, co-founder of Kinarmonik, becomes their manager, Eric their artistic director and producer. The project gained momentum when Eric activated his network: renowned professionals soon took an interest in their music. Yarol Poupaud, Kinarmonik's godfather, and Toni Kitanovski, lend their expertise to mixing the album. The renowned Mario Caldato, known for his work with the Beastie Boys and Seu Jorge, handles mastering at his MCJ studio in Los Angeles. Maisha features no fewer than 11 guest artists, including Ray Lema, Tyson Meya and Delphine Ciampi! First photo shoot ! The result is Maisha (which means Life in Swahili), a vibrant album that blends traditional Congolese rhythms with contemporary influences, as on the first single Tuimbe, where Kasai Mutuashi flirts with Afrobeat brought to life by saxophonist Christine Roch! The themes addressed are deep and committed: the precarious condition of the DRC, hope, resilience, and the Eastern Congo... Maisha is a condensation of Congolese emotions and realities, sung in Lingala, Swahili, Kimongo or Tshiluba, Yotsi is addressed to all the Congolese people. Released on December 8, 2023, the album marks a milestone for YOTSI... and for Kinarmonik, who created the Kinarmonik Production label for them. For more than just a project, it is concrete proof that our mission is working: to support young talent through to true professionalism. Écouter MAISHA Une Esthétique Signée Primo Mauridi Primo Mauridi, Eric and les Yotsi at Kinarmonik center To give their project a strong visual identity, YOTSI called on Primo Mauridi, a talented director and photographer from Goma. His unique vision, a blend of documentary and raw aesthetics, fits perfectly with the world of the Maisha album. He designed the album cover, as well as the music videos for Tuimbe and Maisha, powerfully capturing the band's energy and the vibrant reality of the Congo. Primo Mauridi is recognized far beyond his country's borders, and was recently selected for the Biennale de la Photo in Bamako and Dakar, confirming his status as a key artist on the African visual scene. An obvious collaboration for YOTSI, who shares his desire to tell the Congo's story differently, with sincerity and power. "It was important for us to have an artist from Eastern Congo on our album, because we're very concerned about the situation in Kivu! Choosing Primo for our video clips and album cover was an obvious choice, a duty! "Linda Tombo CLIP MAISHA CLIP TUIMBE From Kinshasa to Paris : The Maisha's TOUR YOTSI and Eric Malu MALU in Paris: a dream come true! No sooner had the album been released than YOTSI hit the road for their first tour of Kinshasa, playing at the capital's must-see venues and all of Kinshasa's biggest festivals. In September 2024, they set down their instruments in Paris, with a first concert at Le Hangar on September 28, where they shared the stage with prestigious guests such as saxophonist Christine Roch, Montana Kinunu and Delphine Ciampi from the group Marie Maïko. During their Paris tour, they met maestro Ray Lema, who honored them with a contribution to their album, on the track "Byose", and they also worked with artist Lomani Mondonga on his next show. YOTSI: A New Era For Congolese Music Beyond their talent, YOTSI's strength also lies in their very composition: two women, two men, a parity still rare on the Congolese music scene. Their existence is already a revolution in itself, embodying the renewal of Kinshasa's free, daring and forward-looking youth. YOTSI is the story of a dream come true. A meeting at the Kinarmonik Centre, hard work, opportunities... and today, music that crosses borders. And this is just the beginning. Yotsi on stage at Le Hangar, conquering Parisian audiences! Follow YOTSI et Kinarmonik to make sure you don't miss any of their musical adventures. !!

Toni Kitanovski surrounded by participants in the Formation Composition Musiques Actuelles . On the morning of December 3, the doors of the Kinarmonik center open to a new adventure. In the main room, 25 Congolese musicians take their places, the excitement is palpable. They are there for a unique training course: "Composition Musiques Actuelles" . For six days, they will explore the facets of musical creation, guided by a renowned mentor: Toni Kitanovski . It is not just a technical training that begins, but a dive into the rich and complex universe of composition, an opportunity to grow and dream bigger. A friendship, a project and a shared vision... If Toni Kitanovski, musician, composer and professor at the Goce Delchev University in Northern Macedonia, is in Kinshasa, it's above all thanks to his friendship with Éric Malu Malu, director of the Kinarmonik music center and guitarist with the famous group Jupiter & Okwess. The two musicians met during an international tour, and an artistic complicity was immediately forged. Since then, they have collaborated on a variety of projects. Toni took part in Yotsi's first album, Maisha, produced by the Kinarmonik Production label. He brought his touch as Featuring on the tire “Upendo” and also mixed several tracks, revealing the potential of the emerging band from Kinshasa. With this new line-up, their collaboration takes on a new dimension: passing on their knowledge to the younger generation of Congolese musicians. A crescendo of progression! The first day of training begins slowly, but with ambition. Toni invites participants to explore the different musical forms , structures that underlie the various genres. Whether it is jazz, classical music, contemporary music or traditional Congolese sounds, each form tells a story and invites you to think about how to structure your ideas. The next day, it's time for counterpoint : the art of making several melodic lines interact. Toni insists on the rigor necessary for this exercise and encourages the musicians to listen to their creations through a new prism. The third day is dedicated to harmony , the central pillar that gives depth and emotion to music. Participants discover how to play with chords and their progressions to arouse varied sensations. Then they tackle the arrangement : how to dress a composition, choose the instruments, structure the different parts to give it its full potential. Finally, on the fifth day, Toni introduces the participants to computer-assisted music (CAM) . Some are novices, others have already tried a few experiments. But under Toni's watchful eye, everyone learns to master these modern tools to complete their creative process. Découverte de la MAO Then comes the sixth day , the culmination. All the points discussed during the week are put into practice in a collective case study . This teamwork is a challenge: to imagine, compose, arrange and produce a musical piece in a limited time. But the result is there, and it impresses: a vibrant piece that reflects the talent of each participant and the collective energy of the group. Between rigor and sharing Despite the intensity of the learning, the atmosphere is convivial! Each day ends in style with a jam session, where the musicians, inspired by the day's lessons, express themselves freely. Toni is there, guitar in hand, improvising with them, smiling, encouraging. These moments are magical: you can feel the diversity and richness of the talents present. And then there are the shared meals, those moments when music gives way to conversation and complicity. The participants laugh, talk about their backgrounds, their dreams. You get the feeling that something is being woven here, far beyond the notes: a community. A vision for the future For Toni Kitanovski, this week is just the beginning. Deeply moved by the talent of the young musicians he met, he expressed his wish to continue this collaboration. Eric Malu Malu & Toni Kitanovski He plans to produce video courses to enable Kinarmonik students to continue their learning between training sessions. He also dreams of opening doors to international music schools, so that Congolese musicians can enrich their art abroad and return with the tools to develop the local music scene. For his part, Éric Malu Malu sees this initiative as a decisive step towards the professionalization of music in the DRC. With the projects carried out by the center's 3 poles: Training / Creation / Production through the Kinarmonik Production label, Eric is working to structure the Congolese musical ecosystem so that local talent can not only exist, but also shine on a global scale, as the group Yotsi did with a first album recorded and a tour in Kinshasa and France.. A week that marks... When participants are asked what they remember from this training, the answers are unanimous: "I learned to structure my ideas, to think of my music as a whole." Linda “Toni showed us that with simple tools, you can do extraordinary things.” Leah “This experience gave me confidence in my abilities.” Thom For all of them, this week was much more than a series of classes. It was a moment of transformation, a meeting with professionals who believe in their potential and encourage them to aim high. Kinshasa is a hotbed of talent, and thanks to initiatives like this one, these talents finally find a framework to flourish. Congolese music, rich in its heritage, is writing a new page here, looking to the future and open to the world. Training funded by: Le Fond du Festival ROSKILDE En association avec Africa Express