Prince Zeka singer, composer, performer, producer

Press info Content: biography – cd’s - music - concerts - contact (2017)

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Prince Zeka the voice of “Makoul” Prince Zeka was born in Bukavu in Kivu (in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo) as a descendant of the kingdom of Kamituga.

He followed his secondary education at the Lumumba Institut and his early university education at the National Pedagogical Institute of Kinshasa (IPN). In Europe, he started studying at the EFEC in Brussels, and later at the University of Vienna.

He comes from a family of diplomats which gave him the chance to discover different countries and cultures. Beyond the politics, culture, art and especially music were part of the daily life in the family. Prince Zeka thus grew up to the sound of Congolese Rumba, considered the forerunner of Salsa. The music never ceased to attract him, and he finally decided to concentrate on it full time.

Prince Zeka soon became the most popular and most beloved musician of african origin in Austria. In 1999, he signed a contract with BMG Germany and Austria on the project "Mc Sultan feat. Prince Zeka" which birthed the album "Super Ethno Astronaut".

In 1999, Prince Zeka produced also his first solo album "M'zee waka", an album that allows him to break the barrier of the international music and to be also known in Switzerland and Germany.

In 2007, he presented his next album “Maturité” (meaning "maturity"): this music is unique, beautiful and combined with mature themes. With his unique style of "Makoul" that can be classified in world music, Prince Zeka transports messages of equality and freedom. He is committed to a long-overdue appreciation of african lifestyles and addresses in his songs the many aspects of this lifestyle, both the beautiful and inspiring forms of culture, and also the cruel sides of corrupt politics.

In 2012, he presents his current album "Ecoutez", dedicated to his homeland DRC. In this album Prince Zeka is trying to express his love to his country and denounces the causes that led to this enormous suffering.

His new EP "Ma Jolie" - release in nov. 2016 - shows Prince Zeka's romantic side: all of the songs are about love, either the one between lovers, or even that to God. In soulfull ballades like "Lovely day one", but also peppy songs like "Ma jolie" which tempts immediately to dance, Prince Zeka spans the musical spectrum also from reggae as in "God is stronger than all", or Rumba congolaise in "Zonga" to Zouk in "Danger d'amour".

In his musical career Prince Zeka presented his music on the same stage with the biggest stars and music legends, such as: Miriam Makeba, Joe Zawinul, Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dube, Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley and Rita, U Roy, Durlinger, James Brown, Joe Cocker, CeCe Rogers (Jestofunk), Bobby Bird (composer of "sex machine"), Lalomie Washburn (singer of James Brown).

http://www.princezeka.com/html/majolie.html

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Prince Zeka is a very creative musician and songwriter: he wrote and composed songs in which he blends funk, reggae, rap, rumba Congolese, afro-beat, jazz and soul into a new, exciting mixture, which he calls "Makoul". His warm voice, which embraces tongue-twisting rap and emotional soul with equal versatility, gives his music its unique range of tonal colour.

The interesting thing about his music is the enormous complexity of sounds and rhythms. He sings and raps in French, English, Swahili and Lingala. The favorite themes in his songs are love, peace and the fight against all forms of injustice in the world. With his unique style of “Makoul” he transports messages of solidarity for Africa.

In appreciation of this attitude and his humanitarian commitment he was nominated for “AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE” by the “Universal Peace Federation”, a great peace organisation of the UNO.

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Prince Zeka – factsheet / Discographie

1994: foundation of the band Prince Zeka System & Dunia Moja (style: Rap Makoul)

1994: Single "Come closer" with Groove injection band; #1-hit in Italy

1999: cooperation with MC Sultan: "Super Ethno Astronaut"

1999: release of his first solo album "M'Zee Waka“

2004: release of the single “Die for nothing”

2007: release of the album “Maturité”

2010: release of the single “One Minute”, Prince Zeka’s world cup song 2010

2012: release of the album “Ecoutez”

2013: release of the single “Bikoshake”

2016: release of the album “Ma Jolie”

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Maturité tracks: 1. Ukijua | 2. Eyala | 3. Doucement | 4. Gamza | 5. Ma fille qui passe 6. Try before you cry | 7. Save the people | 8. Uta Okenda | 9. Rap d'amour 10. Malaika | 11. Josephine | 12. Couvre-moi |13. Rhythm of my mouth 14. Lumumba | 15. Congo Mabele ya somi | 16. Congo garage track © 2006, Kaze Records, Vienna

Prince Zeka presents with this album 16 songs justifiably grouped under the title "maturité" (which means "maturity"): this music is musically and thematically mature, beautiful, and brings new life to supersaturated ears! It refreshes listening habits, and thus perhaps also preconceptions about "African music". With his distinctive style of "Makoul", which can be most likely be classified within the World Music, Prince Zeka conveys messages of solidarity for Africa.

Ecoutez tracks: 1. Congo lamuka | 2. Protect yourself | 3. Coltan | 4. Ecoutez 5. Unakuenda wapi | 6. Tschaku | 7. Nostalgie bolingo | 8. Damu 9. Polé polé | 10. Domination system | 11. Belle Africa beauté sabotée 12. La dent de Lumumba | 13. Congomani | 14. Ecoutez Pop 15. Rap makoul | 16. Bonus track: Kangela sings oh Lord © 2012, Kaze Records, Vienna Distribution: Timezone Records (www.timezone-records.com)

Prince Zeka dedicates his album "Ecoutez" (means "listen") to his homeland DRC. In this album he is trying to express his love to his country and in songs like "Ecoutez", "Coltan", "Damu", "Unakuendawapi", "Congo lamuka", "Kongomani" he denounces the causes of the war in his homeland Congo.

So in the title-song "Ecoutez": he denounces the raping of congolese women by rebels of the movement called "M23" from DRC and neighboring countries.

In "Coltan" Prince Zeka speaks of this metal used primarily in the manufacture of mobile devices such as mobile phones, i-pods, laptops etc., of which the DRC is the world's largest producer. Unfortunately this mineral is also used to finance the endless war in the east of the country, and most of the coltan miners are children who work under inhuman conditions in digging with bare hands and so they often dig their own graves! So we don't want their blood in our phones! In "Congo lamuka" Prince Zeka launches a solemn appeal to the congolese people to wake them up, to fight against all forms of injustice in their country and especially to have a patriotic conscience. "My country, the DRC, is the world's richest in raw materials, but while it is misguided, war and poverty will rule there forever! "

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Ma jolie tracks: 1. I give you my world | 2. Ma jolie – radio edit | 3. Danger d’amour 4. Baby Amio | 5. Lady chinese 6. J’en ai marre | 7. Lovely day one 8. Zonga | 9. Go dis stronger than all | 10. Ma jolie © 2016, Kaze Records, Vienna

This new album shows Prince Zeka’s romantic side: all of the songs are about love, either the one between lovers, or even that to God. In soulfull ballades like “Lovely day one”, but also peppy songs like “Ma jolie”, which tempts immediately to dance, he spans the musical spectrum also about reggae as in “God is stronger than all”, or Rumba congolaise in “Zonga” to Zouk in “Danger d’amour”. All in all a collection of very charming hits!

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The music of Prince Zeka: „Makoul“ This style of music, developed by Prince Zeka, blends Funk, Afro-Beat, Reggae, la Rumba Congolaise and Soul into a new, exciting mixture. His warm voice, which embraces tongue-twisting Rap and emotional Soul with equal versatility, gives his music its unique range of tonal colour. What is so special about this music is its huge range of multi-layered tones and rhythms: he melts together melodious soul with the rhythmic elements of Rap and Afro-beat, he sings and raps in English, French, Swahili or Lingala and the influence of the Congolese Rumba - the music of his homeland Congo (former Zaїre) - can be clearly heard. His song texts deal with the everyday as well as current political matters. With his music he transports the messages of equality and respect which actually means an attitude to life that is suffused with the vision of a new and positive culture of freedom and solidarity. Prince Zeka´s music alters listening habits and perhaps thus also preconceived opinions about "african music" and cultural identity being things that are unalterable. He attempts to escape the rigid framework of traditional attributes: with a delightful lack of respect he disregards existing musical boundaries in that he creates out of his own lived reality as a modern nomad and allows himself to be inspired by a myriad of cultures. This attitude is reflected in both the name and members of his band DUNIA MOJA. „Dunia moja“ is Swahili and means "One World". The male and female musicians of his band come from various parts of the world and combine their varying talents and experiences into the music „Makoul“.

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Prince Zeka live

Anyone who experiences Prince Zeka for the first time on stage becomes his loyal fanatic, not only because of his talent as a singer and musician, but also because of his enormous presence on stage that attracts the audience wherever he is performing. selection of concerts: Afrika Sangana – Best Prince Zeka live show, Szene Wien / Vienna Afrikafestival / Osnabrück Flüchtlingsball Rathaus Wien / Vienna Stadthalle Wien / Vienna Replugged / Vienna Brunnenpassage / Vienna Africult / Vienna Strandklang Mole Festival / Neusiedl am See Reggae Festival Guntramsdorf Afrika-Tage / Donauinsel, Vienna Meck à Frick / Basel Porgy & Bess / Vienna Jazzfest Vienna 2003 (with Miriam Makeba, Joe Zawinul) / Vienna Silvesterpfad / Vienna Ottakringer Brauerei / Vienna MC at IQ Clubbing with Ce Ce Rogers (Jestofunk) / Ronacher, Vienna Wuhrplatzfest / Zürich one night - one world / Judenburg Stadtfest / Vienna Jazz Festival / Villach Donauinselfest / Vienna 3. Wiener Flüchtingsball / Vienna Moving Cultures Festival / Bozen, Italien Danube Sziget Festival / Budapest All African Festival / Szene, Vienna Hallamasch Festival / Vienna Stadtfest / Neusiedl am See Spring Vibration - with Jimmy Cliff, Lucky Dube & Alpha Blondy / Wiesen MC Womad Festival / Sunsplash / Wiesen

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Reggae Festival / St. Gallen Haus der Kulturen der Welt / Berlin Sommerarena IRIE 92, with Ziggy Marley / Arena Vienna opening act of Joe Cocker / Attersee

He presented his music on the same stage with the biggest stars and music legends, such as: Miriam Makeba, Joe Zawinul, Alpha Blondy, Lucky Dube, Jimmy Cliff, Ziggy Marley and Rita, U Roy, Durlinger, James Brown, Joe Cocker, CeCe Rogers Jestofunk, Bobby Bird, Lalomie Washburn a.o.

Prince Zeka with Miriam Makeba, 1999, Moving Culture Festival, Wiesen, Austria Prince Zeka with Alpha Blondy, 1998, Reggae Sunsplash, Wiesen, Austria Papa Wemba with Prince Zeka, 2002, Paris

contact & booking:

Prince Zeka phone: +43 650/770 21 42 email: princezeka@yahoo.fr www.princezeka.com www.youtube.com/princezeka www.facebook.com/PrinceZekaKangela