Konono Nº1

The Profile

A Congolese collective led by Mingiedi, Konono Nº1 became known for amplifying the likembé with homemade pickups and scrap materials, creating a raw, trance-like hybrid of traditional rhythms and industrial/electronic textures. Their album Congotronics brought international attention.

Origin: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; leader: Mingiedi (often credited simply as Mingiedi); discovered and brought to wider attention by Belgian producer Vincent Kenis; noted for DIY amplification of likembé (thumb piano) and percussion made from industrial scraps; album 'Congotronics' widely cited.

Konono Nº1 are a Congolese collective led by Mingiedi, known for electrifying the likembé with homemade amplification. Their album Congotronics mixes traditional rhythms with raw, trance-like and industrial textures, celebrated for its hypnotic grooves.