Mbilia Bel & l'Afrisa International - Bel Canto Best of the Genidia Years (Congo Classics 1982-1987) (2007)

"Bel Canto: Best of the Genidia Years (Congo Classics 1982-1987)" is a comprehensive compilation released in 2007 by the prestigious archival label Sterns Africa.

This two-disc release (2CD) celebrates the golden era of the great Congolese singer Mbilia Bel and the legendary Afrisa International Orchestra, led by the king of soukous, Tabu Ley Rochereau. The collection covers the period from 1982 to 1987, when their collaborative recordings on the Genidia label dominated radio stations and dance floors across Africa and far beyond.

"Bel Canto: Best of the Genidia Years" is an impeccably restored, comprehensively illustrated document of the era when Kinshasa was the musical capital of the African continent. For any student of tropical rhythms and African grooves, this collection is a fundamental artifact, demonstrating the perfect balance between complex guitar polyphony and pure pop sensibility.