Prince Zeka
the voice of "Makoul"
biography

 

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 1993 he released his first single, a duet with Big Baffolo, "I'd love you to want me", a cover-version of Lobo’s hit “In the world”, produced by Sony Music Entertainment. One year later, in 1994, he released his second single "Come closer", produced by Sunshine Enterprises with the Viennese band "Groove Injection”, which was then in the hit parades of Acid Jazz in Italy.
In 1995, he signed a contract with BMG Germany and Austria on the project "Mc Sultan feat. Prince Zeka" which birthed the album "Super Ethno Astronaut".

Three years later, in 1999, Prince Zeka produced 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 releases the 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 current album "Ma Jolie" 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).

Prince Zeka is a very creative musician and songwriter: he wrote and composed songs in which he blends funk, reggae, 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 2010 for “AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE” by the “Universal Peace Federation”, a great peace organisation of the UNO.


Prince Zeka - Embassador of Peace