Evoloko Joker Abrahama

Evoloko Atshuamo, best known as Evoloko Jocker (sometimes spelled Joker) or Lay Lay, is a popular congolese soukous singer. Since the late 1960s, he has been in several major soukous bands, such as Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi Lokole, and Langa Langa Stars.

Biography

Evoloko was born in Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). He began his career in Zaiko Langa Langa, one of the biggest Congolese soukous bands, in 1969. He was so appreciated that he soon became one the band's prominent musicians together with Papa Wemba. The cavacha, a sound and dance style that became a trademark of Zaiko and a craze in East Africa in the 1970s, was Evoloko's creation.

In 1974 he temporarily quit music to complete his studies in Europe. When he came back to Congo (then Zaire), he joined Papa Wemba's new band, Isifi Lokole. The band also included Mavuela Somo, who was another popular soukous star. Somo, Evoloko and Papa Wemba eventually argued with each other and Evoloko left Isifi Lokole to found his own band, Isifi Melodia. For a while, Isifi Melodia became one of the most popular soukous band in Zaire.