soukous

[ soo-koos ]

noun

1. a style of central African popular dance music with electric guitars, Caribbean rhythms, and often several vocalists.

soukous

/ ˈsuːkʊs /

noun

1. a style of African popular music that originated in Zaïre (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), characterized by syncopated rhythms and intricate contrasting guitar melodies

Word History and Origins

Origin of soukous¹

1980–85; said to be < Lingala < French secouer to shake

Word History and Origins

Origin of soukous¹

C20: perhaps from French secouer to shake

Example Sentences

The traditional soukous dance music out of Congo and other parts of Central Africa.

From Seattle Times

A lilting beat, ricocheting percussion and layers of intertwined guitars and marimbas hint at Congolese soukous as Reyna enjoys “a moment of peace” and exults, in Spanish, “Let the environment caress me”; it sounds like sheer delight.

From New York Times

He was one of DR Congo's best rhythm guitarists, but spent most of his career based in the French capital, Paris, where he led the Soukous Stars band since 1984.

From BBC

The percolating grooves of her songs fused mutuashi rhythms with salsa, Congolese soukous and other African and Caribbean rhythms, deploying synthesizers and horns alongside traditional percussion.

From New York Times

You can hear hints of West African highlife and Congo-derived soukous, a hybrid of Cuban rumba.

From New York Times