The BAND

The Seben Brothers are an 8-piece Congolese Rumba/Soukous band formed in Naarm/Melbourne in 2015 with a long pedigree of African performance. 

Our music is an eclectic mix of Central African music from the 1960’s and 70’s, all the way to new material created in Australia. It originates from the homeland of our singers and performers from the Congo, Mozambique and Kenya.

Members have previously performed with many of Melbourne’s African scene including: Musiki Manjaro, Toula Sana, One Spirit Africa, Matata Sound, Kotoko Mma, Aba Bakou, Warako Musika…

The MUSIC -La Rumba Congolaise

Congolese rumba was added to UNESCO’s list of world intangible cultural heritage in 2021. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo bid jointly for UNESCO to recognize the music and dance, which helped energize people in those countries to shake off colonial rule by Belgium and France, respectively, in Congo, in 1960. UNESCO’s director general, Audrey Azoulay, summarized rumba’s significance. “In the 20th century, the Congolese rumba was a symbol for the fight for emancipation, dignity and political independence on the African continent. Therefore, the inscription of this music is not just the recognition of a cultural practice but a historic decision. It underlines the political nature of this music, which inspires so many artists all around the world today.”

https://www.voanews.com/a/rumba-shimmies-onto-unesco-cultural-heritage-list/6354949.html