Rhythms Revisited: Club Sebene // ARP x Dj Shongo // Rodriguez Vangama

BLCK MAMBA PRESENTS : CLUB SEBENE 

Blck Mamba brings together diaspora, club culture and Congolese heritage in a visionary musical project.

After more than ten years as a DJ, curator and connector within the Afro-electronic scene, Blck Mamba takes a next step with Club Sebene as a creative driving force within the Belgian-Congolese music scene. This audiovisual compilation brings together a generation of Belgian and Congolese artists around one shared approach: a contemporary electronic interpretation of sebene — the hypnotic, rhythmic core of Congolese soukous music. What emerges is a powerful sonic universe where tradition, diaspora, club culture and identity come together. From experimental electronics to Afro-club sounds: Sebene To The Future shows how African musical heritage is being reshaped on international dancefloors today. As curator and creative director, Blck Mamba uses her extensive network to build bridges between generations, scenes and cultures.

NELSON S. LEONI : AFRICAN RHYTHMS POWER 

During a trip to the east of the DRC, a young beatmaker of African descent had a life-changing encounter with Mababu. The words of this guardian of the Congo’s oral traditions and customs still resonate in his mind: ‘Music heals! It is the rhythm that gives power...’. That moment sparked within him a quest to discover his roots and a deep exploration of African rhythms. Through fascinating encounters and sonic experiences, this documentary explores the powerful influence of African music and its impact on the origins of African-American music and hip hop.

Nelson Shongo LÉONI was born in Belgium; his African roots lie in the Lodja region,
in Sankuru Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. From a very young age, he was immersed in an international musical environment. In 2023, this young beatmaker, a graduate of Belgium’s oldest film school, directed, as part of his final-year project, a documentary entitled ‘ARP’ (African Rhythms Power). This musical documentary was inspired by a journey to eastern Congo during an audiovisual mission where he worked with Dr Mukwege’s Panzi Foundation in Bukavu, South Kivu, in 2022. Part of the research was subsequently carried out at CAPA, drawing on instruments from the collections and sound archives of the Africa Museum in Tervuren. Following several nominations at festivals, such as the PAFF Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles in February 2025, and the Cannes International Pan-African Film Festival in October 2025, where it won the award for ‘Best Short Documentary’; it was important to present this project and to organise a screening at the Africa Museum, where it was partly filmed.

RODRIGUEZ VANGAMA

Rodriguez Vangama is a renowned guitarist and bassist. Thanks to his talent as a musician, arranger and producer, he is sought after by major artists such as Papa Wemba, Werrason, Jean Goubald, Lexxus Legal and Monik Tenday. He played in the jazz group J’AFROZZ and collaborated with Pierre Vaiana and Baloji. Together with Fabrizio Cassol, he took on the musical direction of the production ‘Coup Fatal’, a show that toured the world and was a huge success. He is also continuing his collaboration with Alain Platel on *Requiem pour L.*, for which he co-composed the music and conducts.

He is currently on an international tour with Ray Lema for the project *Hommage à Franco*.

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