“Bordel de rap” might seem like a French expression but in fact, it’s the title of a very special song sung in Lingala, about the daily lives and conditions of Congolese women, according to the group and its frontwoman, Gladys Samba. It’s well known that Festival International Nuits d’Afrique is committed to showcasing the world’s great female artists, and the 2025 edition will be no exception. Between France and Central Africa, this fascinating group draws us straight into Brazzaville’s boiling cultural melting pot. A concoction by and for women. Their performances are almost theatrical, evoking a jubilant Congolese ambiance, right down to the sounds made using household items to create rhythms: bowls, pestles, plates, forks… The table’s been set by the five Mamans du Congo.

In her beautiful Congolese style, from her hair to her toes, Gladys is only focused on one thing when she sings, to pay tribute to her Congolese sisters and to their courage. And it was that genuineness that appealed to French beatmaker and electronic music producer Rrobin (with a double R!). Part of the group’s touching journey includes being designated a “Coup de cœur” by Brazzaville’s Institut Français du Congo. At the end of 2020, with the launch of their debut album, they came face to face with a world that has been clamouring for more of their delicious sounds and their exquisite performances ever since.

Their live shows are like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Not only do these passionate women delve into the more daunting aspects of Congolese life—job insecurity, allegations of witchcraft or female infertility—they also make use of typical, everyday tools used within their community to provide their audiences with the most authentic musical expression possible, not unlike the art of using recycled objects to create instruments practised in Kinshasa. A moving manifestation of the power of freedom that burns in the souls of these strong women. Outstanding.