Evoloko Atshuamo, best known as Evoloko Jocker (sometimes spelled Joker)[1] or Lay Lay, is a popular congolese soukous singer.[2][3] Since the late 1960s, he has been in several major soukous bands, such as Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi Lokole, and Langa Langa Stars.[4][5]
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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, Jossart Nyoka and others. They created cavacha, a sound and dance style that became a trademark of Zaiko and a craze in East Africa in the 1970s.
In 1974 he was fired from Zaiko and went to form Isifi Lokole with Papa Wemba and Mavuela Somo. The band also included Bozi Boziana, who was another popular soukous star. Somo, Evoloko and Papa Wemba eventually argued with each other and Papa Wemba left Isifi Lokole to found his own band Yoka Lokole. Evoloko renamed his band Isifi Melodia, for a while, Isifi Melodia struggled to make it and Evoloko abandoned his band in 1977 ans emigrated in Europe.
In the late 1970s Isifi Melodia went hiatus, and Evoloko was re enters Zaiko for him to leave again in 1981. the Langa Langa Stars that was offered to him by Kiamuangana Verkys had many ex-Zaiko Langa Langa and Viva La Musica musicians were recruited. Langa Langa Stars were also very popular, as was their weke weke dance. They disbanded in 1984.
After Langa Langa Stars, Evoloko kept playing either in solo projects or with other short-lived groups, such as Langa Langa Rénové (2008). He also occasionally collaborates with his original band, Zaiko Langa Langa.[6]