Kaoma

{{short description|French pop group}} {{For|the African town |Kaoma, Zambia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Kaoma | image = Kaoma-1989.png | caption = Kaoma in 1998 | image_size =  | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Paris, France<ref>{{cite journal|title=Review/Pop; Lambada, Would-Be Craze by Way of Paris |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/15/arts/review-pop-lambada-would-be-craze-by-way-of-paris.html|author=Pareles, Jon|journal=The New York Times|date=15 January 1990}}</ref> | genre = Lambada, worldbeat | years_active = 1989–1999 2006–2009 | label = Epic, Atoll | associated_acts = Touré Kunda, Chico & Roberta | website = [https://international-artists.com/release/kaoma/ Kaoma Website] | past_members = Loalwa Braz Chyco Dru Jacky Arconte Jean-Claude Bonaventure Michel Abihssira Fania Etna Brasyl Dyami Alan Hoy }}

'''Kaoma''' was a French–Brazilian band. It was created in 1989 and responsible for successfully launching the lambada musical style in Europe.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 January 1990 |title=Review/Pop; Lambada, Would-Be Craze by Way of Paris (Published 1990) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/15/arts/review-pop-lambada-would-be-craze-by-way-of-paris.html |access-date=20 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref> In a 10-year period from 1989 until the band's disbandment in 1999, Kaoma released three albums, and the band's biggest success was the 1989 song "Lambada", which topped the charts in many countries.

==Background== In 1988, two French producers called Jean Georgakarakos, known as Jean Karakos, and Olivier Lamotte D'Incamps, known as Olivier Lorsac, visited Brazil, and while they were on vacation in the northeastern city of Porto Seguro, they discovered the Lambada genre and Márcia Ferreira's song "Chorando Se Foi" playing on a local radio station.

The French duo then got the idea of forming a lambada group to introduce the genre to Europe, and after returning to France, they registered the song at SACEM under the name Chico de Oliveira and renamed the song to Lambada.

The two French producers were originally looking for a singer between 19 and 25 years old for a lambada group. Despite already being in her 30s, Loalwa Braz, who had been living in France since 1985, decided to enter the contest. Not only was Braz selected among more than 20 candidates, but also gave the idea of naming the band Kaoma. The other musicians hired for the project were Chyco Dru from Martinique for the bass, Jacky Arconte from Guadeloupe for the guitar, Jean-Claude Bonaventure on the keyboard, Michel Abihssira for the drums and percussion, and Fania Niang for backing vocals.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Chorando se Foi': Loalwa Braz e Kaoma conquistaram o mundo com versão de canção boliviana |url=https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-38688477 |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=BBC News Brasil |language=pt-BR}}</ref>

== Career == In the summer of 1989, the band Kaoma released the single "Lambada", which became a major chart-topping international hit. The songwriting credits were given to Chico de Oliveira. However, it was discovered on 30 August 1989 that Chico de Oliveira was a pseudonym for Olivier Lamotte D'Incamps, better known as Olivier Lorsac.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 August 1989 |title=La lambada, tube de l'été Les ressorts d'une bonne affaire |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1989/08/30/la-lambada-tube-de-l-ete-les-ressorts-d-une-bonne-affaire_4134408_1819218.html |access-date=20 August 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>

Instead, it was a direct cover of the 1986 song "Chorando Se Foi" by Brazilian singer-songwriter Márcia Ferreira, which itself was a Portuguese adaptation of Cuarteto Continental's 1984 version of "Llorando se fue", whose original version was released in 1981 by Bolivian group Los Kjarkas.<ref>[http://www.marciaferreira.com.br/ Márcia Ferreira's Official Site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706153412/http://www.marciaferreira.com.br/ |date=6 July 2011 }}. Biography. marciaferreira.com.br</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Céspedes |first1=Gilka Wara|year=1993 |title="Huayño," "Saya," and "Chuntunqui": Bolivian Identity in the Music of "Los Kjarkas" |journal=Latin American Music Review / Revista de Música Latinoamericana |volume=14|issue=1 |pages=52–101 |doi=10.2307/780009 |jstor=780009}}</ref> To add more to the story, Kaoma also significantly altered Márcia Ferreira's lyrics. This led to both Los Kjarkas and Márcia Ferreira successfully suing Kaoma, the former in 1990 and the latter in 1991.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 July 1990 |title=Brazilian Wonder Turns Out Bolivian (Published 1990) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/04/arts/brazilian-wonder-turns-out-bolivian.html |access-date=20 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Tejada |first1=Ignacio Saenz de |last2=Galilea |first2=Carlos |date=3 October 1989 |title=El plagio de la lambada |url=https://elpais.com/diario/1989/10/03/cultura/623372405_850215.html |access-date=20 August 2025 |work=El País |language=es |issn=1134-6582}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Kjarkas: "La lambada es un dolor" |url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Kjarkas/lambada/dolor/elpepicul/19900529elpepicul_17/Tes |newspaper=El País |date=29 May 1990 |first=Nacho |last=Saenz de Tejada}}</ref>

"Dançando Lambada" and "Mélodie d'amour" were the next two singles and were also hits, although they failed to earn the same success as "Lambada", which itself peaked at number 46 in the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p39773/charts-awards/billboard-singles Kaoma: Billboard singles] AllMusic.</ref> "Lambada" fared better in Europe, reaching number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book| first= David| last= Roberts| year= 2006| title= British Hit Singles & Albums| edition= 19th| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London| isbn= 1-904994-10-5| page= 296}}</ref> Also in 1989, Kaoma released their first album ''Worldbeat'' which achieved worldwide success, becoming - along with Beto Barbosa - one of the legends of Brazilian lambada. At the 1990 Lo Nuestro Awards, Kaoma won two awards for Pop Group of the Year and New Pop Artist of the Year.<ref name="Winners-archive">{{cite web|url=http://i.univision.com/contentuvn/rinconlatino/plnuestro/images/index_historia.swf |title=Lo Nuestro – Historia |language=es |work=Univision |publisher=Univision Communications |access-date=8 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626102925/http://i.univision.com/contentuvn/rinconlatino/plnuestro/images/index_historia.swf |archive-date=26 June 2015 }}</ref>

In 1991, Kaoma released the album ''Tribal Pursuit'' which provided the singles "Danca Tago Mago" and "Moço do Dendê". Kaoma would also release the album ''A la media noche'' in 1998, prior to disbanding, and Braz would continue on a solo career.

=== Murder of Loalwa Braz === On 19 January 2017, Braz was murdered in Saquarema, and her body was found in her car in a carbonized state.<ref name="death">{{cite web|url=http://g1.globo.com/rj/regiao-dos-lagos/noticia/2017/01/corpo-de-loalwa-braz-do-kaoma-e-encontrado-em-carro-incendiado.html |title=Loalwa Braz, do Kaoma, é achada morta em carro incendiado, diz polícia|website=Gl.globo.com|date=19 January 2017 |access-date=18 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38681413|title=Lambada singer Loalwa Braz found dead in Brazil|date=19 January 2017|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 March 2019}}</ref> Police arrested three suspects for the murder; several motives were suspected, such as a botched robbery or a revenge killing. All three were sentenced to prison.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 January 2018 |title=Três homens são condenados pela morte da cantora Loalwa Braz, do grupo Kaoma |url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/regiao-dos-lagos/noticia/tres-homens-sao-condenados-pela-morte-da-cantora-loalwa-braz-do-grupo-kaoma.ghtml |access-date=5 August 2025 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}}</ref>

==Personnel== === Principal members === * Loalwa Braz – lead vocals (1989–1999; died 2017) * Chyco Dru – bass guitar (1989–1999; 2006–2009) * Jacky Arconte – guitars (1989–1999; 2006–2009) * Jean-Claude Bonaventure – keyboards, production (1989–1993) * Michel Abihssira – drums, percussion (1989–1998) * Fania – backing vocals, flute (1989–1993) === Other members === * Etna Brasyl – lead vocals (2006–2009) * Dyami – unknown * Alan Hoy – backing vocals, dancer (2006–2009)

==Discography== ===Albums=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| BRA ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref name="albums">{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kaoma&titel=Worldbeat&cat=a|title=Kaoma – Worldbeat|website=australian-charts.com|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUT <ref name="AUT">{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Kaoma|title=Discographie Kaoma|website=austriancharts.at|language=de|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| GER <ref name="GER">{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche?artistId=Kaoma|title=Discographie von Kaoma|website=offiziellecharts.de|language=de|access-date=22 June 2023|archive-date=22 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622033806/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche?artistId=Kaoma|url-status=dead}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| NLD <ref name="NLD">{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Kaoma|title=Discografie Kaoma|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| NOR <ref name="albums"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| SWE <ref name="albums"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref name="albums"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US Latin |- ! scope="row"| ''Worldbeat'' | * Released: 16 December 1989 * Label: Columbia * Formats: CD | 1 || 17 || 16 || 21 || 12 || 11 || 41 || 6 || 40 || 1 | *ABPD: Platinum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abpd.org.br/niveis_de_certificacao.asp |title=Associação Brasileira de Produtores de Disco |publisher=ABPD |access-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223013007/http://www.abpd.org.br/niveis_de_certificacao.asp |archive-date=23 December 2010 }}</ref> *MC: Gold<ref>{{cite web|title=Canadian certifications |url=http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |publisher=Cria |access-date=11 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100331121149/http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |archive-date=31 March 2010 }}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Tribal-Pursuit'' | * Released: 1991 * Label: Sony Music * Formats: CD | — || — || — || — || 51 || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row"| ''A La Media Noche'' | * Released: 10 November 1998 * Label: Atoll Music * Formats: CD | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="10"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;" | Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUS <ref name="ARIA"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| AUT <ref name="AUT"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| CAN <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.9018&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.9018.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.9018|title=Top ''RPM'' Singles: Issue 9018|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| GER <ref name="GER"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| IRL <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement|title=The Irish Charts – Search by Artist for Kaoma|website=irishcharts.ie|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| NLD <ref name="NLD"/> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| NZ <ref>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Kaoma|title=Discography Kaoma|website=charts.nz|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/song/Kaoma/Lambada-1995|title=Kaoma – Lambada|website=hitparade.ch|language=de|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| UK <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25708/kaoma/|title=Kaoma {{!}} full Official Chart History|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=22 June 2023}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;"| US |- ! scope="row" | "Lambada" | rowspan="2"| 1989 | 5 || 1 || 78 || 1 || 4 || 1 || 10 || 1 || 4 || 46 | * ARIA: Gold<ref name="ARIA">{{cite Ryan|page=150}}</ref> * BPI: Gold<ref name="bpi">{{cite web|url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/|publisher=bpi.co.uk|title=www.bpi.co.uk/|access-date=10 November 2016}}</ref> * BVMI: 2× Platinum<ref>{{cite certification|region=Germany|access-date=1 August 2008|title=Lambada}}</ref> * IFPI SWE: Platinum<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.se/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf |title=Guld and platina 1987–1998 |access-date=11 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521214300/http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/guld-platina-1987-1998.pdf |archive-date=21 May 2012 }}</ref> * IFPI SWI: Gold<ref name="swisscharts">{{cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=1989 |publisher=swisscharts.com |title=The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community |access-date=10 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801111715/http://www.swisscharts.com/awards.asp?year=1989 |archive-date=1 August 2013 }}</ref> * MC: Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |title=Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Certification Results |access-date=9 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412081617/http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php |archive-date=12 April 2009 }}</ref> * NVPI: Platinum<ref name="nvpi">{{cite web|url=http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60461#resultaat |publisher=nvpi.nl |title=Goud / Platina | NVPI |access-date=10 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215103705/http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60461#resultaat |archive-date=15 February 2009 }}</ref> * RIAJ: Platinum<ref>{{cite web|title=List of best-selling international singles in Japan|url=http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/chart_japan_yougaku_singlesales3.htm|year=2002|publisher=JP&KIYO|access-date=27 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054247/http://homepage1.nifty.com/tuty/chart_japan_yougaku_singlesales3.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | rowspan="5" | ''Worldbeat'' |- ! scope="row" | "Dançando Lambada" | — || 17 || — || 18 || 11 || 5 || — || 6 || 62 || — | |- ! scope="row" | "Lambamor" | rowspan="3" | 1990 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row" | "Mélodie d'amour" | — || — || — || — || — || 15 || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row" | "Jambé Finète (Grillé)" (Remix) | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row" | "Dança Tago-Mago" | rowspan="2"| 1991 | — || — || — || — || — || 8 || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="3" | ''Tribal Pursuit'' |- ! scope="row" | "Mamãe Afrika" | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row" | "Moço do Dende" | 1992 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row" | "A la Media Noche" (Remix) | 1998 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | rowspan="2"| ''A La Media Noche'' |- ! scope="row" | "Banto" | 1999 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | |- ! scope="row" | "Lambada 3000" | 2009 | — || — || — || — || — || 18 || — || — || — || — | | Non-album single |- ! scope="row" | "Danca Tago Mago (Robert Abigail Remix) feat. Fab Faya" | 2014 | — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | | Non-album single |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://bnmusic-artists.com/kaoma/ Kaoma Lambada webpage]

Category:Zouk musicians Category:French dance music groups Category:Brazilian dance music groups Category:Worldbeat groups Category:Epic Records artists Category:Musical groups established in 1989 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1999 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2006 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2009 Category:1989 establishments in France Category:2009 disestablishments in France