Diblo Dibala

{{Short description|Congolese musician (born 1954)}} {{BLP sources|date=August 2011}}  {{Infobox musical artist | name = Diblo Dibala | image = | landscape = yes | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|08|9|df=y}} | birth_place = Kisangani, Zaire | death_date = | instrument = Guitar, Vocals | genre = Soukous | occupation = Musician, Songwriter | years_active = 1979–present | label = | associated_acts = Kasaloo Kyanga | website = }} '''Diblo Dibala''' (born 9 August 1954), often known simply as '''Diblo''', is a Congolese soukous musician,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/diblo-dibala-p3262/biography|title=Diblo Dibala|last=Harris|first=Craig|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=17 August 2011}}</ref> known as "Machine Gun" for his speed and skill on the guitar.

== Life and career == He was born in 1954 in Kisangani. He moved to Kinshasa as a child, and aged 15 won a talent competition which led to him playing guitar in Franco's TPOK band. Dibala remained with the group for only a short period, going on to play with Vox Africa, Orchestra Bella Mambo and Bella Bella, in which band he first played with Kanda Bongo Man.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://africanmusic.org/artists/diblo.html|title=African Music Encyclopedia: Diblo Dibala|date=3 November 2022 }}</ref>

In 1979, he moved to Brussels, and in 1981 he joined Kanda Bongo Man's band in Paris. Their first album, ''Iyole'' (1981), was a success. Diblo became a sought after session guitarist, working with Pepe Kalle and many other soukous musicians.

In the mid-1980s, he formed his own band, '''Loketo''' (meaning 'hips'), with singers Aurlus Mabele and Mav Cacharel. A few years later, he left the band in 1990 and formed a new group, '''Matchatcha''', which is still active after a number of personnel changes.

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.africanmusic.org/artists/diblo.html Diblo at AfricanMusic.org] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080501022802/http://www.africasounds.com/Diblo_Dibala.htm Diblo at AfricaSounds.com]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dibala, Diblo}} Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:People from Kisangani Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo guitarists Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo musicians Category:Soukous musicians Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo people