▼▼▼

If you’ve got a taste for deep grooves, intricate guitar lines, and horn sections that move like a well-oiled machine, Ambiance Congo on WRIR 97.3 FM is a must-listen. It’s the longest running Congolese radio show in the West as we’ve been listening to the show now for nearly twenty years! Hosted by the discerning ear of David Noyes, this biweekly Sunday afternoon show serves up a seamless blend of Congolese popular music spanning the 1950s to today. Think of it as a sonic journey through the evolution of rumba to soukous, with unmistakeable elements of African jazz. Congolese music has its own rhythmic signatures—the finger plucked basslines and clave timelines, the percussive interplay between guitars/vocals that can be both wistful and electrifying. Noyes doesn’t just play the hits; he digs deep, uncovering hidden gems and tracing the lineage of the sound that’s shaped dance floors in Kinshasa and beyond. The show is a goldmine since full playlists are well maintained. It’s all about the music and there’s more than a lifetime of listening material. Mr Noyes has certainly put in the hours and is a Congolese music aficionado, in our humblest of opinions. Whether you’re a longtime devotee of Franco, Tabu Ley, and Koffi Olomide or just starting to explore the genre’s richness, Ambiance Congo is an essential portal into one of Africa’s most sophisticated musical traditions. Tune in every other Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Eastern, and go for a ride through the pulsating heart of Congolese music—where rhythm isn’t just a foundation; it’s the driving force of an entire culture. The twenty year archive of the show including all playlists can be found here. Enjoy!

▲▲▲