On February 22, 2026, Congolese singer-songwriter Ampire Joven’s will release his latest EP, Urizi. The project marks a deliberate shift from the dominant Rumba sounds of Kinshasa toward the folk traditions of the South Kivu highlands, specifically the culture of the Bashi people. Urizi is the result of a journey that began in 2008 under […]
On February 22, 2026, Congolese singer-songwriter Ampire Joven’s will release his latest EP, Urizi. The project marks a deliberate shift from the dominant Rumba sounds of Kinshasa toward the folk traditions of the South Kivu highlands, specifically the culture of the Bashi people.
Urizi is the result of a journey that began in 2008 under the mentorship of Joven’s grandfather. While Joven’s gained national recognition as the runner-up in the 2022 Vodacom Best of the Best competition and performed at the Stade des Martyrs alongside Fally Ipupa, this EP sees him returning to his foundational roots. The title itself refers to heritage—a bridge between the ancestral “Bushi” kingdom and the modern Congolese diaspora.
The EP’s 8 tracks are composed primarily in Mashi, a Bantu language native to the Mitumba Mountains. By layering Mashi proverbs over a musical foundation influenced by 1970s soul and folk, Joven’s explores themes of human resilience and the social realities of the Kivu region. He describes the resulting sound as “Pondu with meat”—a metaphor for music that is rooted, nourishing, and heavy with substance.
“This music started with the stories my grandfather told me,” says Ampire Joven’s. “It isn’t just about melody or the lyrics; it’s about the ‘Obushi’—the collective spirit of our people. I wanted to create something that sounds like the soundtrack to a film about our hills, but played in the streets of the city.”
The release features focus tracks such as “Juwe” and “Koleza,” which highlight Joven’s’ ability to modernize traditional folk rhythms without stripping them of their spiritual depth. The project’s visual identity further reflects this intersection, blending contemporary Kinshasa fashion with traditional Bashi sartorial elements.
Urizi will be available on all major streaming platforms on February 22, 2026.
About Ampire Joven’s
Based in Kinshasa but deeply connected to his South Kivu origins, Ampire Joven’s is an artist defined by his versatility and commitment to cultural preservation. His work fuses Afro-pop, soul, and Rumba with the traditional sounds of the Bashi people. Following his success on the national stage in 2022, he has dedicated his career to bringing the Mashi language into the global Afro-soul conversation.
Enock Mugabi aka iWitness is a Journalist, Seasoned Writer and Music Analyst with a passion for sports.
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