Staff Benda Bilili October 17, 2012

From Democratic Republic of Congo

Boston Debut

"Staff Benda Bilili would be a remarkable band regardless of their background. Not only do they sound incredible, they exude an inscrutable cool.”—The Guardian

With the irresistible pulse of Congolese rumba, Cuban swing and James Brown–inspired funk, Staff Benda Bilili’s inspirational concerts and extraordinary story have caused a sensation across the globe. A group of paraplegic street musicians who used to live in and around the Kinshasa Zoo, the band consists of four seasoned singer/guitarists perched on spectacular customized tricycles, backed by a young acoustic rhythm section and a teenage prodigy who plays infectious guitar-like solos on a one-string electric lute he designed and built out of a tin can.

Presented by World Music/CRASHarts and institute of Contemporary Art/Boston.

Official Website: http://www.worldmusic.org/staff-benda-bilili-0-942