In the sebene instrumental section of a Congolese rumba song, the atalaku serves as the band's frontman, responsible for actively engaging the audience, building excitement, and augmenting the performance with spirited vocalizations and rhythmic chants.[1] Atalaku often uses fast-paced speech, onomatopoeic sounds, and playful wordplay to captivate listeners and sustain their energy throughout the performance.[2][3][4][5]
The atalaku rarely appears in music videos, and despite his widely recognized "song", he is not classified as a singer.[2][1] Although he performs alongside prominent figures in the music industry, he is often overshadowed by his fellow band members. Criticism for his ostentatious stage presence and the perceived distortion of the nostalgic sentimentality of traditional Congolese rumba is common; nonetheless, he has emerged as an integral component of every Congolese dance sequence.[2][1]
- ^ a b c White, Bob W. (27 June 2008). Rumba Rules: The Politics of Dance Music in Mobutu's Zaire. Durham, North Carolina, United States: Duke University Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-8223-4112-3.
- ^ a b c White, Bob W. (1999). "Modernity's Trickster: "Dipping" and "Throwing" in Congolese Popular Dance Music". Research in African Literatures. 30 (4): 156–175. ISSN 0034-5210. JSTOR 3820759.
- ^ Seaman, Jacobs Odongo; Omollo, Sammy (20 January 2024). "Atalaku: The rubbish that gave Soukous its bounce". Daily Monitor. Kampala, Uganda. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Wheeler, Jesse Samba (March 2005). "Rumba Lingala as Colonial Resistance by Jesse Samba Wheeler". Imageandnarrative.be. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Tchebwa, Manda (30 November 2002). "N'Dombolo: the identity-based postulation of the post-Zaïko generation" [N'Dombolo: the identity-based postulation of the post-Zaïko generation]. Africultures (in French). Paris, France. Retrieved 13 January 2024.