Southern Africa

Cuba has been linked to the history of Southern Africa ever since slave traders took in large numbers of kidnapped Congo folks from Angola and the Congo from the 16th century on.

In the 30's and 40's there was a massive influx of Cuban records into all parts of Africa. Cuba had a strong influence on many African musics, feeding back to the motherland. During the 50's, rumba was very popular in Kinshasha, the capital of the Congo.  Soukous music is derived from it.

Che Guevera led two battalions of AfroCuban troups in the eastern part of the Congo in the 60s.  His then ally, Laurent Kabila, is now president of the Congo.