Jupiter & Okwess

Jupiter Bokondji is a Congolese musician and singer-songwriter born in Kinshasa into a family of diplomats. Raised between the capital and East Berlin, he developed a hybrid, transnational cultural outlook from an early age that has deeply influenced his music. His career is marked by the encounter between his Congolese roots, particularly soukous and local traditions, and global sounds, leading him to collaborate with international artists and experiment with different genres, from rock to electronic music. Jupiter is also known for his social commitment, often reflected in his lyrics, and for his ability to blend instrumental virtuosity, rhythm and poetry. His career took an international turn, especially thanks to the French documentary Jupiter's Dance (2006), which brought European attention to Bokondji and his band. After the documentary, the band began performing in Europe and collaborating with major names on the international scene. Among them are Damon Albarn and Robert del Naja, who remixed the track "Congo".

Okwess is the band founded and led by Jupiter, made up of musicians from Kinshasa with diverse musical backgrounds. Jupiter's first international album with his band is "Hotel Univers", from 2013. Starting with this debut, the band has kept up a steady release schedule of one album every four years: "Kin Sonic" (2017), "Na Kozonga" (2021) and the recent Ekoya (2025).