Ricardo Lemvo has established himself as a pioneer with his innovative music. Lemvo’s blend of Afro-Cuban rhythms with pan-African styles (soukous, Angolan semba, and kizomba) has been described as seamless and infectious. This Congo-born artist of Angolan ancestry is the embodiment of the Afro-Latin Diaspora which connects back to Mother Africa via the Cuban clave rhythm. Lemvo is truly multicultural and equally at home singing in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Lingala, and Kikongo. Lemvo hails from São Salvador Do Congo (M’Banza-Kongo), Zaire, in Northern Angola. He grew up in Congo-Kinshasa, where he was introduced to Cuban music by a cousin who owned a large collection of vintage Cuban LPs. Lemvo came to the US more than thirty years ago to pursue a law degree but ended up devoting his life to music. Since forming his Los Angeles-based band Makina Loca in 1990, Lemvo has refined his craft and vision, raising his joyous voice with strength and inspiring his audiences to let loose and dance away their worries. Through the years, Lemvo has performed countless shows in many festivals, night clubs, and performing art centers throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australia. Lemvo’s seven CDs have been enthusiastically acclaimed worldwide.
Interviewed by Raquel Paraíso, 09/30/2020.