Richacha Balengola


Richard Yende Abongy Balengola, best known as Richacha "Chacha" Balengola, is a reggae, Hip Hop, RnB, soukous and world music drummer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, based in Reims, France since 1987.

Biography

Born on December 22, 1964, in Mbandaka, a city on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of Congo lying near the confluence of the Congo and Ruki Rivers, Balengola started his career as a drummer with a world music band called Ndoki Machine. A Bass player John Pepito Tshimanga was part of the band after coming back to Congo from Paris, France where he stayed to study. Ndoki Machine's style of music and John Pepito Tshimanga's style of playing bass had nothing to do with soukous. Their style of music was similar to music played by a band from DRC Congo called "Bobongo Stars." Shakara Mutela, a well known bass player from DRC Congo, was among the Bobongo Stars Leaders.
In 1980 Richacha joined "Les Frères Fataki" in a band called Touche pas as a drummer. A well-known singer from this band is Jose Fataki Ndoko who later became part of Viva La Musica and La Nouvelle Génération. In 1982 most of the Viva La Musica Members broke away from Papa Wemba to create Victoria Eleison The Singers who left the band were: King Kester Emeneya, Pepe Bipoli, Joly Mubiala, Debaba El Shabab, the drummer was also part of those who quit with Viva La Musica to form Victoria Eleison Band. Johon Pepito Tshimanga who later became Papa Wemba's bass player after Victoria Eleison had been created, was asked by Papa Wemba if he could bring along with him Ndoki Machine's drummer to join his band. Papa Wemba needed something new in Viva La Musica's style of music; that drummer was Richacha. He became known as a professional drummer in 1980, at the age of 16 when he joined Touche pas.
Despite the fact of having Congolese origins, Richacha had not had a chance of playing with a Soukous and Rumba band permanently until he joined Touche Pas. His last recording session with Viva La Musica was in 1996. He has performed with several major world music, reggae singers and bands including The Hooligans, Pierpoljak, Tonton David, Princess Erika, Max Romeo, Nèg' Marrons, Ijahman Levi, Bisso Na Bisso, Secteur Ä, The Wailers, Alpha Blondy, Barrington Levy, R.M.I, Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel, etc.
Richacha's mentor was Mando and was later most inspired by Carlton Barrett. That’s why some songs recorded with Viva La Musica in the late 1980s and beginning of the 1990s have that Reggae Root Snare sound. Richacha did not record a song in Afrisa with Rochereau Tabu Ley but he performed as a drummer during some live concerts in 1979; he was on Drums the day Mbilia Bel was doing her first appearance in Afrisa. Richacha is among Viva la Musica’s Musicians appearing in the movie La Vie est Belle in which the main actor was Papa Wemba. He was acting as a shoe shiner, also as a guitarist during Papa Wemba rehearsal. The movie was released in 1987.
With more than 40 years as a professional drummer, Richacha remains in demand as a session musician and stage performance in Europe. Creativity, versatility and speed are three of his most important skills and gifts as a Drummer. Along with Junior MacLier they created a backing band called Reggae Music International ; also based in Paris. They have backed various Reggae artists. As an experienced instructor and performer, Richacha provides private drum lessons to beginners and shows some drum techniques to experienced Drummers.
Apart from the drums, Richacha plays all percussions and the bass. Its particular unique snare sound makes its identity.
A book about Richacha has been released on September 5th 2024. The title is : "The journey of a versatile Drummer - Richacha Balengola".
The book can be ordered from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGDQJ7VZ?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

Discography

;As a Drummer
  1. Max Romeo - Name of album to be determined
  2. Romeo K
  3. Tu shung peng - Dub of light
  4. Isiah Shaka - Roots Reggae Revelation
  5. Isiah Shaka - Jah Vit
  6. Kali Kamga - Ready for Love
  7. Natty Jean - On m'a dit
  8. Kasö - De Paris à Maurice
  9. Wach'da - Jeux de vérité Jeux de vérité
  10. Désiré François - Millionnaire
  11. Sebah - Unir nos forces
  12. Typical Féfé - Reggae
  13. Tu Shung Peng - Wise Stories from Vineyard Town
  14. Lil Kante - Dewi
  15. Scars - Plus aucun doute
  16. Tiwony - Roots rebel
  17. Kananga - No more
  18. Princess Erika - Sur la route du reggae
  19. Hosny and Good Morning Babylones - Every people
  20. Brax - Levez Les Mains
  21. Kasö - Cool
  22. Jean-Michel Rotin -
  23. Ras Daniel & Tu Shung Peng - Ray of Light
  24. Lusdy -
  25. Tita Nzebi - Métiani
  26. Jah Sidy Boy – Les Droits De La Femme
  27. Elsa Martine Quartet - I Gen Wèy
  28. Charles E. Brown - Ressource Humaine
  29. Takana Zion - Rappel à l'Ordre
  30. Blenda - Operationnel
  31. Bisso Na Bisso - Africa
  32. Kayans Reggae - Revelation Time
  33. Touré Kunda - Santhiaba
  34. Alpha Blondy - Jah Victory
  35. Hosny and Good Morning Babylones - Rasta Rebel
  36. Princess Erika - A l'épreuve du temps
  37. I-Trinity-I - Ca R'Commence
  38. Saël - Ma vision
  39. Touré Kunda – Nité Humanisme
  40. Tim Ray Brown - Tradition
  41. Touré Kunda – Le Joola, Liaison Ziguinchor-Dakar
  42. Karl Zero and Bob Marley's Wailers - Hi-Fi Calypso
  43. Hosny and Good Morning Babylones - Unité universelle
  44. Various Artists - African Chill
  45. Jacky & Ben J de Nèg' Marrons - Le Bilan
  46. Bisso na Bisso - 15 mai 1999
  47. Bisso na Bisso - Racines
  48. Djamatik - Roots Connections
  49. Bob Marley's Wailers - Live in Jamaica
  50. Metal Sound - DJ au top
  51. Secteur A - Secteur A à l'Olympia
  52. Hosny - Radical fighters
  53. Pacha and Viva La Musica - Voyage ya poto
  54. Gloria Tukadio and Viva La Musica - History no change
  55. Jose Fataki and La Nouvelle Génération
  56. Papy Ipepi and Viva La Musica
  57. Stino Mubi and Viva La Musica - Romeo et Juliette
  58. Reddy Amisi and Viva La Musica - L’injustice
  59. Espérant Kisangani and Viva La Musica - Paris Match
  60. Malo Kélé Et Les Matouloulous – Le Rythmes De La Brousse
  61. Soukous Stars - Fifie
  62. Lidjo Kwempa and Viva La Musica - Examen
  63. Modogo GFF and Viva La Musica - Statue de la liberté
  64. Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica - Biloko ya moto
  65. Comme à l’école with Bipoli, Spraya, Luciana and Lidjo Kwempa
  66. Orchestre Rumba Ray
  67. Lidjo Kwempa and Viva La Musica - Lipanda
  68. Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica - Beau gosse ya Paris
  69. Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica - Ma Bijoux
  70. Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica - Rendre à César
  71. Maray-Maray and Rumba Ray - Musulman
  72. Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica - Eliana
  73. Maray-Maray and Viva La Musica - Nana Efiye
  74. Lidjo Kwempa and Viva La Musica - Libonza
  75. Lidjo Kwempa and Viva La Musica - Ceci cela
  76. Luciana Demingongo and Viva La Musica - Ozia
  77. Reddy Amisi and Viva La Musica - Petite Gina
  78. Lidjo Kwempa and Viva La Musica - Mujingile
  79. Les frères Fataki and Touche pas - Mondeke

Tours

  • On tour with Max Romeo in Europe and Africa
  • On tour with Linval Thompson
  • On tour with Max Romeo in Europe
  • On tour with Linval Thompson in France
  • On tour with Anthony B in France
  • On tour with Abdou Day in Europe
  • On tour with Cedric "Congos" Myton in Belgium
  • On tour with Queen Ifrica and Tony Rebel in Europe
  • On tour with Barrington Levy in Europe
  • On tour with Pierpoljak and Vin Gordon in France
  • On tour with the Wailers in America, Europe and Australia approximately for ten years
  • On tour with Alpha Blondy in America and Europe for three years
  • Backed various Reggae Artists with R.M.I band in Europe
  • On tour with Ijahman Levi in Europe in 2002 and 2015
  • Bisso na bisso
  • Princess Erika
  • On tour with the Neg Marrons in France
  • On tour with the Hooliganz reggae band in Europe and Jamaica
  • On tour with Papa Wemba in Africa, Europe and Japan
  • Rochereau Tabu Ley & Afriza