Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo was a Congolese rumba band from Brazzaville of the 1950s. It was a studio band of the Esengo music studio.[1]
It was reconstituted in 1963 under former member Philippe "Rossignol" Lando. This version, which lasted until the 1970s, was a launching pad for young musicians including Bopol, Wuta Mayi, Camille "Checain" Lola, and Henriette Borauzima.[2]
The band often merged with the musicians from the African Jazz band and sometimes produced recordings under the title ""African Rock".[1]
The band name is a pun with the Kongolese word rocamambu "the one who looks for problems". In a Kongolese folk tale, Rocamambu is a kind of prodigal son, who runs from home and comes back rich.[1]
Rock-a-Mambo music appears on the following albums and compilations.[3]
A large number of singles were recorded by the Esengo studio.[1][3]
