Staff Benda Bilili are a group of street musicians in Congo-Kinshasa. They live around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, and play music which is rooted in rumba, with elements of old-school rhythm'n'blues and reggae. The core of the band consists of four senior singers/guitarist, who are all disabled (they suffered from poliomyelitis when they were young) and move around in spectacularly customized tricycles. They are backed by a younger rhythm section consisting of ex-sheges, abandoned street kids who were taken under the protection of the older members of the band. The soloist is an 18 year-old boy who plays guitar-like solos on an electrified one-stringed lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can.
Staff Benda Bilili have earned the 2009 Artist Award at Womex (World Music Expo).

Tour packages for Staff Benda Bilili concerts you can order at the Travel Agency For Sports & Music Fans "ЗА СЕМЬ МОРЕЙ" www.za7morey.com.ua
Buy tickets for Staff Benda Bilili concerts on-line at euroticket.com.ua