Bozi Boziana began his career in the
afro-pop band
Air Marine, but he reached success in 1974 when he joined
Zaiko Langa Langa, one of the most influential Congolese bands ever. In Zaiko Boziana had the chance to play with soukous stars
Papa Wemba and
Evoloko Jocker. Less than one year later, Papa Wemba and Evoloko left Zaiko Langa Langa and Bozi Boziana followed them in a new band called
Isifi Lokole. Internal disagreements then caused Papa Wemba, Boziana,
Mavuela Somo and others to leave Isifi Lokole and found a new band that was called
Yoka Lokole. This group was quite successful in 1976, but by the end of the year Papa Wemba left again to found
Viva la Musica. Yoka Lokole lost popularity and Boziana left in 1977. For a few months Boziana was in a
duo with
Efonge Gina, another member of Zaiko Langa Langa, recording a few hits such as
Selemani (credited to Boziana) and
Libanko Ya Ngai (Gina). In June 1977, Gina left Zaiko Langa Langa for
Tout-Grand Libanko and Boziana took his place in his former band. In 1981 producer
Verckys Kiamuangana founded a soukous
supergroup called
Langa Langa Stars, with Evoloko Jocker,
Dindo Yogo and others; Boziana was invited to join in and he did, leaving Zaiko Langa Langa for the second time. Langa Langa Stars lasted only a few years, and Boziana then moved to another major congolese band,
Ben Nyamabo's
Choc Stars, where he stayed until November 1985. With Choc Stars Boziana recorded some of his most famous songs ever, such as
Sandu Kotti,
Alena,
Mbuta-Mutu, and
Retrouvailles a Paris. With Choc Stars Boziana became a true celebrity, and so he founded his own band, called
Orchestre Anti-Choc (or simply "Anti-Choc"). The name "Anti-Choc" was intended to emphasize the Boziana's heritage from Zaiko Langa Langa (as this band was also informally known as "Tout-Choc Anti-Choc Zaiko Langa Langa"). Boziana's Anti-Choc became one of the major soukous bands in Congo, and many talented musicians played in the band over time; examples are
Fifi Mofude,
Djo Nolo,
Koffi Alibaba,
Wally Ngonda,
Rigo Star,
Ngouma Lokito,
Deesse Mukangi, Scola "Nza Wissa" Miel and Betty "Bis" Kindobika,
Marthe Lamugenia,
Ngimbi Yespe and
Maoussi Solange. The first guitarist of the band was Matou Kabangu, today a gospel singer; he was later replaced by
Dodoly (previously in
Lita Bembo's
Orchestre Stukas), nicknamed "
the sewing machine" because of the speed of his fingers moving on the guitar's
fretboard. Dodoly's frenetic style became one of the trademarks of Anti-Choc, and was imitated by all the guitarists that replaced Dodoly in the following years. From the 1980s on Boziana has continued Anti-Choc as well as recorded some solo works and other collaborations. In 1998, his album
Bana Saint-Gabriel (guesting other former Zaiko Langa Langa members, including
Evoloko Jocker) has won the
Kora All-African Award for the best album in Central Africa. ==Partial discography==