3 Things to Know About Konono No. 1’s Electrified Instruments

They electrified their instruments to be heard in noisy Kinshasa. The band built makeshift pickups and amplifiers for traditional instruments like the likembe (thumb piano) because acoustic versions were drowned out by city noise.

The necessity created a raw, distorted sound. Their homemade gear produced heavy distortion and feedback, giving their music a lo-fi, industrial edge that became their signature.

The approach was practical, not artistic. Konono No. 1 did not set out to innovate; they simply needed to be loud enough to perform in Kinshasa’s chaotic environment.