Summary

A variant of Soukous that is shorter and a little bit faster. Unlike Soukous, it allows guitar solos after each verse instead of waiting till the end.

Influences
JosplayExplore Kwassa Kwassa on Josplay Music
HistoryThe words kwassa kwassa originated from French 'qoui ça' ("What exactly is it?"). Kwassa Kwassa is a lively dance and music style that emerged from the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) during the late 1980s. It originated within Congolese soukous. It was developed by the artist Kanda Bongo Man, who started including a guitar solo after every verse instead of at the end of the song, changing the soukous composition.
The kwassa kwassa dance was created in the 1980s by Jeannora, a mechanic in Kinshasa, Congo. The dance involves hips moving back and forth while the hands follow the hips. The dance became popular in Soukous music videos made by Kanda Bongo Man, Pepe Kalle, Viva La Musica, and other Congolese musicians. Thus, leading to all the bands in Congo adopting the same dance steps for the first time. This dance was popularized not only in Central Africa but across the continent..
Elements 
Form and Style

Kwasa Kwasa are fast, short soukous tracks and it is called Kwasa Kwasa because of the accompanying dance with the same name. Like in Soukous, the songs also use the improvisation of guitars in an uptempo instrumental bridge called Sebene.

Singing Style

Kwasa Kwasa music boasts a distinctive singing style marked by lively, upbeat vocals and infectious, rhythmic melodies. .

Theme

Kwasa Kwasa's common theme: Love, romance, joy, and celebration, encapsulated in lively beats and rhythmic dance tunes.

Culture

Kanda Bongo Man, a Paris-based musician, made Kwassa Kwassa popular in the 1980’s after featuring the dance in his video. He introduced the dance as part of his style of Soukous which were quick, short tracks appropriate for dancefloors. Diblo Dibala, Jeannot Bel Musumbu, Mbilia Bel, Yondo Sister, Tinderwet, Loketo, Rigo Star, Madilu System, Soukous Stars, and veterans Pepe Kalle and Koffi Olomide were also among the artists who adapted this new genre. Soon, Paris became a home of an outstanding number of studio musicians who recorded the Kwasa Kwasa genre for the African and Caribbean markets.

Timbre

Kwasa Kwasa music's timbre is vibrant, featuring lively vocals, rhythmic beats, and energetic guitar-driven melodies.

Arrangement

Kwasa Kwasa music features lively beats, straightforward bars, infectious rhythms, melodic guitar arrangements, and commonly follows a 4/4 time signature, creating a dynamic and danceable sound.