Empire Bakuba is a Congolese band that played soukous music and was popular in Central and East Africa in the 1980s and 1990s. The band was founded in Kinshasa, Congo in 1972 by the Congolese musician Pepe Kalle and his friend Papy Tex. The band was originally known as "Bakuba Mayopi," but it was later changed to "Empire Bakuba" in 1977.

Empire Bakuba quickly gained popularity in Central and East Africa with its unique blend of soukous, salsa, and styles found in Fuji. The band's music was characterized by its lively rhythms, upbeat melodies, and catchy lyrics that often focused on social issues and love.

Pepe Kalle was the long-term lead singer of Empire Bakuba, and his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence were a key part of the band's success. Empire Bakuba released multiple albums including "Zaïre-Ghana," "Melina," and "Mabele."

Pepe Kalle died in 1998.

Empire Bakuba is an influential soukous band that formed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1972.