Various

In the mid-'50s, the Congo was entering a golden-age of Cuban-inspired rumba music that would eventually become the most popular sound across the entire continent. This Congolese rumba would find a home within the growing nightlife in Kinshasa (formerly Leopoldville) and spread across the slowly industrializing African landscape. Although the main influence of the musical style was mostly Latin, much of the music's evolution was brought about via imported European guitars and jazz recordings from the United States. Mixing all these elements with a growing independence movement and anti-colonialism sentiment, Congolese rumba was born. By swapping Spanish for Congolese and adding personal touches with likembes (thumb pianos) and other traditional instruments, the artists on this comp helped create a musical experience that still grooves today. Standout tracks include the violin-happy "Bino Boton, Bosele," the likembe-like guitar plucking sound of "Koseke Moniga Te" and the wonderful cover of "The Peanut Vendor," "Moni, Moni, Non Dey" by A.H. Depala. Covering a vast wealth of vintage recordings from this pivotal time and place, The World is Shaking is another masterfully compiled release in Honest Jon's series of albums from the EMI Hayes Archive.