La Compagnie Kangou
Our history
La Compagnie Kangou was formed in 2023 by Audrey Kangou and Emanuela Castelnuovo, in Brazzaville, the Congo.
Audrey (Ya Kangou) is the heir to the long-standing family Ngwakatour practice, transmitted by “les ancêtres”, grand-gran father Antoine and grand-father and mentor Daniel Kangou, to whom l'Espace Kangou is dedicated.
Audrey is percussionist, dancer, singer and performer, since the age of seven. He has been lead percussionist in the National Ballet of the Congo, Africa Loketo, Tambours de Brazza Juniors, Tambours Sans Frontières, Ballet Senga, Ballet Louzolo. Audrey has toured in Rwanda, Gabon, Cameroun, Angola, RDC, South Africa, Morocco, Mali, Sénégal, Togo, Benin, Guadeloupe, Brazil, Poland, Germany, France, and collaborated with Freddy Massamba, Emile Biayenda, Hyacinthe Massamba, Kevin Finka
One of the ngoma from Tambours de Brazza Junior
People and culture
La Compagnie Kangou is a talented Congolese percussion group that belongs to the rich and diverse organised community of artists in the distinguished Ngwakatour heritage.
This tradition encompassed professional groups of skilled percussionists who devoted their lives to the craft of rhythm. For centuries, the Brazzaville area has been a unique site where an extraordinary concentration of hundreds, if not thousands, of professional Ngwakatour lived and performed.
The tam tam was anywhere in the streets, there were schools where the young started the lifetime apprenticeship. Each group performed in codified rhythms and dances, each unique to one ancestral village and province. Travelling from village to village, Ngwakatours engaged in rituals meant to pay tribute to their ancestors during significant community occasions.
And still do.
Through their powerful performances, La Compagnie Kangou wants to not only entertain but also to reclaim and preserve the Ngwakatour cultural heritage, at risk of disappearing, nurturing continuity between past and present, fostering a deep sense of identity and continuity among the people.
The unconventional approach to the tradition that La Compagnie Kangou adopts works to advance this heritage in today's context, to keep shaping the Congolese popular culture.
La Compagnie Kangou on stage
Festival FRONTIERE
6 July 2025, Piuro (So) ITALY
FESPAM, Stade Massamba Débat
21 July 2023, Brazzaville CONGO
FESPAM, Kintelé
20 July 2023, Brazzaville CONGO
Cultural Association Récépissé N. 00242/23/MIDDL/DBZV/SG/DDAT/SR Ministère de l’Intérieur, Décentralisation et Développent local; N.832/MICTAL/DGAL/DAC Reconnue par le Ministère de l’Industrie Culturelle, Touristique, Artistique et des Loisirs