Zap Mama is a Belgian singer-songwriter, performer, composer, lyricist, activist, video artist and ethno-vocal therapist born in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
, raised in
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
. Zap Mama sings
polyphonic
Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice ( monophony) or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chords ...
and afro-pop music, a harmonic music with a mixture of infused
African vocal techniques, urban,
hip hop
Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
with
emphasis on voice.
In order to explore and discover the vast world of
oral tradition music, she travels throughout Africa, learning, exchanging and sharing information about healing songs, lullabies, mourning, and practising
polyphony
Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice ( monophony) or a texture with one dominant melodic voice accompanied by chord ...
with griots (bards),
Tartit tuareg women,
Dogons, Peulhs,
Pygmies
In anthropology, pygmy peoples are ethnic groups whose average height is unusually short. The term pygmyism is used to describe the phenotype of endemic short stature (as opposed to disproportionate dwarfism occurring in isolated cases in a po ...
,
Mangbetus, Zulus and others.
Zap Mama's worldwide success began with a quintet of polyphonic female singers, whose unique vocal polyphony style has inspired influences in American
hip hop
Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
, nu-soul,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
and elements of
pop. Her song "Iko-iko" was featured in the film ''
Mission: Impossible II''.
Sources of Zap Mama's music
Sources of Zap Mama's music include Daulne's roots in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
, her upbringing in
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
, and her return to
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
to rediscover her musical roots.
"The voice is an instrument in itself," says Daulne, "it's the original instrument. It's the original instrument. The main instrument. It's the instrument that gives the most soul, the human voice. We sing songs in
French and
English with African and world roots."
Early life
Democratic Republic of Congo
Marie Daulne, was born in the East
Zaire
Zaire, officially the Republic of Zaire, was the name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1971 to 18 May 1997. Located in Central Africa, it was, by area, the third-largest country in Africa after Sudan and Algeria, and the 11th-la ...
City of
Isiro
Isiro () is the capital of Haut-Uele Province in the northeastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies between the Tropical rainforest, equatorial forest and the savannah and its main resource is coffee. Isiro's population is est ...
in the
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
.
She is the daughter of a Belgian father and a Congolese mother. She had only been born a few days when her father was killed by the
Simba rebels, during the
Congo Crisis
The Congo Crisis () was a period of Crisis, political upheaval and war, conflict between 1960 and 1965 in the Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville), Republic of the Congo (today the Democratic Republic of the Congo). The crisis began almost ...
.
[ The crisis resulted in the deaths of some 100,000 people. It led to the assassination of Prime Minister ]Patrice Lumumba
Patrice Émery Lumumba ( ; born Isaïe Tasumbu Tawosa; 2 July 192517 January 1961) was a Congolese politician and independence leader who served as the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as the Republic o ...
, as well as a traumatic setback to the United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
, following the death of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld in a plane crash as he sought to mediate. Marie's mother, with brother and sisters had to survive hiding in the forest. Several months later, they were rushed by Belgian paratrooper
A paratrooper or military parachutist is a soldier trained to conduct military operations by parachuting directly into an area of operations, usually as part of a large airborne forces unit. Traditionally paratroopers fight only as light infa ...
s from Isiro. Marie and her family were flown to Belgium, because her father was a Belgian citizen.
Belgium
Growing up in Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
was not easy for the family. "The afro community was very under-represented and not at all prominent at that time in Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
, "says Daulne. "It became easier as I grew older". There were black role models seen in music and sport
Sport is a physical activity or game, often Competition, competitive and organization, organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The numbe ...
s. At home, the Congolese culture remained present through tradition
A tradition is a system of beliefs or behaviors (folk custom) passed down within a group of people or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common e ...
al songs, which her mother and sisters sang together. The loving paternal family of Marie's Belgian father, provided liturgical
Liturgy is the customary public ritual of worship performed by a religious group. As a religious phenomenon, liturgy represents a communal response to and participation in the sacred through activities reflecting praise, thanksgiving, remembra ...
music and the Walloon popular songs. From early adolescence, Marie trained and competed in track, field and volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
with athletic aspirations to one day compete in the International Olympics
The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competit ...
. Marie graduated at the Academie Royale des Beaux Arts de Bruxelles and the Nationale Superieure des Arts Visuales de La Cambre. Daulne also trained in modern dance
Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert dance, concert or theatrical dance which includes dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing; and primarily arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th ...
, choreography
Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which Motion (physics), motion or Visual appearance, form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A chor ...
and acrobatics
Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance (ability), balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sports, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most ...
at the Ecole du Cirque, and briefly attended the Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
School of Jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
.
Daulne's mother sang songs and polyphonies with her sisters and mother so the children benefited from a heritage of oral tradition. Daulne grew up and listened to European music.[ "Belgian radio stations programmed European music mainly from France, UK and American which were very popular throughout Europe. Since our mother did not want us to watch TV at home, we entertained ourselves by creating our own music. We were very musical."] Daulne was introduced to black music
Music of the African diaspora is a sound created, produced, or inspired by Black people, including Music of Africa, African music traditions and African popular music as well as the music genres of the African diaspora, including some Caribbean mus ...
watching television
Television (TV) is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. Additionally, the term can refer to a physical television set rather than the medium of transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...
. "When I was growing up, there were only a few Afro families, and they were mostly isolated. However, we would often come together in a renowned district of Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...
known as "Matongue," around th
La Maison Africane
It was there that my mother established several shops specializing in African items. Then I saw an American musical comedy
Musical theatre is a form of theatre, theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, ...
called Carmen Jones with black people on TV. And I couldn't believe it. I said, "That's us!" My whole fantasy life was based on that movie." Daulne felt a special connection to blues songs like " Damn Your Eyes" by Etta James
Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter. Starting her career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's R&B clubs, collectively known as the Ch ...
. "When I was a teenager I listened to a lot of American blues," she says. "That song brought me happiness while I was going through the pain of a broken love. It helped me to open the door and see the life in front of me. I sing it now and I hope, in my turn, that I can help another teenager to do the same if they are having pain from love."
When Daulne was 14 years old, she frequently visited London, England and discovered British Jamaican reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica during the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its Jamaican diaspora, diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, "Do the Reggay", was the first ...
artists. "My first vinyl was '' Kaya by Bob Marley
Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...
''. I know that whole album by heart." Then Daulne became interested in the rap music of Run-DMC
Run-DMC (also formatted Run-D.M.C., RUN DMC, or some combination thereof) was an American hip-hop group formed in Hollis, Queens, New York City in 1983 by Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell. Run-DMC is regarded as one of the mos ...
and the Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys were an American Hip-hop, hip hop and Rap rock, rap rock group formed in New York City in 1979. They were composed of Ad-Rock, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar), Adam Yauch, Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Mike D, ...
. "I was into breakdancing at the time. I formed a girl group, and we used to show off with break-dance acrobatics and beatbox influences from Doug E Fresh and Fat Boys. It was during this time that she began incorporating the polyphonic sounds of African rhythms, adding a unique authenticity to her music and marking the debut of Afro-European music."
After Daulne left her family home, she came to realize the profound richness of the African songs that her mother had sung to her during her childhood. "In the school choir, I wondered why we didn't use African harmonizations or rhythm
Rhythm (from Greek , ''rhythmos'', "any regular recurring motion, symmetry") generally means a " movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions". This general meaning of regular r ...
s. So I started recording music that reflected this mix of influences from traditional African melodies
A melody (), also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combination of pitch and rhythm, while more figuratively, the term ca ...
, British reggae, USA beatbox, French and American funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
songs, and Zap Mama was born. I wrote my first song when I was 15, and since then, I haven't stopped." However, Daulne's true professional involvement in music began after an unfortunate accident that hindered her ability to continue her athletics training. This incident forced her to redirect her energy and passion towards her musical pursuits. "I wanted to have a career in sports, but I tore my ligament
A ligament is a type of fibrous connective tissue in the body that connects bones to other bones. It also connects flight feathers to bones, in dinosaurs and birds. All 30,000 species of amniotes (land animals with internal bones) have liga ...
s during an acrobatic breakdance performance. It marked the end of my journey in the world of sports I stayed at home, listening to music. I recorded sounds all the time and I listened to sounds that went on for hours. But I still needed something, and that's when I decided to go to Africa, to the deep Ituri forest where I was born."
Return to Africa
In the documentary film ''Mizike Mama'', Daulne and her family talk about a backwards cultural struggle to win her allegiance as a child. Her mother having lived through a period of Belgian colonial rule, feared that Daulne would speak with an African accent and so did not teach her the language. However, Daulne explores her African heritage.[New York Times. "Djembefola." September 15, 1993.] Daulne first heard a recording of Pygmy
In anthropology, pygmy peoples are ethnic groups whose average height is unusually short. The term pygmyism is used to describe the phenotype of endemic short stature (as opposed to disproportionate dwarfism occurring in isolated cases in a po ...
ritual music from the colonial period exposed in a toy library in Brussels, and recognized the same musical ranges as her mother's songs. She decided to return Congo-Kinshasa in 1984 to learn about her heritage and train in pygmy onomatopoeic vocal techniques. "When I went to the Congo, I hadn't thought of becoming the vocal artist I am today. Not at all. But I was there, to understand the family history, and I was in the middle of the forest, hearing the music that had been part of my earliest memories, and it was like an illumination, like a light," Daulne declared.[Zap Mama. "Zap My Message = Zap Mama Welcome Page + Zap Marie = Zap Mama Bio."]
Daulne made further trips to Africa. "I've been all over Africa. I started where I was born, in the forest of Zaire. Then I went to West Africa, to discover the Tuareg
The Tuareg people (; also spelled Twareg or Touareg; endonym, depending on variety: ''Imuhaɣ'', ''Imušaɣ'', ''Imašeɣăn'' or ''Imajeɣăn'') are a large Berber ethnic group, traditionally nomadic pastoralists, who principally inhabit th ...
, Mandingo musicand griots, to South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
in Soweto
Soweto () is a Township (South Africa), township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western T ...
, to East Africa with the Masai and to North Africa with the Gnawa
The Gnawa () (or Gnaoua, Ghanawa, Ghanawi, Gnawi'; ) are an ethnic group inhabiting Morocco, that had been brought as slaves from the West African Sahel.
The name Gnawa originated in the indigenous language of North Africa and the Sahara, Sahar ...
. "I focused mainly on vocal techniques," explains Daulne. Daulne considers herself a citizen of the world. "You know, when I went back to Congo, I thought I'd be welcomed as if I were part of the community, part of the country, but that wasn't the case," says Daulne. "They treated me like a Belgian coming to visit. I saw that no where would I find a place where I could feel at home."
Daulne's music has evolved over the years from an a cappella
Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...
quintet to a lead voice accompanied by instruments. "I'm a nomad. I like to discover my sound with different instruments, different genres. For me it's normal. My name is Zap Mama...it's easy for me to zap in from one instrument to another, a culture, a style. I'm more a citizen of the world, not an American or Belgian." Zap Mama has released nine full-length albums: ''Zap Mama'' (1991) (re-released in 1993 as ''Adventures in Afropea 1'', minus the single track ''Etupe''), ''Sabsylma'' (1994), ''Seven'' (1997), ''A Ma Zone'' (1999), ''Ancestry in Progress'' (2004), ''Supermoon'' (2007), ''ReCreation'' (2009), ''Eclectic Breath'' (2018)and ''Odyssée'' (2022) that fall into five cycles.
First Cycle: ''Adventures in Afropea (album1)'' and ''SabSylMa (album 2)''
Back in Belgium, Marie Daulne teaches African polyphony and polyrhythm in private music schools in Brussels. She founded the female a cappella quintet "Zap Mama" to fuse the African and European aspects of her identity Marie Daulne auditioned dozens of female singers in search of the right combination of voices for an a cappella
Music performed a cappella ( , , ; ), less commonly spelled acapella in English, is music performed by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Rena ...
ensemble. "When I made my first album, I was looking for girls who, like me, had grown up with a double culture", she says. "I wanted to put these two sounds together." The group evolved by meeting singers with different timbres - Marie Daulne, her sister Anita Daulne, Sylvie Nawasadio, Sabine Kabongo, Cecilia Kankonda, Céline T'hooft, fanchon Nuyens . This ensemble of timbres combined the sound styles of Congolese Pygmies
In anthropology, pygmy peoples are ethnic groups whose average height is unusually short. The term pygmyism is used to describe the phenotype of endemic short stature (as opposed to disproportionate dwarfism occurring in isolated cases in a po ...
with the vocal styles of European choral traditions. The original idea behind Zap Mama was "five singers as one", said Marie Daulne. "In the polyphony "There is no leader." "The strength of polyphony is unity through the voice.[ "I wanted to show the world the capacity of five authentic, strong women, proud of their Afropean culture, exploring a futuristic African world... our voices and our spirits, nothing else."][
Zap Mama performed their first concert in 1989.] In 1991, the group recorded their first record, ''Zap Mama'', at Studio Daylight in Brussels, Belgium. The album was released by Crammed Discs, the Belgian record label of Marc Hollander and Vincent Kenis (who produced the album) and Luakabop Independent Music Label. In 1992, Zap Mama came to the United States for the first time to perform at New Music Seminar in New York. There, they met David Byrne
David Byrne (; born May 14, 1952) is an American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American New wave music, new wave band Talking Heads.
Byrne has ...
and agreed to let him reissue Zap Mama's first recordings as ''Adventures in Afropea 1'' on Luaka Bop Records. By the end of the year, the first album stayed at the top of the Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
charts for 11 weeks in the world music chart. Zap Mama went on tour, playing New York's Central Park, Paris' Olympia, the Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival (formerly Festival de Jazz Montreux and Festival International de Jazz Montreux) is a music festival in Switzerland, held annually in early July in Montreux on the Lake Geneva shoreline. It is the second-largest annu ...
. After the success of ''Adventures in Afropea 1'', Zap Mama has parted company Crammed Disc Records, remark Ftrance a tumultuous legal battle for the reason of artistic and marketing choices. According to Daulne, the record company "wanted to turn us into a French poppy girl group, but I said, 'our intention is to bring the music of forgotten people to enrich the music of tomorrow', and I end up by leaving the label. Everyone wandered why I wanted to stop when we had reached such dazzling peak. But I felt that it was completely wrong. I wasn't ready. I wasn't strong enough. The manager said that if I stopped then, I'd be killing my career, but it was my decision."
The next album ''SabSylMa'' ( Crammed Discs, 1994) featured Indian, Moroccan, and Australian influences and earned Zap Mama a Grammy for Best World Music Album. She was invited to perform with the Neville Brothers
The Neville Brothers were an American R&B/soul/funk group, formed in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
History
The group notion started in 1976, when the four brothers of the Neville family, Art (1937–2019), Charles (1938–2018), Aaron (b. 19 ...
, Ai Jarreau and Bobby Mcferrin
Robert Keith McFerrin Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American singer, songwriter, and conductor (music), conductor. His Vocal pedagogy, vocal techniques include singing fluidly but with quick and considerable jumps in Pitch (music), pitch—fo ...
, Zap Mama toured the United States, Japan and Europe. Has appeared on numerous television programmes, including Sesame Street
''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...
, Studio 54
Studio 54 is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater and former nightclub at 254 West 54th Street (Manhattan), 54th Street in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City, New York, U.S. Opened as the Gallo Opera House in 1927, it served ...
th, ABC TV, Arsenio Hall Show, BET, Jools Holland
Julian Miles Holland (born 24 January 1958) is an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and television presenter. He was an original member of the band Squeeze and has worked with many artists including Marc Almond, Jayne County, To ...
, Taratata, BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, etc. Contributed to the soundtrack of Mathieu Kassovitch's film " La Haine".
Daulne explained that the sharper sound of ''SabSylMa'' was due to the increasing influence of American music, as a result of being on the road. "We've been touring so intensively. ''Adventures in Afropea 1'' was a soft, African record with a natural, round sound. ''SabSylMa'' is hectic, sharper. Not on purpose, mind you. I can't help it. If you're driving in a van for months, and you constantly hear the sounds of traffic, TV, hard rock on the radio ... those sounds hook up in your ears, and come out if you start to sing."
In the studio, Daulne used an organic process of improvisation to create her music. "I'm always looking for sounds. Most of the time, I work with colors. Each sound needs different colors of voices. I dissect sounds, cut them in little pieces, order them, and reassemble them," says Daulne. "During the rehearsals, we light some candles, start a tape-recorder, close our eyes, and start making up a story. On that, we start adding sounds. We let ourselves go. We are carried away by the music."
While Zap Mama worked in the studio on their 1st album "Adventure afropéenne", Director Violaine de Villers made a documentary, ''Mizike Mama'' (1990), a portrait of the group. The film focuses on Daulne as the driving force behind the group and discusses the implications of membership in a racially mixed group that consciously fuses African rhythms and vocal tones with European polyphony.
In 1995, Marie Daulne signed, co-created and performed an advert for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola, or Coke, is a cola soft drink manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company. In 2013, Coke products were sold in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with consumers drinking more than 1.8 billion company beverage servings ...
which was broadcast worldwide during the 1996 Summer Olympics
The modern Olympic Games (Olympics; ) are the world's preeminent international sporting events. They feature summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competit ...
in Atlanta (single: Brrlak /Take me KoKo) the women's quintet achieves worldwide fame and embarks on a world tour.
Second Cycle: ''Seven'' and ''A Ma Zone''
After the success of her first two albums, Daulne gave birth in 1993 to her first child Kezia Quental known as K.zia. Upon returning to her music, Daulne took a new direction. She chose to record '' Seven'' as the sole remaining member of the original Zap Mama. Her music had evolved stylistically as well. ''Adventures in Afropea 1'' and ''Sabsylma'' had both been largely a cappella, but ''Seven'' broke with the past by including male musicians and vocalists, an increased number of instruments, and more songs in English. "I'm looking for instruments that have vocal sounds, forgotten instruments like the guimbri
The sintir (), also known as the guembri (), gimbri, hejhouj in Hausa language, is a three stringed skin-covered bass guitar, bass plucked lute used by the Gnawa people of Morocco. It is approximately the size of a guitar, with a body carved fro ...
... The first and second albums were about the voice, what came before. This album is about introducing those sounds into modern, Western life," says Daulne. The title of ''Seven'' (1997) refers to the seven senses of a human being. When Daulne traveled to Mali in 1996, she had learned the Malian belief that in addition to the five senses known in the West, some have a sixth sense of emotion. "But not everyone has the seventh. It is the power to heal with music, calm with color, to soothe the sick soul with harmony. he man who taught me about this belieftold me that I have this gift, and I know what I have to do with it," Daulne says.
Daulne's next album was '' A Ma Zone'' (1999). The title is a wordplay meaning both "Amazone," the female warrior, and "A Ma Zone," (in my zone) which "means that I feel at ease wherever I am," Daulne says. "Naturally an Amazon is a rebel, a fighter who, once she has set her heart on something, pulls out all the stops to achieve her goal. I feel this way as well when I'm standing on the stage with the group-- as a team we share the same aim of winning over the audience with our music," Daulne says. That same year, Zap Mama made " Iko-Iko" for '' Mission: Impossible 2'' soundtrack, a cover of " Jock-A-Mo" by Sugar Boy & the Cane Cutters.
Third Cycle: ''Ancestry in Progress'' and ''Supermoon''
Daulne moved to New York in 2000. "I've never been welcome in any country as my own country," says Daulne. "In Europe, they talk to me as if I'm from Congo. In Congo, they act like I'm from Europe. The first time I felt at home was in New York. I said, ‘Here is my country. Everybody is from somewhere else. I feel so comfortable here.'"
In 2001 She gives birth to he second child Zekye Daulne ROGIERS.
'' Ancestry in Progress'' (2004) reflects Daulne's new life in the United States, as it synthesizes her traditional African and European influences with American musical styles like hip-hop and R&B. "The American beat is a revolution all over the world," Daulne says. "Everybody listens to it and everybody follows it. But the beat of the United States was inspired by the beat coming from Africa. Not just its structure, but the sound of it. This is the source of modern sounds, the history of the beat, starting from little pieces of wood banging against one another, and arriving on the big sound-systems today. It's genius. So I wanted to create an album about the evolution of old ancestral vocal sounds, how they traveled from Africa, mixing with European and Asian sounds, and were brought to America." ''Ancestry in Progress'' (2004) reached No. 1 on the Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
World Music Album chart. A music video for the single "Bandy Bandy," featuring Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by rhythm and blues, R&B, Soul music, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...
, directed by Bill Fishman and produced by David Herrera (music video director), aired on VH1.
In ''Supermoon'' (2007), Daulne's vocals take center stage. The loss of her best friend Nina de Goeyse plunges her into a deep depression and follows by the separation from the father of her second child. This forces Daulne to live between two cities, New York and Brussels.
Fourth Cycle: ''ReCreation''
In 2009, Zap Mama released her 7th album ''ReCreation'', (with Terlac label CONCORD music USA), which celebrates her tradition of global influences and expresses her new attitude to her life and music. Daulne describes the inspiration behind the album as her realization that she was learning and experiencing "something new all the time." The album title refers to recreation in both senses of the word, both as self-renewal and as relaxation and pleasure. Almost all the songs on the album are collaborations with other artists, including G. Love, Vincent Cassel
Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He has earned a César Awards, César Award and a Canadian Screen Awards, Canadian Screen Award as well as nominations for a European Film Awards, European Film Award and a Screen Ac ...
, and Bilal. ''ReCreation'' was nominated by the NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. The over 40 ...
in the Best World Music Album category.
In 2018, Zap mama released her Eighth album, Eclectic Breath a return to vocal techniques blending a cappella and beatbox Pumzi is a gathering of vocalists and human beatboxers engaged in polyphonic techniques and other catchy tunes infused with Afro, Latin and house rhythms. Zap Mama will be releasing this album without the support of a record label.
In 2019, Daulne will be honored with an Honorary Maestro of world music, Marie Daulne aka ZAP MAMA. By the jazz department of the Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
Conservatory of Music
Fifth Cycle: ''Odyssée and Body and Mind''
Zap Mama returns with ''Odyssée'', a resolutely modern album open to the world, written entirely in French and in which she defends the concept of Afropeanity. "In our country, unlike in the United States, Belgian-Congolese history is not documented: we have to go and find the unsung heroes. For the texts, Daulne was able to count on the help of her brother Jean-Louis Daulne and Salvatore Adamo. Daulne reaches an age when legacy is essential. Daulne's humanitarian commitment includes support for a living hero, Dr. Mukwegue, winner of the 2018 Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes ( ; ; ) are awards administered by the Nobel Foundation and granted in accordance with the principle of "for the greatest benefit to humankind". The prizes were first awarded in 1901, marking the fifth anniversary of Alfred N ...
.
In 2020 to 2021 Daulne undergoes training in Sonotherapy and Music Therapy, to bring her humble support to the women survivors of the Panzi hospital in Bukavu (Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
).
In 2022 Daulne travels to Goma
Goma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the North Kivu, North Kivu Province; it is located on the northern shore of Lake Kivu and shares borders with the Bukumu Chiefdo ...
and Bukavu where she runs Ethno Vocal Therapy workshops, composes and records music with young women, and provides psychological support for the socio-economic reintegration of survivors treated by DR. Denis MUKWEGE. Daulne will be back after the screening of Thierry Michel's documentary on Chaine RTBF
The ("Belgian Radio-television of the French Community"), shortened to RTBF (branded as rtbf.be), is a public broadcasting, public service broadcaster for the French Community of Belgium, French-speaking Community of Belgium. Its counterpart i ...
Belgique, in which she participated in the debate to testify about the strength of the eastern congoles woman in the name and honor of her mother, Nabindibo Aningi, a heroine and survivor of the massacres in the region and puts together the pieces of a complex jigsaw puzzle of successive wars involving hundreds of armed groups, some Congolese, some foreign, guilty of mass crimes whose primary victims are women. In the Congo, rape has become a weapon of war, with victims now numbering several generations. And it continues to this day. A debate moderated by Nathalie Maleux will take stock of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), also known as the DR Congo, Congo-Kinshasa, or simply the Congo (the last ambiguously also referring to the neighbouring Republic of the Congo), is a country in Central Africa. By land area, it is t ...
. It will bring together the documentary's director, Thierry Michel, experts in international law, geopolitics and human rights, Marie Daulne of Zap Mama, and Bernard Cadière, surgeon at Hôpital Saint-Pierre and Dr. Mukwege's right-hand man.
In 2023 Daulne will compose the original music for the episode "Enkai" created and directed by Ng'endo Mukii (Kenya). The series is the first original long-form animated series produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios
Walt Disney Animation Studios (WDAS), sometimes shortened to Disney Animation, is an American animation studio that produces animated feature films and short films for the Walt Disney Company. The studio's current production logo features a s ...
and Disney +.The action-packed animated anthology draws on the rich and diverse histories and cultures of the African continent to present 10 science fiction and fantasy stories featuring bold and brave new worlds of advanced technology, aliens, spirits and monsters.
Daulne continues her musical journey by offering a therapeutic experience through her online digital release, "DAY by DAY." This wellness music incorporates affirmations that aim to uplift and inspire listeners.
In 2024, Marie Daulne, as an actress, lent her voice to the role of Andrée Blouin
Andrée Madeleine Blouin (16 December 1921 – 9 April 1986) was a political activist, human rights advocate, and writer from the Central African Republic.
Early life
The daughter of Josephine Wouassimba, a fourteen-year-old Banziri girl, and P ...
in the documentary film ''Soundtrack to a Coup d’État'', directed by Johan Grimonprez and presented at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023.
The festival has acted ...
. The film, produced by ZAP O MATIK, was later nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 97th Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...
in 2025. Zap Mama garnered widespread media attention for her red carpet appearance, where her outfit carried a political message in support of Congo, covered by outlets such as ''The New York Times'', ''BBC'', ''Huffington Post'', ''WBAL-TV'', and ''Euronews''.
That same year, Zap Mama celebrated the 30th anniversary of her career with two major concerts produced by Green House Talent one at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels and another at Roma in Antwerp
Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...
featuring special guests from the Belgian diaspora, including Selah Sue
Sanne Greet A. PutseysWensink, Herien (2009)A Flemish singer with a Jamaican soul, NRC, 21 August 2009. Retrieved 3 November 2010 (; born 3 May 1989), known professionally as Selah Sue, is a Belgian musician and songwriter. Her debut album, ''Se ...
, K.Zia, Coely, and Fredy Massamba. Looking ahead to 2025, she will present a new concert concept titled ''Ancestry in Motion'', a collaborative performance with her daughter K.Zia, centered on the theme of love and intergenerational connection, touring across Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
.
Marie Daulne officially made her debut as a theater actress in 2025, performing at the KVS Theatre in Brussels in the multilingual play ''Amour/Liefde'', directed by Pitcho Konga Wamba. Sharing the stage with four other actresses, the production is based on ''L’amour est très surestimé'' (2007), a collection of short stories by Franco-Algerian author Brigitte Giraud.
Discography
* ''Zap Mama'' (1991)
* ''Adventures in Afropea 1'' (1993)
* ''Sabsylma'' (1994)
* '' Seven'' (1997)
* '' A Ma Zone'' (1999)
* '' Ancestry in Progress'' (2004)
* ''Supermoon'' (2007)
* ''ReCreation'' (2009)
* ''Eclectic Breath'' (2018)
* ''Odyssée'' (2022)
Notable collaborations
* "Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat," (2024) narration for documentary film premiering at 2024 Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023.
The festival has acted ...
, directed by Johan Grimonprez
* Ng'endo Mukii "ENKAI" (2023) DISNEY+
The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
* Laurent Perez Del Mar :"La montagne blanche"," l'arrivée au Banian"(2015)"Drifting"
* Antiballas (2015)
* Google doodle
Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google's homepages intended to commemorate holidays, events, achievements, and historical figures. The first Google Doodle honored the 1998 edition of the long-running annual Bu ...
for International Women's Day
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8 March, commemorating women's fight for equality and liberation along with the women's rights movement. International Women's Day gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive righ ...
(2014)
* G. Love & Special Sauce, "Drifting," ''ReCreation'' (2009)
*Vincent Cassel
Vincent Cassel (; ; born 23 November 1966) is a French actor. He has earned a César Awards, César Award and a Canadian Screen Awards, Canadian Screen Award as well as nominations for a European Film Awards, European Film Award and a Screen Ac ...
, "Paroles Paroles" and "Non Non Non," ''ReCreation'' (2009)
* Bilal, " Sorrow, Tears & Blood", '' Love for Sale'' (2001–03)
*Hans Zimmer
Hans Florian Zimmer (; born 12 September 1957) is a German film score composer and music producer. He has won two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, five Grammy Awards, and has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, Emmy Awards and a Tony ...
, "Iko Iko" Paramount Mission impossible II (2000)
*Speech
Speech is the use of the human voice as a medium for language. Spoken language combines vowel and consonant sounds to form units of meaning like words, which belong to a language's lexicon. There are many different intentional speech acts, suc ...
of Arrested Development
''Arrested Development'' is an American satire, satirical television sitcom created by Mitchell Hurwitz. It follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, dysfunctional family and is presented in a Serial (radio and television), serialized format, inco ...
, "I Wonder", The Grown Folks Table (2009); "Each Step Moves Us On," ''1 Giant Leap 2 Sides 2 Everything Soundtrack'' (2008) and "W'happy Mama," ''A Ma Zone'' (1999)
*Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette ( ; born June 1, 1974) is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter, musician, and actress. Known for her emotive mezzo-soprano voice and confessional songwriting, she became a cultural phenomenon during the mid 199 ...
, "Arrival," ''1 Giant Leap 2 Sides 2 Everything Soundtrack'' (2008)
* Michael Franti, "High Low," ''All Rebel Rockers'' (2009); "Hey Brotha," ''Supermoon'' (2007); "Listener Supporter," ''Stay Human'' (2001); "Poetry Man" and "Baba Hooker," ''Seven'' (1997)
*Sérgio Mendes
Sérgio Santos Mendes (; 11 February 1941 – 5 September 2024) was a Brazilian musician.
His career took off with worldwide hits by his band Brasil '66. He released 35 albums and was known for playing bossa nova, often mixed with funk. He ...
, "Waters of March," ''Encanto'' (2008)
* Kery James, "Après la pluie," ''À l’ombre du show business'' (2008)
* Tony Allen, "African Diamond," ''ReCreation'' (2009) and "1000 Ways," ''Supermoon'' (2007)
* David Gilmore, "Toma Taboo," ''Supermoon'' (2007)
*Arno
The Arno is a river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.
Source and route
The river originates on Monte Falterona in the Casentino area of the Apennines, and initially takes a sou ...
, "Toma Taboo," ''Supermoon'' (2007) and "Brussels Mabel," ''Arno'' (2002)
*Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and ''mbube (genre), mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with American Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Grace ...
, "Hello to My Baby," ''Long Walk to Freedom'' (2006)
*Carl Craig
Carl Craig (born May 22, 1969) is an American electronic music producer, DJ, and founder of the record label Planet E Communications. He is known as a leading figure and pioneer in the second wave of Detroit techno artists during the late 1980 ...
, "Bandy Bandy," ''Luaka Bop Remixes'' (2005)
*Common
Common may refer to:
As an Irish surname, it is anglicised from Irish Gaelic surname Ó Comáin.
Places
* Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
* Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts
* Cambridge Com ...
, Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene (; born October 3, 1975) is an American rapper. He first earned recognition through his collaboration with fellow Brooklyn rapper Mos Def (now known as Yasiin Bey) in 1997, when they formed the group Black Star. Kweli's music ...
, and ?uestlove, "Yelling Away," ''Soundbombing III'' (2002)/''Ancestry in Progress'' (2004)
*Questlove
Ahmir K. Thompson (born January 20, 1971), known professionally as Questlove (stylized as ), is an American drummer, record producer, disc jockey, filmmaker, music journalist, and actor. He is the drummer and joint frontman (with Black Thought ...
, Bahamadia
Antonia D. Reed (born April 22, 1966), known professionally as Bahamadia, is an American Hip hop music, hip hop artist and singer. Bahamadia released her debut album, ''Kollage (album), Kollage'', in 1996, followed by the independently released ...
, and Lady Alma, "Show Me the Way," ''Ancestry in Progress'' (2004)
* Scratch, "Wadidyusay?," ''Ancestry in Progress'' (2004)
*Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by rhythm and blues, R&B, Soul music, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...
, "Bandy Bandy," ''Ancestry in Progress'' (2004) and "Bump It," ''Worldwide Underground'' (2003)
*Common
Common may refer to:
As an Irish surname, it is anglicised from Irish Gaelic surname Ó Comáin.
Places
* Common, a townland in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
* Boston Common, a central public park in Boston, Massachusetts
* Cambridge Com ...
, "Ferris Wheel," ''Electric Circus'' (2002)
*DJ Krush
, better known by his stage name DJ Krush, is a Japanese record producer and DJ. He is known for his atmospheric instrumental production which incorporates sound elements from nature, and extensive use of jazz and soul samples.
Early life
Ishi ...
, "Danger of Love," ''Zen'' (2001)
*Black Thought
Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (born October 3, 1973), better known as Black Thought, is an American rapper, singer, actor and the lead Emcee (hip hop), MC of the hip hop group The Roots, which he co-founded with drummer Questlove in Philadelphia. Regar ...
, "Rafiki," ''A Ma Zone'' (1999)
*The Roots
The Roots are an American Hip-hop, hip hop band formed in 1987 by singer Black Thought, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and drummer Questlove, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''T ...
, "Act Won (Things Fall Apart)," ''Things Fall Apart'' (1999)
* Boyd Jarvis, "Alibokolijah," ''Alibokolijah'' (1999)
* Maria Bethânia, "Glytzy," ''Ambar'' (1997)
*King Britt
King Britt (born 1968) is an American record producer, composer, performer, educator, and DJ and record producer from Philadelphia. Britt is known for his eclectic mix of electronic, house, disco, techno, rave, experimental music, and other gen ...
, "Poetry Man," ''Seven'' (1997)
*U-Roy
Ewart Beckford OD (21 September 1942 – 17 February 2021), known by the stage name U-Roy, was a Jamaican vocalist and pioneer of toasting.Jo-Ann GreeneU-Roy Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 11 April 2013. U-Roy was known for a melodic style ...
, "New World," ''Seven'' (1997)
*Dana Bryant, "Food," ''Wishing from the Top'' (1996)
*Al Jarreau "I Shall Be Released" (1994) TARATA
* Jacques Hugelin  "Le Grand REX" (1993)
Music in film, television, and video games
*Kizazi Moto (ENKAI) Disney + (2023 ) animated film
*Badasss (Coucou) Mario Van Peebles' half-documentary
*Metisse/Cafe au Lait ("Take Me Coco")
*Harsenio hall show (PLEKETE)
* So You Think You Can Dance Australia TV (Brrlak)
*Belpop classic  CANVAS VRT documentary
* Pourquoi j'ai pas mangé mon père PATHE Jamel Debouz animated film)
*EA Sports
EA Sports is a division of Electronic Arts that develops and publishes sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they imitated real-life sports networks by calling themselves the "EA Sports Network" (EASN) ...
' ''FIFA 10
''FIFA 10'' (titled ''FIFA Soccer 10'' in North America) is a Association football, football Simulation video game, simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. It was releas ...
'' ("Vibrations")
* So You Think You Can Dance ("Take Me Coco," "Moonray" and "W'happy Mama")
* Cashmere Mafia ("1000 Ways")
* Brothers & Sisters ("Supermoon")
*MTV
MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
's Road Rules ("Rafiki")
*MTV's 9th Annual Music Awards ("Iko Iko")
*Sesame Street
''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...
("Brrrlak")
* The Man ("Bandy Bandy")
* The God Who Wasn't There ("A Way Cuddy Dis")
* In the Cut ("Allo Allo")
* Tortilla Soup ("Call Waiting")
* Mission: Impossible 2 ("Iko Iko")
* La Haine ("J'attends," "Discussion," and "Songe")
* Elle Magazine commercial ("Sweet Melodie")
*Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz (), commonly referred to simply as Mercedes and occasionally as Benz, is a German automotive brand that was founded in 1926. Mercedes-Benz AG (a subsidiary of the Mercedes-Benz Group, established in 2019) is based in Stuttgart, ...
commercial ("Din Din")
*Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational corporation, multinational telecommunications industry, telecommunications, technology company, information technology, and consumer electronics corporation, originally established as a pulp mill in 1 ...
7250 commercial ("Take Me Coco")
*BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, trading as BMW Group (commonly abbreviated to BMW (), sometimes anglicised as Bavarian Motor Works), is a German multinational manufacturer of vehicles and motorcycles headquartered in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Th ...
commercial ("Danger of Love")
*Fiat
Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., commonly known as simply Fiat ( , ; ), is an Italian automobile manufacturer. It became a part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in 2014 and, in 2021, became a subsidiary of Stellantis through its Italian division, Stellant ...
commercial ("Allo Allo")
* Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? ("Brrrlak")
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zap Mama
Belgian world music groups
Heads Up International artists
Luaka Bop artists
Musical groups established in 1991