Grupo Lokito are a 6-9 piece band, a powerful fusion of salsa and Congolese rumba, based in London!

Fusing Congolese and Latin Music in an exuberant explosion of sound, Grupo Lokito features wonderful musicians who have made London their home.

The driving force behind the band is the dynamic partnership of Latin Piano Player Sara McGuinnes and Congolese singer Jose Hendrix Ndelo. Around them they have gathered an exciting and eclectic group of musical wizards, spanning generations and continents. Sara McGuinness is well known on the UK Salsa scene where she is leadaer of top band El Equipo, Sara has played and studied in Cuba with musicians from the Buena Vista Social Club. recently she has been working in Mali playing and recording with well known Malian flautist Dramane Coulibaly and his band. other tours include Beijing International Festival, China, tours of Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Brunei and Algeria, concerts in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Ronnie Scotts as well as numerous festivals around the UK and Ireland. Jose Hendrix Ndelo came to London two years ago from Kinshasa with popular young Congolese band Planet Elegance. He is a versatile performer having worked with the National Classical Choir of Kinshasa as well as many popular bands including Werra Son, Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomide, he was also the lead vocalist of Kinshasa R and B band Kmelia. Since being in England Jose has firmly established himself in the Congolese music community here and is much sought after as a singer, dancer and choreographer. With him into Grupo Lokito Jose brings three top class Congolese musicians Linousine on lead guitar, Kawele Mutimanwa on rhythm guitar and Padou Machine on drums. Padous drums are complemented by the amazing percussion of two Latin Musicians in London: Timbalero and master percussionist Oli Savil The band also features the driving bass playing and glorious vocals of Colombian musician Elpidio Caicedo.

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