African Rap/Belgium

Unlike the French Hip-Hop scene, Belgian Hip-Hop has a few rappers steming from Africa. Belgium, like France controlled African countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), Rwanada, and Burundi until the early 1960s. Like France, immigrants from these countries started to study and live in Belgium. The Belgian Hip-Hop scene started in the late 1980s with a U.S.-based Techno/Rap? group called Technotronic. In the group was an emcee named Ya Kid K from the former Zaire who later led the group into international fame with hits like "Pump up the Jam" and "Shake that body". In 1990, she also joined the group Hi-Tek 3 who were heard on the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle" movie soundtrack. In the late 1990s, Rwandan Hip-Hop pioneer J.C. Matata moved to Belgium and created a Hip-Hop/Reggae?/Zouk? group called ZAMZAM. Outside the Hip-Hop scene there are a few musical groups from Africa living in Belgium like the female acapella group Zap Mama from The Democratic Republic of the Congo.