Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

The Rumba Kings

Name: The Rumba Kings
Genre: Documentary, History, Music
Released: 2021-05-06
Cast: Simaro Lutumba, Roitelet, Manu Dibango, Paul Mwanga, Papa Wemba

2021 | 95 min | Documentary, History, Music

Monday Morning Maybeearly rating

Why it’s a Monday Morning Maybe

With almost no lasting buzz and soft box office, this one could be a tough watch. Keep your phone handy.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for the curious and history buffs. If you loved Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) or Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me, start here.
The mood: Eye-opening.
The pace: Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 35 min.
What might put you off: Nothing much for most grown-ups.

In the fifties, when the future Democratic Republic of Congo was still a Belgian colony, an entire generation of musicians fused traditional African tunes with Afro-Cuban music to create the electrifying Congolese rumba, a style that conquered the entire continent thanks to an infectious rhythm, captivating guitar sounds and smooth vocals.

How it earned its rating

CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 2K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Alan Brain

Simaro LutumbaSelf - Musician
RoiteletSelf - Musician
Manu DibangoSelf - Musician
Paul MwangaSelf - Singer
Papa WembaSelf - Singer
Verckys KiamanguanaSelf - Musician
BrazzosSelf - Musician
Papa NoelSelf - Musician
Kuka MathieuSelf - Singer
ManuakuSelf - Musician