Richacha Balengola

Richacha's mentor was Mando (a former Rochereau Tabu Ley and Afrisa drummer) and was later most inspired by Carlton Barrett (Bob Marley’s drummer). That’s why some songs recorded with Viva La Musica in the late 1980s and beginning of the 1990s have that Reggae Root Snare sound. Richacha did not record a song in Afrisa with Rochereau Tabu Ley but he performed as a drummer during some live concerts in 1979; he was on Drums the day Mbilia Bel was doing her first appearance in Afrisa. Richacha is among Viva la Musica’s Musicians appearing in the movie La Vie est Belle in which the main actor was Papa Wemba. He was acting as a shoe shiner, also as a guitarist during Papa Wemba rehearsal. The movie was released in 1987.

Despite the fact of having Congolese origins, Richacha had not had a chance of playing with a Soukous and Rumba band permanently until he joined Touche Pas. His last recording session with Viva La Musica was in 1996. He has performed with several major world music, reggae singers and bands including The Hooligans, Pierpoljak, Tonton David, Princess Erika, Nèg' Marrons, Ijahman Levi, Bisso Na Bisso, Secteur Ä, The Wailers, Alpha Blondy, Barrington Levy, R.M.I (Reggae Music International), Queen Ifrica, Tony Rebel, etc.

Richard Abongy Balengola Yende, best known as Richacha "Chacha" Balengola, is a reggae, soukous and world music drummer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, based in Reims, France, since 1987.

In 1980 Richacha joined "Les Frères Fataki" in a band called Touche pas as a drummer. A well-known singer from this band is Jose Fataki Ndoko who later became part of Viva La Musica and La Nouvelle Génération. In 1982 most of the Viva La Musica Members broke away from Papa Wemba to create Victoria Eleison The Singers who left the band were: King Kester Emeneya, Pepe Bipoli, Joly Mubiala, Debaba El Shabab, the drummer was also part of those who quit with Viva La Musica to form Victoria Eleison Band. John Pepito who later became Papa Wemba's bass player after Victoria Eleison had been created, was asked by Papa Wemba if he could bring along with him Ndoki Machine's drummer to join his band. Papa Wemba needed something new in Viva La Musica's style of music; that drummer was Richacha. He became known as a professional drummer in 1980, at the age of 16 when he joined Touche pas.

Born on December 22, 1964, in Léopoldville, Balengola started his career as a drummer with a world music band called Ndoki Machine. A Bass player called John Pepito (Papa Wemba's friend) was part of the band after coming back to Congo (DRC) from Paris, France where he stayed to study. Ndoki Machine's style of music and John Pepito's style of playing bass had nothing to do with soukous. Their style of music was similar to music played by a band from DRC Congo called "Bobongo Stars." Shakara Mutela, a well known bass player from DRC Congo, was among the Bobongo Stars Leaders.