Staff Benda Bilili

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Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Rumba Madiaba
Mutuashi Soukous
Folk music Pop music
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Francophone Africa
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Staff Benda Bilili are a group of disabled Congolese musicians. The majority of the band are homeless polio victims who live in areas surrounding Kinshasa's city center. They were featured in the documentary film "Jupiter's Dance", by Renaud Barret and Florent de la Tullaye. In 2006 the song "Let's Go and Vote," written and performed by the musicians, was played repeatedly in the run-up to the 2006 historic polls on radio and television stations; it was reported to be responsible for a 70% increase in voter turnout. The credits on the video clip says it was produced by Monuc UN Mission in DR Congo and distributed by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The musicians were not offered contracts, but were reportedly paid $50 each. Staff Benda Bilili have filed a lawsuit in the Congolese courts seeking $100,000 for Monuc's use of their music.

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