Saturday: noon Kenduskeag, 9:15 p.m. Kenduskeag; Sunday: 3 p.m. Kenduskeag, 5 p.m. Railroad

Emerging from the urban centers of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and remaining popular for more than 50 years, soukous, or “rumba,” has been one of the most globally influential musical forms to come out of Africa in this century. It is heard in dance halls and concert venues throughout Africa and the rest of the world. Wawali Bonane and Yoka Nzenze, an eight-member ensemble from Seattle’s vibrant new African immigrant music community, bring the irresistible dance rhythms of soukous to the 65th National Folk Festival.

Soukous, from the French word for “shake,” is a combination of Cuban rumba rhythms, Antillean music and Congolese aesthetics. The genre became popular in the 1950s in the city of Kinshasa and hit its peak in dance halls in the 1970s. Soukous is characterized by its distinctive guitar-picking style that is rhythmic and melodic. The style of playing hearkens back to the playing technique of the African thumb piano (the 800-year-old instrument called a likembe in the Congo) and piano rhythms employed in Afro-Cuban rumba. The music’s mellow quality, its variety of influences and its lyrics, sung in the language of Lingala, captivate audiences worldwide.

Over the past 30 years, African immigration has created new African communities in New York, Washington, D.C., Minnesota and Seattle that are enriching the culture, arts and cuisine of the community at large. Particularly in the Pacific Northwest, the music of African immigrants has enhanced the already diverse regional music scene through live performances and university teaching positions held by immigrants. Like Zimbabwean Dumisani Maraire and Ghanaian Obo Addy, Wawali Bonane and Yoka Nzenze continue this trend by bringing their brand of African music to this lively scene.

Born in Baningville (now Bandundu) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lead singer Wawali Bonane grew up absorbing the sounds of his region. In 1966, Wawali and his friend Pepe Kalle, soon to become one of the biggest names in soukous, formed their first band, Les Monkoy. In 1974, Wawali joined Afrisa International, the band of superstar Tabu Ley Rochereau, and later moved to Paris, where he performed as a support singer and made many of his own recordings.

In 1986, Wawali moved to Seattle with his longtime musical partner and fellow vocalist Steve Mgondo. Today, their ensemble includes dancer OJ, vocalist Stany Mesa, guitarist Fredy Mfumu, rhythm guitarist Hussen Kalongji, bassist Yide Mesa and drummer Eduard Souarez. Ambassadors of the soukous tradition, Wawali Bonane and Yoka Nzenze will make their first appearance in Maine at this year’s festival.