VI.BE

Shak Shakito, taken from his real name Shamba Benoit Olela, was born in the

small village of Lodja in the province of East Kasaï, which is situated in the center of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). He was 14 yearsold when he joined his sister in Kinshasa, the country capital, about 2000km from his hometown. In Kinshasa, he studied painting at the NationalInstitute of Fine Arts, but, listening to his neighbor brightening upthe nights with live guitar music, Shak Shakito was inspired to learn toplay guitar to accompany the texts that he was writing. He finallyexchanged his paintbrushes to formally study guitar and registered atthe National Institute of the Arts where he graduated in music in 2007.

In 2008, at the Heart of Africa Festival in Kinshasa, he launched his professional music careerwith his artist name Shak Shakito. Since then, he has performed at popular music festivals bothat home and abroad, including some of the largest performance venues in Kinshasa.

Shak Shakito is a talented musician, known for his ability to fuse diverse musical genres, ranging from rumba to pop and influences from the alternative scene. Arriving in Belgium in 2021, he quickly captured the attention of the public and professionals thanks to his innovative approach and his dynamic performances on stage. Since settling in the country, he has played in many iconic venues, helping to enrich the Belgian music scene with his unique style and boundless creativity.

Collaborations and projects: Beyond his solo performances, Shak Shakito also distinguishes himself in collaborations with Belgian artists from varied backgrounds. In 2024, he joined the Eastman | Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui for the Nomad show tour; Italy, Switzerland and Germany.