Kaoma

Kaoma

Company type	Musical ensemble
Industry	Music
Founded	1989
Founder	Jean Georgakarakos, Olivier Lamotte D'Incamps
Defunct	1999
Headquarters	France
Products	Music albums and singles
Website	www.kaoma.com

Kaoma was a French-Brazilian musical ensemble established in 1989, widely recognized for introducing the lambada genre to European audiences. Throughout their active years until their dissolution in 1999, the group produced three albums, with their 1989 single "Lambada" achieving international chart dominance.

Background

In 1988, French music producers Jean Georgakarakos (known as Jean Karakos) and Olivier Lamotte D'Incamps (alias Olivier Lorsac) encountered lambada during a holiday in Porto Seguro, Brazil. Motivated by this discovery, they created a lambada band aimed at bringing the style to Europe. They registered the track at SACEM under the name Chico de Oliveira and renamed it "Lambada."

For the lead vocalist role, they sought someone between 19 and 25 years old and chose Loalwa Braz, who was actually in her thirties but had lived in France since 1985. Braz also proposed the name Kaoma for the group. The band's roster included Chyco Dru on bass, Jacky Arconte on guitar, Jean-Claude Bonaventure handling keyboards, Michel Abihssira on drums and percussion, and Fania Niang providing backing vocals.

Career

Kaoma launched their single "Lambada" during the summer of 1989, which swiftly became a worldwide chart sensation. Initially, songwriting was credited to Chico de Oliveira; however, it was later disclosed that this was a pseudonym for Olivier Lamotte D'Incamps (Olivier Lorsac).

The song was a cover version of Brazilian artist Márcia Ferreira's 1986 track "Chorando Se Foi", which itself adapted Cuarteto Continental's 1984 rendition of "Llorando se fue", originally composed by Bolivian ensemble Los Kjarkas in 1981. Kaoma made substantial modifications to Márcia Ferreira's lyrics, resulting in successful legal actions by both Los Kjarkas in 1990 and Márcia Ferreira in 1991.

After "Lambada," Kaoma released additional singles such as "Dançando Lambada" and "Mélodie d'amour," which enjoyed popularity but did not reach the heights of their breakthrough hit. The single attained number 46 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and climbed to number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album Worldbeat, released in 1989, garnered international acclaim and cemented Kaoma—alongside Beto Barbosa—as iconic figures within Brazilian lambada music. At the 1990 Lo Nuestro Awards, Kaoma earned titles for Pop Group of the Year and New Pop Artist of the Year.

In 1991, Kaoma presented Tribal Pursuit, featuring singles like "Danca Tago Mago" and "Moço do Dendê". Their last album, A la media noche, came out in 1998 before the group disbanded; subsequently, lead vocalist Braz embarked on a solo career.

Murder of Loalwa Braz

On January 19, 2017, Loalwa Braz was tragically killed in Saquarema; her body was discovered inside her car which had been set on fire. Authorities detained three individuals suspected of involvement, with motives believed to be robbery or retaliation. All suspects received prison sentences.

Core members

• Loalwa Braz – lead vocals (1989–1999; deceased 2017)
• Chyco Dru – bass guitar (1989–1999; 2006–2009)
• Jacky Arconte – guitar (1989–1999; 2006–2009)
• Jean-Claude Bonaventure – keyboards, production (1989–1993)
• Michel Abihssira – drums, percussion (1989–1998)
• Fania – backing vocals, flute (1989–1993)

Additional members

• Etna Brasyl – lead singer (2006–2009)
• Dyami – role unspecified
• Alan Hoy – backing vocals and dancer (2006–2009)

Albums

Studio albums with selected chart rankings and certifications

Album Title	Details	Highest Chart Positions										Certifications
		BRA	AUS	AUT	GER	NLD	NOR	SWE	SWI	US	US Latin
Worldbeat	Release date: 16 December 1989 Record label: Columbia Available formats: CD	1	17	16	21	12	11	41	6	40	1	ABPD: Platinum MC: Gold
Tribal-Pursuit	Released in 1991 Label: Sony Music Format: CD	—	—	—	—	51	—	—	—	—	—
A La Media Noche	Release date: 10 November 1998 Label: Atoll Music Format available: CD	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Singles

Singles with chart peak positions and certifications (selected)

Single Title	Year Released	Peak Chart Rankings										Certifications	Associated Album
		AUS	AUT	CAN	GER	IRL	NLD	NZ	SWI	UK	US
"Lambada"	1989	5	1	78	1	4	1	10	1	4	46	ARIA (Australia): Gold BPI (UK): Gold BVMI (Germany): Double Platinum IFPI Sweden: Platinum IFPI Switzerland: Gold MC (Canada): Gold NVPI (Netherlands): Platinum RIAJ (Japan): Platinum	Worldbeat
"Dançando Lambada"		—	17	—	18	11	5	—	6	62	—			- ! scope=row | "Lambamor"	1990	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		- ! scope=row | "Mélodie d'amour"	—	—	—	—	—	15	—	—	—	—		- ! scope=row | "Jambé Finète (Grillé)" (Remix)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		- ! scope=row | "Dança Tago-Mago"	1991	—	—	—	—	—	8	—	—	—	—		Tribal Pursuit - ! scope=row | "Mamãe Afrika"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	- ! scope=row | "Moço do Dende"	1992	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	- ! scope=row | "A la Media Noche" (Remix)	1998	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		A La Media Noche - ! scope=row | "Banto"	1999	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	- ! scope=row | "Lambada 3000"	2009	—	—	—	—	18	18	18	18	18	18		Non-album single - ! scope=row | "Danca Tago Mago (Robert Abigail Remix) feat. Fab Faya"	2014	—								Non-album single

External links

• Official Kaoma Lambada site