When Grammy-nominated Afrobeats star Ayra Starr released her smash hit single Sability in February 2023, she did more than deliver another chart-topping anthem—she sparked a cross-generational musical renaissance.

By heavily sampling and interpolating Awilo Longomba’s 1998 Soukous masterpiece Coupé Bibamba, the 24-year-old singer introduced an entirely new generation of Gen Z listeners to the Congolese icon’s catalog, reigniting global interest in the legendary track more than two decades after its original release.

That musical bridge came full circle when the two generations of African music icons met in person for the first time during the Africa Connect concert weekend in Lusaka, Zambia.

Captured in candid footage under the outdoor night lights, the veteran singer embraced Ayra Starr warmly, affectionately referring to the Nigerian hitmaker as his "daughter."

The gesture spoke volumes about the deep mutual respect between the two artists and highlighted how much her homage to his legacy meant to him.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of the festival, the historic meeting served as a powerful reminder of how contemporary Afrobeats creators continue to honor, preserve, and revitalize the work of pioneering Pan-African legends for modern global audiences.

Released in 1998 on Awilo Longomba's sophomore album of the same name, Coupé Bibamba became one of the most commercially successful African dance records in history, dominating airwaves across West, Central, and East Africa throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Produced by London, Sability proved to be a massive commercial success for Mavin Records, amassing tens of millions of global streams while demonstrating the power of sampling classic Central African Soukous rhythms within modern West African pop.

ID