Diblo Dibala, born on August 9, 1954, in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo (then Zaire), is a Congolese soukous musician celebrated for his virtuosic and rapid guitar playing, which earned him the nickname "Machine Gun." His musical journey began after moving to Kinshasa as a child. At the age of 15, he won a talent competition, which led to him briefly playing guitar in Franco's legendary TPOK Jazz band. Following this, he continued to hone his craft with other Kinshasa bands in the 1970s, including Vox Africa, Orchestra Bella Mambo, and Bella Bella. In 1979, he left Zaire and settled temporarily in Brussels before moving to Paris, where he became a key figure in the thriving soukous music scene.
In Paris, Dibala reunited with former bandmate Kanda Bongo Man, playing a major role in the success of the 1981 album Iyole, which made him a highly sought-after session guitarist. In the mid-1980s, he co-founded the supergroup Loketo (meaning 'hips') with vocalist Aurlus Mabele. After recording three albums with Loketo, Dibala left in 1990 to form his own energetic band, Matchatcha, a name derived from a Zairean rainforest plant known for causing a strong burning sensation. With Matchatcha, Dibala continued to record and perform, featuring his characteristic scorching guitar solos on albums like Boum-tonnère (1990), Laissez passer (1992), and OK Madame (1993), cementing his legacy as a pivotal instrumentalist in modern African dance music.