Dilu Dilumona, born in Kinshasa on February 15, 1948, is a prominent Congolese singer and songwriter known for his contributions to African Rumba and Soukous music. His career began with the band l'African Jazz, led by Le Grand Kallé. He later performed in Bella Bella before becoming a lead singer for the group Lipua Lipua, where he sang alongside Nyboma Mwandido. Dilumona's most significant musical chapter began in 1972 when he, along with Pepe Kallé and Papy Tex, left Lipua Lipua to co-found the influential band Empire Bakuba.
The trio of Kallé, Dilumona, and Papy Tex—sometimes referred to by the acronym "Kadima"—formed the core of Empire Bakuba. The band quickly rose to prominence as one of Kinshasa's most popular youth bands, blending rumba with a livelier edge and incorporating rootsy rhythms from the Congolese interior. Dilumona was a prolific contributor to the band’s repertoire, with one of his notable hits being the 1983 song "Kambile," which explored themes of jealousy and infidelity. The band was voted Zaire's top group on their tenth anniversary in 1982 and toured extensively throughout Africa and internationally, releasing multiple albums annually during their peak. Dilumona also released a solo album in 1983, Dilu Dilumona et L'Empire Bakuba “a Paris”.
Following the death of Pepe Kallé in 1998, which led to the popular belief that Empire Bakuba had ceased to exist, Dilumona remained with the band for a period but eventually left in 2003. He is noted as the eldest of the Kadima trio. After his time with the renowned Soukous group, Dilu Dilumona transitioned to a focus on gospel music and has been associated with the Parish of St Francis Kintambo in Kinshasa.