Ntumba Ayila, known professionally as Emoro, was a prominent dancer and a supporting member of the highly influential Congolese soukous band, Empire Bakuba. He joined the band around 1980 and became a distinctive fixture in their live performances. Emoro was a dwarf dancer and his physical contrast with the band's frontman, the towering and heavy Pepe Kalle, was a deliberate and eye-catching element of their stage show. This dynamic helped to make Empire Bakuba's concerts highly scenographic and memorable. The group, founded in 1972, quickly rose to become one of Kinshasa's leading youth bands, and Emoro's presence added to their unique flavor, which blended soukous with a strong influence of Congolese traditional and tribal music. The band was also known for popularizing the kwassa kwassa dance style. Emoro's time with Empire Bakuba ended with his sudden death in 1992. His passing was a significant loss for the group, though they continued on, replacing him with three Pygmy dancers, which further enhanced the circus-like quality of their stage acts.