This video [French] claims that kizomba was created after zouk creator Kassav' inspired Angolan artists.
On the opposite, Eduardo Paim has claimed [Portuguese] that kizomba was created independently in Angola, inspired by Afro Sound Star, then brought to Europe where it was confused with zouk.
Which one is right?
From this Kizomba site:
Kizomba music was born in Angola (in Luanda) in the 80’s following the influences of traditional Semba music (the predecessor of Samba from Brazil) and Zouk music from the groupe Kassav from the French Caribbean Island Guadeloupe. On this basis, Kizomba music emerged as a more modern music genre with a sensual touch mixed with African rhythm. Unlike Semba, Kizomba music is characterised by a slower and usually very romantic rhythm. Given that Angola is a former Portuguese colony, Portuguese is the principal language spoken in Angola and thus, also most Kizomba songs are sung in Portuguese. However, Kizomba songs of the very beginning were song in Kimbundu and in other National languages of Angola. Famous Angolan Kizomba singers include Bonga (Semba, traditional music), André Mingas (traditional music), Liceu Vieira Dias, Neide Van-Dúnem (Semba, tradional music), Don Kikas (Semba, Kizomba), Calo Pascoal (Kizomba), Heavy C. (Semba, Kizomba), Puto Portugues (Semba), Maya Cool (Kizomba, Semba), Matias Damasio (Kizomba, Semba), Rei Helder (Semba), and Irmãos Verdades (Kizomba).
