Authenticité (Zaire) renaming of the nation from the Republic of the Congo to Zaire, a Portuguese mispronunciation of the Kikongo word "nzere" or "nzadi", which translates as "the river that swallows all rivers." It is generally unknown why the head of state chose a Portuguese colonial name instead of an authentic Congolese name. A biography about the President by "Le Monde" journalist Jean-Pierre Langellier, however, traces the naming of the currency "zaire" back to a dinner Mobutu had with his economic adviser Jacques de Groote and Belgian anthropoligst Jan Vansina, where the latter came up with the term as it believably designates,
Keelay and Zaire Saafir, prominent emcees within the hip hop genre. Zaire, originating from Dayton, Ohio, now resides in Newport News, Virginia, and supplies the other half of the production work from Sole Vibe Studios East, located in Newport News as well. On the east coast, Zaire maintains a constant flow of music by collaborating with local Virginian artists, most notably emcee/songwriter Khizman of Trophy Winner Records, a native of the city of Norfolk, VA, and Newport News' own singer/songwriter Jonathan Moore. Keelay & Zaire released a free EP in January 2009 entitled 'Prelude To Drive EP' on Myx Music Label, featuring artists