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Kaoma was a short-lived French-Brazilian pop music project created by French producer Olivier Latry, best known for the massive 1989 worldwide hit "Lambada".Formed in 1989 specifically to record and promote the song "Lambada", Kaoma featured Brazilian singer Loalwa Braz and dancers Chico & Roberta. The project was masterminded by French producers Olivier Latry and Jean-Claude Bonaventure. Kaoma released two albums: "Worldbeat" (1989) and "Tribal-Pursuit" (1991), but remained defined by their debut single. The group effectively disbanded after the initial wave of success faded.

• The song "Lambada" was actually a cover/adaptation of the Bolivian song "Llorando se fue" by Los Kjarkas. This led to a major plagiarism lawsuit, ultimately settled out of court, with Kaoma's producers crediting Los Kjarkas and sharing royalties.
• Kaoma's "Lambada" became a global cultural phenomenon in 1989-1990, topping charts worldwide and sparking a dance craze. Its music video, featuring Braz and the dancers on a Brazilian beach, was iconic.
• Lead singer Loalwa Braz (born 1953) tragically died in January 2017 at the age of 63. She was murdered during a robbery at her beach house near Rio de Janeiro.
• Despite its short lifespan, Kaoma is considered a prime example of a "one-hit wonder" on a global scale. The project was specifically assembled by producers to capitalize on the emerging Lambada dance trend.
• The band name "Kaoma" was reportedly derived from the names of the two main dancers, Chico and Roberta (Ka+oma).