Kwamy la sintula le n'gansie was born on 27/11/1939 in Kingambwa village in the commune of limete Kinshasa to father Mumbala (Jean Kabambala) and mother Muteke (Henriette Ngalie Mbuleme). Orphaned at the age of 2, he was raised by his uncles Joseph Lingele and Salomon Diki. After completing his secondary education, Jean Munsi opted for his passion for music, even though he had qualified as a primary school teacher. He began his musical career as a singer in orchestras in his adopted commune of Nairi Ngiri, and later joined grand kalle kabasele's african jazz group, which he later left. With Vicky Longomba's departure for African Jazz, Jean Munsi, who refused to sing alongside his childhood friend Franco, eventually joined Ok Jazz to form, with Mujos, the group's melancholy vocal attack of the '60s.