From 1957 to 1959 half a dozen movie theaters opened in the "African"neighborhoods in Léopoldville. The majority of Léopoldville's population was under 20, They were particularly drawn to Western movies, and "Billism" began to incorporate many of the motifs into their lives.

The portrayal of Buffalo Bill in the movies was especially appealing partly because of the similarity to hunter heroes of Congolese culture.
It provided a street-level counterpart to the more rented and overtly political anti-colonial struggle that was then being fought.

It was hard being a youth in Kinshasa in the 1950s. Known as Leopoldville at the time, the capital of Congo was under the control of Belgian colonialists. Segregation meant there were no-go zones after nightfall and unemployment levels were high.

Refusing to be cowed, these young men were looking for a role model. They found one in Bualo Bill For these Congolese youths, the cowboy was a symbol of victory, of empowerment and liberation, and many bought into the image wholeheartedly.

For all their infamy, these gangs self-styled after cowboys occupy a unique place in Congo's history. Between January 4-6, 1959, riots broke out across the capital at a rally calling for independence. At the forefront were the Bills. "They took that spirit of insurrection and spread it all over the townships.