Fallout between Dilu Dilumona, Papy Tex and Pepe Kalle MY THEORY
First Part: 1989 The fallout came from the 1989 dispute between Dilu, Papy and Pepe as Djuna Mumbafu mentioned to Popol Mukelenge when Pepe decided to separate himself due to an issue of traveling to Europe. This was when Pepe Kalle was having some solo success and was preparing his biggest solo album GERANT. This was the time where I think Dilu and Papy never really got over Pepe's sudden impulse for an attempt at separation. This leads the second part. Second Part: Dilu, Papy and Pepe not singing as much together as the past When Dilu Dilumona, Papy Tex and Pepe Kalle got back together, all the singers had left. It remained only the three. Actually it was a good thing because they were having success but some members like Kinanga Boeing 737 wanted other singers around Trio Kadima. In 1992, they would add Bovi Mukoko, Djodjo Ikomo and Blaise Matadidi. Afterwards, Dilu, Papy and Pepe would do their own albums however Pepe wanted Dilu to release his album after him and Papy which Dilu got very upset about (according to Yaya Londa). Dilu and Papy would not sing together for 5 years while Pepe would sing with Dilu and Papy on their own prespective albums however Dilu and Pepe were not supposed to sing together. According to Yaya Londa, the song Biya, the solo vocal Pepe made was supposed to be for Djodjo but Pepe forced the removal of Djodjo's solo vocals into the song. It does explain why we never saw Dilu and Pepe perform at the same time during the 1994 European trip and they never played the Biya song. This was clear that there was some bad blood between Dilu and Pepe that would get deeper later on (I will return to that on the fourth part). Dilu, Papy and Pepe's relationship started to fracture a bit more slowly and it would get deeper due to Pepe's two favorites Third Part: Djuna Mumbafu and Gode Lofombo As Pepe Kalle grew less closer to Dilu and Papy, he started to find his clear favorites. Among them were Djuna Mumbafu and Gode Lofombo. Pepe Kalle considered these two men to very talented in his ears. Pepe would let them know what musical style he was looking. Djuna and Gode were good students and they were always doing their best to impress Pepe Kalle. Djuna Mumbafu became among the top animators while Gode Lofombo was becoming one of the best bassists in Congolese music scene. But because of Pepe's closeness to Djuna and Gode, it actually helped the Empire Bakuba group as a whole. Folks like Kinanga Boeing 737 who was a rebellious man at times, realized that Djuna and Gode were the ones to use to get some demands met especially about money. This however created a deeper fraction between Dilu, Papy and Pepe partially because of the Savoir Vivre album which Dilu and Pepe would sing and Papy would not sing in and it led to the album flopping. Papy was very mad that Djuna Mumbafu, Gode Lofombo and others wanted to do an album of their own when it was not permitted. Dilu and Pepe disagreed and I believe, it created a deeper fraction. But then music scene changed also. New animation style started arriving and Empire Bakuba was considered an old school band being unable to attract the youth. Deeply hurted by this, Pepe Kalle felt the need to get some new dancers to lure new fans. This lead to the fourth part that killed the brotherhood Fourth Part: Delta Force Pepe Kalle had finished the album Cocktail which Dilu and Papy had no role. Dilu and Pepe already had tension from years ago due to his solo album "MOTO". Dilu got very upset when Pepe decided to bring new dancers to the clips of Cocktail. Papy appeared to not be too happy either as he felt that he was uninformed about this decision. Pepe's decisions about Cocktail, I believe was the final nail in coffin of the brotherhood between Dilu, Papy and Pepe as Dilu and Papy grew more and more distant from Pepe. Pepe was determined to get Empire Bakuba back in action for the public. Dilu and Papy were not pleased when Pepe decided to bring those dancers as full time Empire Bakuba members. We all know what happened afterwards when Pepe passed away.
Hello guys. It will be 25 years since the passing of Pepe Kalle. Unfortunately, there will be no tribute concert largely due to new controversies that we have learned from Empire Bakuba musicians and the great conflicts between them.
Now I am doing part one. If Pepe Kalle were alive, what would have happened to Empire Bakuba. For me, I am going to state this. Empire Bakuba would have been split into two camps. It would be Empire Bakuba Delta Force vs Empire Bakuba Kadima. It would be similar to Papa Wemba's situation with two Viva La Musica camps (La Nouvelle Écriture vs Cours des Grands) but this one would be different because Pepe Kalle would never choose one over another. Pepe Kalle would have played it tough on both sides to show up.
Here is how things would have been if Pepe Kalle had lived longer in my opinion. With Empire Bakuba Delta Force, all those dancers would be with some of the Empire Bakuba singers except Djodjo Ikomo. He would bring in some Empire members into it like Djuna Mumbafu and Lofombo and then add a few members from an outside band. Then with Empire Bakuba Kadima, he would bring some former Quartier Latin, Viva and/or Victoria members as well as an older member like Likinga Redo into this band. Doris and Elvis would remain into Empire Bakuba Kadima camp.
This is how I think the Empire Bakuba lineups would have been after the 1999 tour
Empire Bakuba Delta Force (Pepe Kalle) President: Pepe Kalle Vice Presidents: Djuna Mumbafu, Gode Lofombo, Kinanga Boeing 737 Singers: Biya Chante, Bouro Mpela, Desouza Santu, Djuna Mumbafu, German Kanza, Laudy Mukaba, Prince Bella, Pepe Kalle, Strelli Mikobi Solo Guitar: Kinanga Boeing 737, Rolls Papillon Misolo Guitar: Laurent Kadogo Rhythm Guitar: Fofo Collegien, Malick Diyoyo Bass Guitar: Gode Lofombo, Mimiche Basse Drummer: Gode Lofombo, Ile de Cambridge Animations: Djuna Mumbafu, John Scott, Papy Rebelle Congas: Yaya Londa Keyboards: Bruno Nsona
Empire Bakuba Kadima Presidents: Dilu Dilumona, Papy Tex, Pepe Kalle Singers: Bovi Mukoko, Dilu Dilumona, Djodjo Ikomo, Likinga Redo, Luciana Demingongo, Malembe Chant, Papy Tex, Pepe Kalle, Solo Sita Solo Guitar: Auguy Lutula, Beniko Popilipo, Doris Ebuya Rhythm Guitar: Do Akongo, Elvis Kunku Bass Guitar: Guy Nsangue, MP Cherie Drummer: Lugilo Madaka Daka Animations: Etats Unis, Moussa, Shela Mputu, Theo Mbala Keyboards: Kalu Congas: Shora Mbonda
As JB Mpiana and his band Wenge BCBG, it appears that Mosaka has remained in the USA and does not seem to plan on returning to Kinshasa. Here is one video.
I wonder if JB and Mosaka had a fallout or what. Who knows?
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