First concert in London after the ngulu-affair. Also the first concert without Baby Ndombe

Was this at the end of 2003 right before the departure of les marquis?

This was in october 2003, during halloween. A lawyer called Samba organised an event of two dates at Starford Rex and Tottenham. A few days before the trip Baby Ndombe got suddenly suspended, when they were about to go to UK. He got also stripped off, from his function as "chief of discipline" which was giving to Aimelia. The week Maison Mere was spending their time in U.K., Baby Ndombe made some tv-appareance, saying that he didn't deserve to get suspended and that Aimelia couldn't be the "chief of discipline", because he hadn't the same intellectual capacities like him. After spending a week, Maison Mere came back and Baby Ndombe saw his 2 weeks suspension going to an indefinite suspension. Maison Mere went to diamondvillage Canfunfu in Angola, where they celebrated Angola's independece anniversary. When coming back Baby Ndombe tried to reconcilate with Werrason, by coming his with his dad Ndombe Opetum, but Werrason kept running away. Baby Ndombe even came with Lutumba Simaro to Werra's house, but he ordered his doorman to not open the door. He once talked to his yanzi-brother King Kester Emeneya to get Werrason at King Ranch, Werrason also came, but when he saw Baby Ndombe's car he made an U-turn. Baby Ndombe started to get financial difficulties and got chased away from the hotel he was living and forced to live with his family again. In meantime Werrason hold several concerts in Kinshasa with Maison Mere, at Hall de la Gombe, Boulevard Triomphale, Village Bercy, etc. They also signed a deal with the UK-embassady, getting a 3 years-workpermit visa and making a lot noise about it on tv. In meantime rumors were spread by admin-members like Elliot Mondombe & Monib Production, who gossiped that Baby Ndombe was suspended because of sleeping with Werrason's wife (which wasn't true), that Koffi gave him a paper to get sweat from Werra's face and give it to him,etc. Just to get him hated by WMM-fanatics. In feb. 2004, Maison Mere went back to the UK for a serie of concerts in various cities. Journalists were asking why Werrason don't want to forgive Baby Ndombe, Werrason then giving the reaction "If wil say what he did, you will all hate him", which made people think that the rumors about Baby sleeping with his wife were true, while it was about Baby Ndombe having dated Mbilia Bel, who used to be with Tabu Ley. Werrason himself didn't want Baby Ndombe back, because he saw him as a traitor and the head of Les Marquis-project (still not having forgotten what happended at the Kora Awards 2000, before Adolphe's departure), and admins like Monib scaring him with the story about giving sending him to get his sweat and Baby having visited a witchdoctor who gave him the condition to sleep with his wife for spiritual reasons to get Werra's fame, while it were all false stories. The time that Maison Mere was spending time in UK, tensions who already existed since Kinshasa when Baby Ndombe was around became bigger. Ferre crying after getting beated by Werrason, Bill and Ferre not talking to Werrason, Bill throwing shots at Werrason in concerts (became mad about the money of Tindika Lokito, while he had to get some percentage from it as promised), etc. Then in May 2004, when they had to return to celebrate the 7th anniversary of LD Kabila's coup and prepare the missed event of Stade Charletty for July 2004, Ferre Gola, JDT and Bill Clinton didn't show at the airport. The three guys hadn't officially left. JDT was seriously sick and following medical treatment in London, since that he was in Kinshasa victim of a serious car-accident. Ferre Gola doubting about starting his solo career and going back to Paris to think about his future, taking care of his wife and children, he had already songs to record a solo albums (songs like Diata Locataire credited to Japonais and Detresse credited to Mimiche, were normally his songs bought from songwriters, hence why he was singing it when he started his own band). Bill was still in London. Werrason, who knew about Les Marquis since Kinshasa, using spies in Kinshasa, who saw them spending time with songwriters, donors, underground musicians, etc. talking about the project, wrote a open letter giving them a 48 hours ultimatum to come back to Kinshasa and saying that those who leave their leader, don't go far in their career. Sankara de Nkuta then immediatly making an interview with (I think Yves Kambala) in Paris and insulting JDT, Ferre Gola & Bill Clinton, going even far to insult Ferre Gola's mother. Sankara's interview made the three guys angry and from then they really decided to form Les Marquis and meeting each in Paris. Contacting Baby Ndombe in Kinshasa, who part of the original project and giving an interview with Yves Kambala to confirm Les Marquis-project. Baby was to join Les Marquis in Paris, having already his visa and contacted Bralima (Primus) for contracts. But after seeing their interview with Yves Kambala, he decided to no take part of the project, because they weren't calling him the iniator of the project and he was saw that they won't far for the way they were all three bragging about themselves.

This was in october 2003, during halloween. A lawyer called Samba organised an event of two dates at Starford Rex. A few days before the trip Baby Ndombe got suddenly suspended, when they were about to go to UK. He got also stripped off, from his function as "chief of discipline" which was giving to Aimelia. The week Maison Mere was spending their time in U.K., Baby Ndombe made some tv-appareance, saying that he didn't deserve to get suspended and that Aimelia couldn't be the "chief of discipline", because he hadn't the same intellectual capacities like him. After spending a week, Maison Mere came back and Baby Ndombe saw his 2 weeks suspension going to an indefinite suspension. Maison Mere went to diamondvillage Canfunfu in Angola, where they celebrated Angola's independece anniversary. When coming back Baby Ndombe tried to reconcilate with Werrason, by coming his with his dad Ndombe Opetum, but Werrason kept running away. Baby Ndombe even came with Lutumba Simaro to Werra's house, but he ordered his doorman to not open the door. He once talked to his yanzi-brother King Kester Emeneya to get Werrason at King Ranch, Werrason also came, but when he saw Baby Ndombe's car he made an U-turn. Baby Ndombe started to get financial difficulties and got chased away from the hotel he was living and forced to live with his family again. In meantime Werrason hold several concerts in Kinshasa with Maison Mere, at Hall de la Gombe, Boulevard Triomphale, Village Bercy, etc. They also signed a deal with the UK-embassady, getting a 3 years-workpermit visa and making a lot noise about it on tv. In meantime rumors were spread by admin-members like Elliot Mondombe & Monib Production, who gossiped that Baby Ndombe was suspended because of sleeping with Werrason's wife (which wasn't true), that Koffi gave him a paper to get sweat from Werra's face and give it to him,etc. Just to get him hated by WMM-fanatics. In feb. 2004, Maison Mere went back to the UK for a serie of concerts in various cities. Journalists were asking why Werrason don't want to forgive Baby Ndombe, Werrason then giving the reaction "If wil say what he did, you will all hate him", which made people think that the rumors about Baby sleeping with his wife were true, while it was about Baby Ndombe having dated Mbilia Bel, who used to be with Tabu Ley. Werrason himself didn't want Baby Ndombe back, because he saw him as a traitor and the head of Les Marquis-project (still not having forgotten what happended at the Kora Awards 2000, before Adolphe's departure), and admins like Monib scaring him with the story about giving sending him to get his sweat and Baby having visited a witchdoctor who gave him the condition to sleep with his wife for spiritual reasons to get Werra's fame, while it were all false stories. The time that Maison Mere was spending time in UK, tensions who already existed since Kinshasa when Baby Ndombe was around became bigger. Ferre crying after getting beated by Werrason, Bill and Ferre not talking to Werrason, Bill throwing shots at Werrason in concerts (became mad about the money of Tindika Lokito, while he had to get some percentage from it as promised), etc. Then in May 2004, when they had to return to celebrate the 7th anniversary of LD Kabila's coup and prepare the missed event of Stade Charletty for July 2004, Ferre Gola, JDT and Bill Clinton didn't show at the airport. The three guys hadn't officially left. JDT was seriously sick and following medical treatment in London, since that he was in Kinshasa victim of a serious car-accident. Ferre Gola doubting about starting his solo career and going back to Paris to think about his future, taking care of his wife and children, he had already songs to record a solo albums (songs like Diata Locataire credited to Japonais and Detresse credited to Mimiche, were normally his songs bought from songwriters, hence why he was singing it when he started his own band). Bill was still in London. Werrason, who knew about Les Marquis since Kinshasa, using spies in Kinshasa, who saw them spending time with songwriters, donors, underground musicians, etc. talking about the project, wrote a open letter giving them a 48 hours ultimatum to come back to Kinshasa and saying that those who leave their leader, don't go far in their career. Sankara de Nkuta then immediatly making an interview with (I think Yves Kambala) in Paris and insulting JDT, Ferre Gola & Bill Clinton, going even far to insult Ferre Gola's mother. Sankara's interview made the three guys angry and from then they really decided to form Les Marquis and meeting each in Paris. Contacting Baby Ndombe in Kinshasa, who part of the original project and giving an interview with Yves Kambala to confirm Les Marquis-project. Baby was to join Les Marquis in Paris, having already his visa and contacted Bralima (Primus) for contracts. But after seeing their interview with Yves Kambala, he decided to no take part of the project, because they weren't calling him the iniator of the project and he was saw that they won't far for the way they were all three bragging about themselves.

After reading this the Maison Mère 12 is really efficient they really ruined Ndombe I would say. I have always wondered what songs were supposed to be on the Miracles version of Werra. So it's true that Werra beat Ferré up wow. The musicians must be professionals at hiding that their not speaking to each other I would barely notice Werra & Ferré or Bill are not speaking with him

and today sankara denies having insulted ma marie since he knows footage is hard to be found so he  proudly asks for video when they ask him about it

Thank you for that. That's was a great read! That period right before they left was always a blur to me. I didn't  know they left in mid 2004! That means it only took them a few months to record the Miracles album! But what happened with werrason Miracle album that was supposed to come out in late 2003? I always thought it got cancelled because of les marquis. I also dont get why alerted general was a single instead of a full album because I assumed that was what the original Miracles was going to be.

bro congo,you wont believe musicians who play on stage together and insult each other and show their reactions of ego without people even knowing,having been lucky to be sometimes on side stage,it happened that i saw musicians dissing their leader  for example about payment issues,or leaders insulting mothers of artists over doing shoutout when he sings,messing up a vocal and so on
the fun they have on stage and give us can be deceiving

and today sankara denies having insulted ma marie since he knows footage is hard to be found so he  proudly asks for video when they ask him about it

So that video actually exists wow. I wonder has Ferré forgiven Sankara for that because, insulting another people's mother no matter what the issue is it's too far

bro congo,you wont believe musicians who play on stage together and insult each other and show their reactions of ego without people even knowing,having been lucky to be sometimes on side stage,it happened that i saw musicians dissing their leader  for example about payment issues,or leaders insulting mothers of artists over doing shoutout when he sings,messing up a vocal and so on
the fun they have on stage and give us can be deceiving

Oh my god, I never imagined it was that tense lol monde ya musique eza ndenge. from the outside looking in getting in a Congolese orchestra seems like more trouble than good I see now why some artists say you have to be strong mentally or else you won't survive. Gotta be a stressful to be in such a stressful environment

Thank you for that. That's was a great read! That period right before they left was always a blur to me. I didn't  know they left in mid 2004! That means it only took them a few months to record the Miracles album! But what happened with werrason Miracle album that was supposed to come out in late 2003? I always thought it got cancelled because of les marquis. I also dont get why alerted general was a single instead of a full album because I assumed that was what the original Miracles was going to be.

It took time just one month to record Miracles, who was arranged by Maika Munan, getting help from professionals like Djudjuchet, Olivier Tshimanga and Philiphe Guez. They left in may 2004 and formed Les Marquis one month later recruiting Japonais, Mimiche, Picas Mbayo, Kaps Kapangala, Celezino, Serge Mabiala, Djo Lockis, Gemerose, Toms Koyimbo ko, Nzenze, Papy Badra, etc. Just before their first concert at LSC in August 2004, Werrason tried to lure Bill Clinton back through his wife who came in Europe and journalist Zacharie Bababaswe, but she didn't managed to get Bill Clinton back, because he wanted a villa in return, a percentage from Werra's Skol revenue and a monthly salary. When Ferre was aware about it he contacted, Flamme Kapaya & Celeo to come to Les Marquis, but he calmed down when Bill stayed. After the succesful LSC, problems started to grow, but they were stil together. They had a concert in Lyon, one in Brussels (which used to be on youtube 10 years ago, them having those medieval clothing) and another one in a small city of Belgium or France. Then in October 2004, they started recording Miracles (which had first named "Sukali Sukali, Elengi, Elengi"). In meantime Bill Clinton managed to sign a contract with Bracongo (Skol) through Zacharie Bababaswe, which created some tensions and Zacharie Bababaswe becoming Bill's personal manager (people around them thinking that Zacharie Bababaswe was sended by Werrason to create more problems between them).



The album got released in december 2004, but in the beginning it hadnt real succes, the promotion was bad in the beginng, and the the clips weren't released yet. Also the succes of Werra's Alerte Generale who came out in November 2004 was to big. Hence why they claim that Alerte Generale made Les Marquis split, which isn't true. Just before releasing Miracles, they tried to recreate buzz, after performing in Bordeaux, claiming that Japonais and some others died in a car-accident. I don't know if you remember Sankara mocking them for years about the buzz not working. When they started recording the videoclips of Les Marquis, several things happended, Japonais beating Bill Clinton on the set, Bill Clinton fighting with staffmember Guy Boston, etc. After that Bill, JDT, Ferre and Japonais, couldn't agree about their return in Kinshasa. JDT wanting like Japonais first to short his papers out, not wanting to experience the problem he had with Wenge El Paris when returning in 1995, prefering to promote the album first in Europe, signing already a contract with Simon Ndjonang for a concert at LSC in february 2005. Ferre Gola & Bill Clinton Kalonji agreed to return to Kinshasa, Bill already having talked with Bracongo about a concert at Stade des Martyrs and parking de Grand Hotel. But the two guys were already doing 12 on each other, Bill Clinton ordering his staff (Bob Denard and co) to recruit musicians in Ngiri-Ngiri and Ferre Gola ordering his staff (Zobozi, Vasco Mabiala, etc.) to recruit his musicians. Bill Clinton and Ferre Gola had to take the same flight, but Ferre Gola missed his one. Both guys were received like bandleaders. When Ferre Gola arrived in Kinshasa, he wanted talk with Bill Clinton, but he was taking up his calls and running away from him. Bill making tv appearance to announce concerts with his band Les Marquis Samourais. Francis Kakonde then tricked them, by invited both guys (them thinking that it was a personal interview, but them seeing in each other in the same studio, not having a choise and doing the interview together). After that Ferre tried to reconcilate with Bill through the minister of culture, but Bill Clinton was acting like nothing went wrong. Ferre not knowing what to do and decided to form his own band Les Marquis des Beaux Garcons, he tried to sign with Bralima, but it didn't work. Because they were about to sign with Werrason through his wife, who was mad about Bill having signed with Bracongo. JDT Mulopwe in meantime performed at LSC with Japonais, Serge Mabiala, Celezino and musicians like Kerozene and co. But JDT's camp would also spit, Japonais forming with Mimiche, Serge Mabiala and Celezino their own band Les Marquis-Plus. JDT staying with Djo Lockis and Kerozene preparing Eluka Makambo. Ferre Gola started to get financial problems and didn't had enough support, he went back to Europe to duplicate his first concert with his band and was planning a project with Nyboma. Then Werrason staff contacting him to come back to Maison Mere and talk with Werrason who was touring in Europe. But suddenly Ferre got contacted again by Koffi who contacted him twice when he was in Les Marquis. (If you look to Ferre's contract with Koffi, in the dvd-compilation, you will see that it was already signed in december 2004. But Ferre running away and using the part of money Koffi gave to him to fund Les Marquis, having already sold two of his houses to pay the videoclips). Koffi also contacted Bill and JDT, but they both refused. Ferre Gola who was broke accepted Koffi's offer, giving him 7.500 dollars and saying that he get 7.500 dollars the moment he would join, but that would never happen and already making noise that he made Ferre Gola join for 15.000 dollars. It was the end of the Les Marquis, enough when they split, their album started suddenly become a huge succes. Simon Ndjonang tried to sue Koffi Olomide Ferre, JDT and Bill Clinton, because they signed a 10-year contract with him and claimed that Koffi hadn't the right to sign Ferre. I don't know if you remember for the way JDT ran away from France, when getting issues with the justice about that contract, just before releasing Eluka Makambo. The justice decided to stop the lawsuit, because judge laughed when seeing that Koffi signed Ferre for just 15.000 dollars and didn't take Simon seriously because of that.

Werrason's Miracle was announced for december 2003 and had in the start just 10 songs, before going to 14 tracks after demand from donors. But it got not released because they were in Kinshasa, JPS having problems with the French justice for money laundry and being part of a maffia-group based in Miami, escaping to Cameroon. Werrason was then looking for a good recordlabel. When they were touring in UK, Werrason planning to record it in France after the Stade Charletty-event and getting it released towards automn/winter 2004. When they came back to Kinshasa, the event got cancelled, because the concert-promoter who was working in collaboration with Universal wasn't well prepared. While they had already made alot noise on tv, that they would invite Youssou Ndour, Brenda Fassie, Jacob Desvarieux of Kassav and Meiway. In meantime, Werrason wasn't really feeling the new team, which he formed with musicians coming from the second team Operation Dragon (Golberg, Bonbon Kojack, Taddet,etc.). He planned an Europe-tour for september 2004, but didn't visa from the Maison Schengen, Belgium refusing because of the ngulu-affair of 2002, where he used to be arrested for. Werrason then came with plan B and decided to record a maxi-single (Alerte Generale) to prepare his team and the public, for Miracle. Back in that era, the public was still asking for Bill and Ferre's return in concerts. He took Miss Margo and Ton Regard, who had normally to be in his album to Alerte Generale. In meantime they released Roi David's VHS. Werrason took Kinshasa by storm when releasing Alerte Generale. Trough Dario Kindongo he managed to get back in Europe and gave a double concert at LSC for christmas, but couldn't continue the tour, because he had to honor some Skol-contracts in Kinshasa. Being aware about Les Marquis haven took his album-title Miracles, he decided to change it into  "Temoignage des Miracles". When coming back to Europe to continue the tour and start the recording of his solo album, he decided to shorten the title into "Temoignage".

That's very interesting. I wonder if les marquis wouldve stayed with each other if they knew their album was going to be a success eventually. But what you said about what happened to JDT and Simon I guess it still wouldn't have lasted long. I'm not surprised that there was a lot of fights among them, Baby was right about that.

About Werrason, so he made alerte general a max single because he wasnt confident about the new team and he could record in France. That makes a whole lot of sense. Even though Miracles ended up being temoignage, I still kind of feel like it would have sounded more like Alerte General. I guess we will never find out. I still hope all of those concerts you mentioned from those times get put on YouTube someday

 

I don't think that it would have sounded like Alerte Generale, some guitar partitions from Flamme Kapaya were created after Les Marquis. Don't forget that when new cries come in, guitarists will look for other sebenes to let it fit the cri. reserve-guitarist Mayindombe gave Flamme that guitar-signature, when Celeo comes with "yo tein petit". Except the sukali-sukali part, "kimbongile" and "olie biloko ya mbwa", the rest were all new cries who came after Bill's departure. Roi David's koko cri, is a recycled version of Bill Clinton's cri (If I remember well, Bill animated it in the song Miami), but Ali Mbonda added for Roi David "bana batika kepa" and "keba oko tekisa ba mapangu" to attack Les Marquis. We will never know how that album would have sounded. Also a few songs in Werra's album came later in, when Ferre and co already left. For example the song Temoingage itself, because that was written to react against JB's Ezau and that song came months later out after the creation of Les Marquis.

Yes, Werrason saw that they weren't really ready despite experienced singers Aimelia, Lacoste, Heritier, J3 and Kabose being there, also for the fact for not getting visa's for France. To test the team, Celeo as main atalaku (after being years in Bill's shadow) and the new Roi David & Kene Kene, he decided to record Alerte Generale, giving the singers alot vocals. Btw the way when they came to record Temoignage, singers like Bonbon Kojack & Cappucino weren't able to do vocals in the studio and Sec Bidens being mad, calling them 'faux chanteurs', saying that they had to learn singing again and rehearse very hard. After spending 5 months in Europe, they went back again to Kinshasa for Bralima concerts (Kikwit, FIKIN, etc.) and when they came back to finish the album, evertyhing was ok. Werrason could have recruited better singers, but there was alot corruption, himself also not looking to the singing abilities, but just the looks. You had a guy (I forgot his name), who ended up in Bill's samourai, who came to replace Baby Ndombe, but he wasn't accepted. You also a guy singer from Tshangu (nicknamed Moyibi), but Werrason prefering Cappucino. Also a tenorist was by far better than Bonbon Kojack.

 53:30 min Tantine was to wild

1:09:18 looks like I saw this woman in some videoclips, but I don't remember where and also another concert in London. Looks Werra's reaction at 1:09:42 min

I don't think that it would have sounded like Alerte Generale, some guitar partitions from Flamme Kapaya were created after Les Marquis. Don't forget that when new cries come in, guitarists will look for other sebenes to let it fit the cri. reserve-guitarist Mayindombe gave Flamme that guitar-signature, when Celeo comes with "yo tein petit". Except the sukali-sukali part, "kimbongile" and "olie biloko ya mbwa", the rest were all new cries who came after Bill's departure. Roi David's koko cri, is a recycled version of Bill Clinton's cri (If I remember well, Bill animated it in the song Miami), but Ali Mbonda added for Roi David "bana batika kepa" and "keba oko tekisa ba mapangu" to attack Les Marquis. We will never know how that album would have sounded. Also a few songs in Werra's album came later in, when Ferre and co already left. For example the song Temoingage itself, because that was written to react against JB's Ezau and that song came months later out after the creation of Les Marquis.

Yes, Werrason saw that they weren't really ready despite experienced singers Aimelia, Lacoste, Heritier, J3 and Kabose being there, also for the fact for not getting visa's for France. To test the team, Celeo as main atalaku (after being years in Bill's shadow) and the new Roi David & Kene Kene, he decided to record Alerte Generale, giving the singers alot vocals. Btw the way when they came to record Temoignage, singers like Bonbon Kojack & Cappucino weren't able to do vocals in the studio and Sec Bidens being mad, calling them 'faux chanteurs', saying that they had to learn singing again and rehearse very hard. After spending 5 months in Europe, they went back again to Kinshasa for Bralima concerts (Kikwit, FIKIN, etc.) and when they came back to finish the album, evertyhing was ok. Werrason could have recruited better singers, but there was alot corruption, himself also not looking to the singing abilities, but just the looks. You had a guy (I forgot his name), who ended up in Bill's samourai, who came to replace Baby Ndombe, but he wasn't accepted. You also a guy singer from Tshangu (nicknamed Moyibi), but Werrason prefering Cappucino. Also a tenorist was by far better than Bonbon Kojack.

Were there original cries from Miracles that were saved for Temoingage?
This might be a little off topic but why was Sous sol also a Maxi single? He had the talent around him that time compared to Alerte Generale.

53:30 min Tantine was to wild

1:09:18 looks like I saw this woman in some videoclips, but I don't remember where and also another concert in London. Looks Werra's reaction at 1:09:42 min

hahaha yeah tantine was quite wild,her two leaders jb and werra were obsessed with her at some point lol i wonder how abel de charmes feels about that