Congo Vibes
Music => Congolese Music => Topic started by: Matebu on October 14, 2017, 07:51
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Man time has not been too kind to the sound quality. Like Solola Bien, the solo often sounds like mid-solo. I wonder why Al Nzimbi tuned percussions (snares specifically) the way he did. Most of the time the album sounds like they recorded it in a tin can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnMrT1AF0IA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaQ2hD_QNuI
The superb vocals & compositions by the Maison Mère dream is what saves the album. Every time I listen to Kibuisa I think "legendary"; everything was perfect. But this album, most times I can't listen in full.
It was recorded at Studio Guillaume Tell, a prestiugous Paris studio and the great Al Nzimbi was arrangeur, so I' don't understand how the sound was so subpar.
*Side note, this album and period (Koyimbiko) was the highpoint of Celeo's career.
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Yeah there are some songs that the songs sound weird but this album is still a classic. Ferre's rhumba was a big miss to me, I don't think he even sings it in concerts.
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Great album spoiled by overdubbed mabanga. Examen should’ve been a major hit for JDT but Werra’s muffled shout outs over shadowed the vocals. Overall, that album foreshadowed a horrible trend that artists can’t breakaway from now.
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It's true there was way too much mabanga to be honest I sort of found the generique boring
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Victime D'Amour with those huge blonde braids and Serra and Linda playing the couple, the rumba was good but is no way near to what Ferre does now, for Celeo that dance Ko Yimbi Ko influenced so much African dances still to this day and for I'll there aren't much words to say, Style Moomberg is my favorite so g of all the time it gives some energy that cannot be classified
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The generique was not good at all. Very disappointing to say the least. The rest of the album was good, but I see what you mean. How could the quality be worse than the album that came the year before? The bass was also kind of nonexistent. Couldn't they have just used that as a template?
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don't blame the album for your low quaity sound equipments at home, understand that sound quality depends on many factors, for me "A LA QUEE LEU-LEU" was a masterpiece. the Mabanga's are part of life, hell, in western music if you listen carefully, all you hear is illuminati Mabanga's...
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don't blame the album for your low quaity sound equipments at home, understand that sound quality depends on many factors, for me "A LA QUEE LEU-LEU" was a masterpiece. the Mabanga's are part of life, hell, in western music if you listen carefully, all you hear is illuminati Mabanga's...
Like what songs?
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don't blame the album for your low quaity sound equipments at home, understand that sound quality depends on many factors, for me "A LA QUEE LEU-LEU" was a masterpiece. the Mabanga's are part of life, hell, in western music if you listen carefully, all you hear is illuminati Mabanga's...
Ndeko, I'm an audiophile. I have the high quality equipment at home so I can appreciate good music. Even Al Nzimbi has gone on record about the acoustic mistakes on this album. I wouldn't have made this thread if the sound quality was up to par. You love the album because of the sentimental value that it brings you
Around this time you had album-after-album with stellar sound quality - Affaire d'etat, Internet, Effrakata, Madilu's - Bonheur, Extra's - Trop c'est Trop, King Kester & Victoria's - Nouvelle Odre , and much more.
This is the one album everyone (the forum agrees in majority) points to as the beginning on Mabanga overload. 13ans from Kibuisa was the first preview of new age mabanga - with 111 names called in a 6 min rhumba, which people called ridiculous.
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the Mabanga's are part of life, hell, in western music if you listen carefully, all you hear is illuminati Mabanga's...
A way of life? Werra talks throughout the majority of the songs on the album. Not just during the breaks but on top of the vocalists while they’re singing. The engineer even had him louder than the vocalists. That’s not music bro, it’s unnecessary noise.
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the Mabanga's are part of life, hell, in western music if you listen carefully, all you hear is illuminati Mabanga's...
A way of life? Werra talks throughout the majority of the songs on the album. Not just during the breaks but on top of the vocalists while they’re singing. The engineer even had him louder than the vocalists. That’s not music bro, it’s unnecessary noise.
He is the boss nobody has the balls to tell him that or that he should take more singing lesson...
I still remember how he stared at Celeo when he said "Mokonzi, sala nzembo bien lokola eza nzembo na nga yemba ango mwa bien" (Since this is my song I please you to sing it right, you need to be perfect on this one) on Celeo's song J'en Ai Assez
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lol, that footage cracks me up every time. So cringeworthy
https://youtu.be/Me-LS-Sn6M0
Imagine if someone said that to JB, Werra, or Koffi...
There was even a parody done ;D
https://youtu.be/UFVJPFaXY-c
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To be honest the other problem with this album was it was the beginning of albums getting overhyped and of course they did the koyimbi ko dance to death at concerts that it was getting boring
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lol, that footage cracks me up every time. So cringeworthy
https://youtu.be/Me-LS-Sn6M0
Imagine if someone said that to JB, Werra, or Koffi...
There was even a parody done ;D
https://youtu.be/UFVJPFaXY-c
Ahahahahah the parody is on point and by the way seeing that video again you can really feel the magic that the group was feeling in A LA Queue Leu Leu
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To be honest the other problem with this album was it was the beginning of albums getting overhyped and of course they did the koyimbi ko dance to death at concerts that it was getting boring
if the album was released 3 or 6 months earlier, then the album would get the respect it deserved at that time. Because people waited to long for that album, which made it getting not well received at that time, despite the lies of the Congolese press. The album got luckily the respect which it deserved after 5 years. The beginning of albums getting over-hyped was with Temoinage.
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To be honest the other problem with this album was it was the beginning of albums getting overhyped and of course they did the koyimbi ko dance to death at concerts that it was getting boring
if the album was released 3 or 6 months earlier, then the album would get the respect it deserved at that time. Because people waited to long for that album, which made it getting not well received at that time, despite the lies of the Congolese press. The album got luckily the respect which it deserved after 5 years. The beginning of albums getting over-hyped was with Temoinage.
*Revives thread *
A LA QUEUE LEU-LEU wasn't received well at the time in Kin? What were the press saying at the time? I would've thought with all the Koyimbi Ko dances in the makbokes it was a smash. It was definitely well received in my community here in the States.
ALQLL along with Effrakata was definitely on repeat all of 2002 @ every Congolese function I went to lol. Those were two integral albums for me growing up
Also, hey everyone this is my first post here! :) After lurking here for like a month, I finally decided to make an account. I lowkey wanted to make introductory thread introducing myself, but I didn't think no one would care lol
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To be honest the other problem with this album was it was the beginning of albums getting overhyped and of course they did the koyimbi ko dance to death at concerts that it was getting boring
if the album was released 3 or 6 months earlier, then the album would get the respect it deserved at that time. Because people waited to long for that album, which made it getting not well received at that time, despite the lies of the Congolese press. The album got luckily the respect which it deserved after 5 years. The beginning of albums getting over-hyped was with Temoinage.
*Revives thread *
A LA QUEUE LEU-LEU wasn't received well at the time in Kin? What were the press saying at the time? I would've thought with all the Koyimbi Ko dances in the makbokes it was smash. It was definitely well received in my community here in the States.
ALQLL along with Effrakata was definitely on repeat all of 2002 @ every Congolese function I went to lol. Those were two integral albums for me growing up
Also, hey everyone this is my first post here! :) After lurking here for like a month, I finally decided to make an account. I lowkey wanted to make introductory thread introducing myself, but I didn't think no one would care lol
WELCOME NDEKO
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To be honest the other problem with this album was it was the beginning of albums getting overhyped and of course they did the koyimbi ko dance to death at concerts that it was getting boring
if the album was released 3 or 6 months earlier, then the album would get the respect it deserved at that time. Because people waited to long for that album, which made it getting not well received at that time, despite the lies of the Congolese press. The album got luckily the respect which it deserved after 5 years. The beginning of albums getting over-hyped was with Temoinage.
*Revives thread *
A LA QUEUE LEU-LEU wasn't received well at the time in Kin? What were the press saying at the time? I would've thought with all the Koyimbi Ko dances in the makbokes it was smash. It was definitely well received in my community here in the States.
ALQLL along with Effrakata was definitely on repeat all of 2002 @ every Congolese function I went to lol. Those were two integral albums for me growing up
Also, hey everyone this is my first post here! :) After lurking here for like a month, I finally decided to make an account. I lowkey wanted to make introductory thread introducing myself, but I didn't think no one would care lol
WELCOME NDEKO
Merci ndeko na ngai, naza na esengo kozala na fourm lokola oyo. I'm still in the process of teaching myself lingala so bare with me lol
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Compared to Effrakata, Internet, and Trop C'est Trop, which came out months earlier...A La Queue Leu Leu was disappointing.
Why was Flamme Kapaya playing most of the solos, I always felt that Japonais was the better lead guitarist and why did Burkina Faso Mboka Liya leave Masion Mere? He did excellent work on Werrason's debut album with Operation Dragon among other songs.
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Compared to Effrakata, Internet, and Trop C'est Trop, which came out months earlier...A La Queue Leu Leu was disappointing.
Why was Flamme Kapaya playing most of the solos, I always felt that Japonais was the better lead guitarist and why did Burkina Faso Mboka Liya leave Masion Mere? He did excellent work on Werrason's debut album with Operation Dragon among other songs.
Flamme Kapaya played the most solo on that album because he was then the 1 number lead-guitarist of the band. But he dissapointed a little bit on A La Que Leu Leu, since that he wasn't inspired anymore, because Werrason didn't pay him for Kibuisa and didn't gave the things he promised. Because he returned with nothing in Kinshasa, after that they stole everything he got in his appartement where he was staying in Brussels,during the tour. I guess that Japonais was sleeping in the same appartement. Which made both guys doubting about staying in Europe along with Serge Mabiala and Adjani, but the 4 finally decided to return after pressure from fans (Maison Mere fans are so crazy). Werrason promised to to help him, but he did nothing. Flamme started to be motivated again, when Mogratana joined, since that he taught that they wanted get rid of him and stole his place a number 1 lead-guitarist of the band. But it was not the way like he was inspired during the preparation Kibuisa, after Solola Bien. After the tour of 2005, he started to have engough. Espcially when he heard the amount Werrason got from Primus, when he signed a 4 years contract with them. That's also why he sabotated the recordings of Temps Present and Simply the Best of vol. 1 and decided to stay in Europe in 2007, also falling in love with a girl of mixed race. Werrason didn't gave the villa he promised him, after that Les Marquis was created, soafter 3 years he decided to leave.
Japonais was not really interested anymore in Maison Mere, being dissapointed in the way things were and he started to be absent and coming late in concerts and rehearsals. I remember him trying to join Extra Musica in 2001. There was a moment that he left Maison Mere during the Europe tour of 2002 along with Ajdani. But both then returned after a month and reconciled. Werrason gave him the opportunity to play lead on Fany, J'en Ai Assez and Jugement Dernier. Japonais wanted to return to Kinshasa and had to replace Mimiche as bass player (like he replaced Christian Mwepu for a moment in 1999), since that he ran away. But Werrason didn't pay him so he decided to stay in Europe the day they had to return. Then he joined Viva Tendence in 2003 and played lead in some songs in Somo Trop (Masayuki, Alanga Nzembo& Kombo Monene). Then he joined Les Marquis after that Ferre called in London in 2004. In 2008 he had to rejoin Maison Mere after that Flamme left and he participated on some songs a lead guitarist. Because he had to coach Christian Solo, since that Mogratana wasn't there anymore, because he had to get papers in France.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxVY5LRE58Q
from 4:43 min with Mimiche Bass and Leny Bidens.
Japonais could not return immediately at that moment, since that he had to short some things out, having also a solo album coming out (Transe en Danse), so he said to Werra that he woul rejoin the band some months later. He finally returned in the summer of 2009. But he came on the moment that Christian Solo left and had to do a fara-fara test with Kimangu at the FIKIN. With many fans booing him, since that they didn't forget that he was a member of Les Marquis in the past, seeing him as traitor and wanted to see to him kneeling down to Werra like Lacoste in 2003 at Stade des Martyrs, what he didn't accept. Which made the thing worser for him, when he tried to play the guitar. It's so crazy, because they accepted Mimiche back 4 years earlier without problems.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVa8KtlARZI
Burkina Faso left Werrason after that he slept him during the rehearsal. Because he was talking on the Phone with a fan, who was asking when he would get the Mercedes, Werrason promised him. Which didn't please Werrason and he went to beat him, which made him leave Maison Mere. Burkina Faso joined Maison Mere, after that JB Mpiana let him stay in Europe and he Titina, Alain Mpela & Calugi went to France for the mixing of TH. While a ngulu went on his place. Which made him angry because he had to get another Mercedes for his work in TH and had got money from people for mabanga's on TH. Gentamicine, Fi-Carre and Burkina were then rumoured to join Maison Mere. When he joined Maison Mere they gave him Peugeot 505 and promised him a new Mercedes. They buyed it for him. But then when they returned in Kinshasa after the tour of, the staff of Werrrason were gossiping to him that he would become big headed and that he was talking bad about him on his back. So he didn't gave it and in the meantime fans were everyday asking about that car 2 months long. So he left to went to form his own band in Masina, but he failed to get a contract with Primus and JB & Werrason were doing everything to let him fail in his carreer. So after a year he decided to join Papa Wemba's Nouvelle Ecriture, since that Wemba's wife was from the same tribe(Muyaka) and tought that Wemba would not dissapoint him like the leaders of Wenge. They gave him then a car. But after a week journalist Serge Kayembe asked him if he could visit BCBG during a concert a play some sebene's from the days of Zenith to make the fans happy,which he accepted. It was a succes and then they conviced him to stay in the band with on the end the musicians and fans of Nouvelle Ecriture calling him a thief and crook on tv, because of that car they gave him hahahahaha and they then claimed they he was scared of Thierry Mogratana.
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@mvulusi96
Thanks you, brother! Werrason was so selfish back then, Japonais and Flamme Kapaya created the aggressive sebene that made Wenge Musica Masion Mere African superstars.
I noticed that Solola Bien has two guest musicans; Dju Dju Chet on drums and Guy Sangue playing bass guitar. Why didn't Papy Kakol play drums during the recording of the album. Does Guy Sangue contributions have anything to do with Didier Masela leaving the band? I thought he left after the release of the album.
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@mvulusi96
Thanks you, brother! Werrason was so selfish back then, Japonais and Flamme Kapaya created the aggressive sebene that made Wenge Musica Masion Mere African superstars.
I noticed that Solola Bien has two guest musicans; Dju Dju Chet on drums and Guy Sangue playing bass guitar. Why didn't Papy Kakol play drums during the recording of the album. Does Guy Sangue contributions have anything to do with Didier Masela leaving the band? I thought he left after the release of the album.
Papy Kakol played on albums, but he played only Solola Bien and the sebenes on that album. The rest was done by Djudjuchet l-chet. They invited him, because Kakol was at that time limited as
drummer. On Kibuisa Mpimpa also only played the generic and sebenes. It's easy to hear Djudju's touch, since he has an unique way of playing drums (he's the king of the hit hat). Listen to Ntima Mbote, Vita Imana, Flair Play & Augustine.
Thy invited Guy Nsangue, because Christian "Mabanga " Mwepu wasn't there anymore and problems started between Didier Masela & Werrason, with Japonais (he played bass, rhythm, mi-solo, lead, maracas and conga's all by himself on his song Robert Basende) being a little bit limited as bass-players so they invited him. They invited him again on Kibuisa Mpimpa, where he played bass on several songs. On Intervention Rapide they invited Lofombo to play some rumba's. Christian Mwepu stayed in Canada, after being pissed off that they weren't rehearshing his songs, when they were in London. Because he had to put two songs in Solola Bien, then he had also problems with Masela's staff who threaten him to beat him, since that they saw him as one of the guys who were disrespect Masela. Having also some problems with his health he decided than to stay in Canada. With Maison Mere having a big problem, since that they hadn't a bass player anymore, having left rhythm Olivier Mpungi behind in Kinshasa. Which motivated to Werrason to reconcile with Masela the quickly possible. But with Masela coming late in concerts, they decided to contact Patient Kusangila who had left Wenge BCBG at that moment. So that Japoanis could play bass in the case that Masela would leave the band. Kusangila came they finished already the recordings of Solola Bien, they presented him on a funny way at Palais des Sports
There was a war about leadership between Masela & Werrason some months after the creation of Wenge Maison Mere. With Didier Masela starting coming late in concerts before Force d'Intervention Rapide to show Werrason that he was the leader and Werrason himself sending musicians (they were all supporting Werrason) to disrespect him and saying nasty things. Then there were also problems about money, since that Didier wanted to share the money, the way they were sharing it in Wenge 4x4, while Werrason wanted to pay the guys to prove JB Mpiana & Wenge BCBG a point. Since that Werrason had a bad image as financial director in Wenge 4x4. Masela decided to stay in London after all those problems with the band going to Canada & the USA without him. But then Werrason' staff said to Werrason that he had to apologize to Masela and that they had to be a block to fight JB. So he reconciled with Masela against his will and Masela came back in Paris and peformed than at Villejuif and toured in Europe with the band.Then you got the fight of Masela & Werrason in Jean Pierre Saah's office about the contract they had to sign, because Masela didn't agree that they gave Werrason more advantages. Then after the concert of Palais des Sports he decided to stay in Europe and claimed that he fired the whole band, as founder of Wenge. He returned 2 months later in Kinshasa, started his own band and started to record Zabala Bakulu, which came out 4 years later. Werrason on his side performed at Stade des Martyrs, GHK, some concerts in Kinshasa and had a tour in the Bas-Congo province. Werrason's brother wanted to reconcile both guys, when he heard that Masela returned to Kinshasa and conviced Werrason, who in reality didn't want Masela anymore in the band. But Masela refused, because he saw like they were playing with his mind. They were lucky that Masela was cool, orherwise they had to put the names Musica & Maison Mere away and take another name.
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@mvulusi96
Now that you've explained it, I have noticed the significant difference in techinque of percussion in those songs. Papy Kakol was always powerful on drums, but definately lack the dynamic of style like rivals Titina Al Capone and Champion of Quarter Latin.
What was your favorite album by Werrason or Wenge Musica Masion Mere? Which one was your least?
My favorite is Kibuisa Mpimpa; excellent sebenes, all the members had a chance to shine vocally, and impressive animations from Bill Clinton & Celeo Scram.
I remember for some reason that JDT had limited vocals on Solola Bien, if I'm not mistaken he just sang on Koffi Ayiana and Rendez-vous manqué.
Poor Adjani, those times were the last time he looked healthy before drugs complicated him like Babia.
My least favorite is the album is Temps Présent Vol. 1, maybe it was Flamme Kapaya's absence kiekiekie!
I won't lie, it was rough start for Celeo Scram, the guy had so little space for animations in Intervention Rapide Rapide Force and Solola Bien, it wasn't until after those albums where he would get more space on records to impress. I heard it was because Werrason only wanted Bill Clinton as atalaku, is that true?
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@mvulusi96
Now that you've explained it, I have noticed the significant difference in techinque of percussion in those songs. Papy Kakol was always powerful on drums, but definately lack the dynamic of style like rivals Titina Al Capone and Champion of Quarter Latin.
What was your favorite album by Werrason or Wenge Musica Masion Mere? Which one was your least?
My favorite is Kibuisa Mpimpa; excellent sebenes, all the members had a chance to shine vocally, and impressive animations from Bill Clinton & Celeo Scram.
I remember for some reason that JDT had limited vocals on Solola Bien, if I'm not mistaken he just sang on Koffi Ayiana and Rendez-vous manqué.
Poor Adjani, those times were the last time he looked healthy before drugs complicated him like Babia.
My least favorite is the album is Temps Présent Vol. 1, maybe it was Flamme Kapaya's absence kiekiekie!
I won't lie, it was rough start for Celeo Scram, the guy had so little space for animations in Intervention Rapide Rapide Force and Solola Bien, it wasn't until after those albums where he would get more space on records to impress. I heard it was because Werrason only wanted Bill Clinton as atalaku, is that true?
My favorite album was Kibuisa Mpimpa and the least was Temps Present. I didn't like the new style and image of the band with Werrason starting to praise Kabila openly in interviews and the departure of Flamme & at that moment my favorite atalaku Celeo made me not follow Maison Mere very hard like in the beginning.
I remember how some people didn't like Kibuisa in the first days. Prefering than Solola Bien above Operation Dragon, they found the song 13 Ans the way Werrason said in the beginning "Le beaute de pere noel, c'etait les belles filles", "the looks of Santa Claus were beautifel girls". alot weren't used the way Werrason sung alot in Kibuisa compared to Solola Bien & Intervention Rapide, forgetting that it was a solo album. They said then that had to give Ferre Gola, Serge Mabiala & Adjani more space. But after after a month everybody accepted the album, expect the BCBG-fans.
Werrason didn't really like Celeo, since he hadn't the looks at that time despite of having proved his talents in Duc Herode's band. Because in Wenge, beside of being talented you had to got the looks to join the band. That's also the way how they killed Congolese music, accepting singer in the band who can't sing, but only got the looks. Celeo wasn't supossed to be at the Europe-tour of 1999. But he finally came with help from some donors and support of Adolphe Dominguez. But was then left behind in London by the band, people in London advised him to seek asylum, but he refused. There was a day that he was almost arrested and send back to Congo. Then when he heard that Maison Mere came to Paris, he went there to rejoin the band, but made a big car-accident the day he had to perform at Villejuif. The succes of Solola Bien, made him get respect and a little bit more space. But he was lucky to be at Bercy, because Werrason was angry when he discovered that he had a relationship with female dancer Bibiche Bercy. So he wanted to punish him leaving behind in Kinshasa and replace him by Doudou Kibinda. But he the whole band was against it and they supported Celeo.
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If I understand well Didier Masela & Celeo were not in Canada & USA.
You're right Wenge1995 the Kibuisa era seems to be the last time Adjani looks "healthy" he was ubstable just like Babia that was really dumb to not come to A La Queue Leu Leu recording sessions no wonder why Werrason decided to cut him off that album and his song. Mvulusi, When he returned to Maison Mere in 2003 did Werra planned to use him(Adjani) in the original version of Miracle ? Was Alerte Générale supposed to be the original générique animated by Bill and Celeo ?
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If I understand well Didier Masela & Celeo were not in Canada & USA.
You're right Wenge1995 the Kibuisa era seems to be the last time Adjani looks "healthy" he was ubstable just like Babia that was really dumb to not come to A La Queue Leu Leu recording sessions no wonder why Werrason decided to cut him off that album and his song. Mvulusi, When he returned to Maison Mere in 2003 did Werra planned to use him(Adjani) in the original version of Miracle ? Was Alerte Générale supposed to be the original générique animated by Bill and Celeo ?
Yeah, they weren't there in Canada & the USA.
Ajdani came back somewhere in the spring of 2003. I don't know if Werrason planned to use in him Miracle. He wasn't he same anymore, like in the says of Solola Bien & Intervention Rapide.
No, Alerte Generale wasn't supossed to be the original generic animated by Bill and Celeo. the generic was created after that Roi David joined. They made alot of hints about Les Marquis in the start of the generic and you got also the animation "bako kende, bako zonga", "they will leave, they will return", which was created after the creation of Les Marquis.
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@mvulusi96
Now that you've explained it, I have noticed the significant difference in techinque of percussion in those songs. Papy Kakol was always powerful on drums, but definately lack the dynamic of style like rivals Titina Al Capone and Champion of Quarter Latin.
What was your favorite album by Werrason or Wenge Musica Masion Mere? Which one was your least?
My favorite is Kibuisa Mpimpa; excellent sebenes, all the members had a chance to shine vocally, and impressive animations from Bill Clinton & Celeo Scram.
I remember for some reason that JDT had limited vocals on Solola Bien, if I'm not mistaken he just sang on Koffi Ayiana and Rendez-vous manqué.
Poor Adjani, those times were the last time he looked healthy before drugs complicated him like Babia.
My least favorite is the album is Temps Présent Vol. 1, maybe it was Flamme Kapaya's absence kiekiekie!
I won't lie, it was rough start for Celeo Scram, the guy had so little space for animations in Intervention Rapide Rapide Force and Solola Bien, it wasn't until after those albums where he would get more space on records to impress. I heard it was because Werrason only wanted Bill Clinton as atalaku, is that true?
My favorite album was Kibuisa Mpimpa and the least was Temps Present. I didn't like the new style and image of the band with Werrason starting to praise Kabila openly in interviews and the departure of Flamme & at that moment my favorite atalaku Celeo made me not follow Maison Mere very hard like in the beginning.
I remember how some people didn't like Kibuisa in the first days. Prefering than Solola Bien above Operation Dragon, they found the song 13 Ans the way Werrason said in the beginning "Le beaute de pere noel, c'etait les belles filles", "the looks of Santa Claus were beautifel girls". alot weren't used the way Werrason sung alot in Kibuisa compared to Solola Bien & Intervention Rapide, forgetting that it was a solo album. They said then that had to give Ferre Gola, Serge Mabiala & Adjani more space. But after after a month everybody accepted the album, expect the BCBG-fans.
Werrason didn't really like Celeo, since he hadn't the looks at that time despite of having proved his talents in Duc Herode's band. Because in Wenge, beside of being talented you had to got the looks to join the band. That's also the way how they killed Congolese music, accepting singer in the band who can't sing, but only got the looks. Celeo wasn't supossed to be at the Europe-tour of 1999. But he finally came with help from some donors and support of Adolphe Dominguez. But was then left behind in London by the band, people in London advised him to seek asylum, but he refused. There was a day that he was almost arrested and send back to Congo. Then when he heard that Maison Mere came to Paris, he went there to rejoin the band, but made a big car-accident the day he had to perform at Villejuif. The succes of Solola Bien, made him get respect and a little bit more space. But he was lucky to be at Bercy, because Werrason was angry when he discovered that he had a relationship with female dancer Bibiche Bercy. So he wanted to punish him leaving behind in Kinshasa and replace him by Doudou Kibinda. But he the whole band was against it and they supported Celeo.
I knew that Celeo wasn't loved by Werra but why did he kept him for so long?? Celeo lasted only two albums (Temoignage and Sous-Sol) plus Primus Generique with Kene and Roi David and then left or got kicked out by Werra don't rember it, in Europe blogs they used to say he got fired but people from Kin said that he cheated Werra since he couldn't understand that Werra took Brigade, sensing a Bill Clinton 2's situation and furthermore not liking Brigade because of their common ex girlfriend Mimi Chikeva mother of Brandon Avatar which strangely sings exactly like Brigade lol, by the way if you check the live version of Sous-Sol
https://youtu.be/6ykjDQNl0Gc (which by the way had over 2 million views but unfortunately got deleted)
You can see Celeo being very present in every of the atalaku space "fighting" with Roi David joking with Prince and if I don't go wrong even playing with Brigade, you can feel that he wanted to make his leadership strong.
You can sense Celeo wasn't that important to Werra by checking the Alerts General CD Cover where Werra took Roi David like a baby and sponsoring him like they did with Ko Yimbi Ko
(https://s17.postimg.org/4u7ewckvz/Screenshot_20180220-112916.png) (https://postimg.org/image/f49tvlarf/)
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@mvulusi96
Now that you've explained it, I have noticed the significant difference in techinque of percussion in those songs. Papy Kakol was always powerful on drums, but definately lack the dynamic of style like rivals Titina Al Capone and Champion of Quarter Latin.
What was your favorite album by Werrason or Wenge Musica Masion Mere? Which one was your least?
My favorite is Kibuisa Mpimpa; excellent sebenes, all the members had a chance to shine vocally, and impressive animations from Bill Clinton & Celeo Scram.
I remember for some reason that JDT had limited vocals on Solola Bien, if I'm not mistaken he just sang on Koffi Ayiana and Rendez-vous manqué.
Poor Adjani, those times were the last time he looked healthy before drugs complicated him like Babia.
My least favorite is the album is Temps Présent Vol. 1, maybe it was Flamme Kapaya's absence kiekiekie!
I won't lie, it was rough start for Celeo Scram, the guy had so little space for animations in Intervention Rapide Rapide Force and Solola Bien, it wasn't until after those albums where he would get more space on records to impress. I heard it was because Werrason only wanted Bill Clinton as atalaku, is that true?
My favorite album was Kibuisa Mpimpa and the least was Temps Present. I didn't like the new style and image of the band with Werrason starting to praise Kabila openly in interviews and the departure of Flamme & at that moment my favorite atalaku Celeo made me not follow Maison Mere very hard like in the beginning.
I remember how some people didn't like Kibuisa in the first days. Prefering than Solola Bien above Operation Dragon, they found the song 13 Ans the way Werrason said in the beginning "Le beaute de pere noel, c'etait les belles filles", "the looks of Santa Claus were beautifel girls". alot weren't used the way Werrason sung alot in Kibuisa compared to Solola Bien & Intervention Rapide, forgetting that it was a solo album. They said then that had to give Ferre Gola, Serge Mabiala & Adjani more space. But after after a month everybody accepted the album, expect the BCBG-fans.
Werrason didn't really like Celeo, since he hadn't the looks at that time despite of having proved his talents in Duc Herode's band. Because in Wenge, beside of being talented you had to got the looks to join the band. That's also the way how they killed Congolese music, accepting singer in the band who can't sing, but only got the looks. Celeo wasn't supossed to be at the Europe-tour of 1999. But he finally came with help from some donors and support of Adolphe Dominguez. But was then left behind in London by the band, people in London advised him to seek asylum, but he refused. There was a day that he was almost arrested and send back to Congo. Then when he heard that Maison Mere came to Paris, he went there to rejoin the band, but made a big car-accident the day he had to perform at Villejuif. The succes of Solola Bien, made him get respect and a little bit more space. But he was lucky to be at Bercy, because Werrason was angry when he discovered that he had a relationship with female dancer Bibiche Bercy. So he wanted to punish him leaving behind in Kinshasa and replace him by Doudou Kibinda. But he the whole band was against it and they supported Celeo.
I knew that Celeo wasn't loved by Werra but why did he kept him for so long?? Celeo lasted only two albums (Temoignage and Sous-Sol) plus Primus Generique with Kene and Roi David and then left or got kicked out by Werra don't rember it, in Europe blogs they used to say he got fired but people from Kin said that he cheated Werra since he couldn't understand that Werra took Brigade, sensing a Bill Clinton 2's situation and furthermore not liking Brigade because of their common ex girlfriend Mimi Chikeva mother of Brandon Avatar which strangely sings exactly like Brigade lol, by the way if you check the live version of Sous-Sol
https://youtu.be/6ykjDQNl0Gc (which by the way had over 2 million views but unfortunately got deleted)
You can see Celeo being very present in every of the atalaku space "fighting" with Roi David joking with Prince and if I don't go wrong even playing with Brigade, you can feel that he wanted to make his leadership strong.
You can sense Celeo wasn't that important to Werra by checking the Alerts General CD Cover where Werra took Roi David like a baby and sponsoring him like they did with Ko Yimbi Ko
(https://s17.postimg.org/4u7ewckvz/Screenshot_20180220-112916.png) (https://postimg.org/image/f49tvlarf/)
Werrason kept Celeo because the succes of Solola Bien and because he worked very hard. Werrason saw Celeo as a treat,because he started to have contacts with Moise Katumbi Champwe and Vital Kamerhe.With his staff gossiping to him that he was adanger,because it looked like he was competiting with him, since that he was getting expensive cars (he had a Rolls Royce at that time if im right) with also the problem that Heritier, Flamme & him were against the recording of the world album Simply the Best of vol. 1 (Sans Poto), which made Werrason sent Linda & Gisele disrepecting him with him being present, but not reacting. In his last concert at Savigny Le Tempete, he fought with Sankara, who was insulting him with Blaise Element. Then he they left him without passeport in France. Celeo talking about that in the media made his situation worser.
Celeo decided to return back to Congo with the help of the Congolese embassadie in the hope to be accepted back in the band, but it didn't happen, so he left. With Maison-Mere's camp claiming that he left, because he was scared of Brigade, which wasn't true.
Kene-Kene left because he wasn't getting alot of space in the band after that Brigade and Prince joined. Then he was left behind in Kinshasa. Koffi wanted to get him in Quartier Latin. He accepted then he offer, but you know how crazy Maison Mere-fans are hahahahaha. So he didn't finally join Maison Mere and started his solo-career.
Roi David decided to stay in France, after that he heard that his wife went away with all the money and furniture of his house and he agreed with Werrason he would stay in Europe. I remember how Werrason jocked about it and saying that he wouldn't have somebody to cook some "mbadi of Bandundu for him. Then Didier Lacoste invited him to animate on his generic, but those crazy Maison Mere threatened him very bad when he came to studio Marcadet with him running away and them following. They scared him alot, which made him say that he would never do session work, but he accepted Calugi's offer who was idol.
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@mvulusi96
I suppose the only person in Maison Mere who doesn't have a story of business or personal polemic is Papy Kakol and maybe Heriter! ????
Who do you think was better qualified to be leader of Les Marquis de Masion Mere? Such a promising offshoot band, but apparently all the founding members were vying for that leadership position.
In my opinion, JDT was always the best choice for leader. After all, wasn't the whole idea his when they first had problems with Werrason during the tour for Solola Bien?
It was tough watching those London concerts of Masion Mere in 2004, because you could tell that the whole group was on the verge of a split.
https://youtu.be/xq5CEfCR1tg
Sometimes I wonder if Werrason regretted those underhanded tricks that broke apart such a talented group. I gave him a pass the first time around with Wenge 4X4, but this split seemed a direct result of greed and reckles self-ambition.
Btw, whatever happened to Christian Mabanga and Michael Tshendu? I was surprised how that young boy got a song placed on the first Masion Mere album before Ferre Gola, Gola had been by Werrason's side since Pentagone.
I'm just surprised Michael Tshendu never went on to do more with the group, he was a promising vocalist, had style, and could dance but he just vanished.
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Christian Mabanga lives in Canada.
Michael Tshendu stayed in Europe after that tour of 1999. He had to release an album in 1999, but I don't of they ever released it. I was seeing him alot on French tv-channels in 2008 and 2009 and heard him on a compilation-disc with French stars. But I don't know where he's now.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oaTTu_zoXo0
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ImmbVSz0GgE
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ma1MvFiv2M
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfxqjuwg_98
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@mvulusi96
I suppose the only person in Maison Mere who doesn't have a story of business or personal polemic is Papy Kakol and maybe Heriter! ????
Who do you think was better qualified to be leader of Les Marquis de Masion Mere? Such a promising offshoot band, but apparently all the founding members were vying for that leadership position.
In my opinion, JDT was always the best choice for leader. After all, wasn't the whole idea his when they first had problems with Werrason during the tour for Solola Bien?
It was tough watching those London concerts of Masion Mere in 2004, because you could tell that the whole group was on the verge of a split.
https://youtu.be/xq5CEfCR1tg
Sometimes I wonder if Werrason regretted those underhanded tricks that broke apart such a talented group. I gave him a pass the first time around with Wenge 4X4, but this split seemed a direct result of greed and reckles self-ambition.
Btw, whatever happened to Christian Mabanga and Michael Tshendu? I was surprised how that young boy got a song placed on the first Masion Mere album before Ferre Gola, Gola had been by Werrason's side since Pentagone.
I'm just surprised Michael Tshendu never went on to do more with the group, he was a promising vocalist, had style, and could dance but he just vanished.
It was already sure from day 1, when they made that interview with Yves Kambala that they would split in 1 year. That election to chose a leader made the situation worser.
The idea of Les Marquis came from JDT with his friend back Agazul Zulman and became official in the days that they came to South Africa for the Kora Awards 2000, which they lost against Extra Musica. But they reconciled quickly with Werrason and went back to Europe recording Kibuisa Mpimpa.
There were alot problems in Maison Mere when they came to the UK, but it wasn't planned that they would leave there or form a band at that moment. JDT stayed in the UK for medical reasons, because he had a car-accident in Kinshasa. Ferre Gola who had already French-papers went to Paris to see his ex'wife Sabrina and kids and was doubting about starting a solo career or join Maison Mere later in Kinshasa. Bill Clinton went to Paris on his own. The thing which motivated them to form Les Marquis, was when Werrason sent Sankara to insult Ferre's mother and mocking the way JDT and Bill Clinton came to Maison Mere on TV. Werrason send also an ultimatum-letter to them saying that they need to return in 48 hours, otherwise they will suffer in their lives or something like that (thinking that he's god or something like that). Ferre was furious and called Japonais & Mimiche Bass to form a band and they started recuiting musicians (Serge Mabiala, Biva Rai, Celezino, Picas Mbayo, Toms Koyimbi-Ko, Gemerose, Kaps Kapangala, Yves Meteor & Papy Mbonda), being joined by Bill Clinton and JDT joined them some days later (he was still sick). Thenthey contacted Baby Ndombe, who had to join them in Paris, but he changed his mind after seeing that interview with Yves Kambala.
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@mvulusi96
I suppose the only person in Maison Mere who doesn't have a story of business or personal polemic is Papy Kakol and maybe Heriter! ????
Who do you think was better qualified to be leader of Les Marquis de Masion Mere? Such a promising offshoot band, but apparently all the founding members were vying for that leadership position.
In my opinion, JDT was always the best choice for leader. After all, wasn't the whole idea his when they first had problems with Werrason during the tour for Solola Bien?
It was tough watching those London concerts of Masion Mere in 2004, because you could tell that the whole group was on the verge of a split.
https://youtu.be/xq5CEfCR1tg
Sometimes I wonder if Werrason regretted those underhanded tricks that broke apart such a talented group. I gave him a pass the first time around with Wenge 4X4, but this split seemed a direct result of greed and reckles self-ambition.
Btw, whatever happened to Christian Mabanga and Michael Tshendu? I was surprised how that young boy got a song placed on the first Masion Mere album before Ferre Gola, Gola had been by Werrason's side since Pentagone.
I'm just surprised Michael Tshendu never went on to do more with the group, he was a promising vocalist, had style, and could dance but he just vanished.
Papy Kakol and Heritier has a long polemic history, Kakol since he became Chef D'Orchestre really made everything for guys to feel uncomfortable if he thinks that they need to leave (Prince, Bercy, Lobeso) for example he will do everything for you to make you leaving and then on TV he will say "leaving the group is a big mistake" even though he well knows he forced those guys out but he never got that aura of a polemic guy because he is only under Werra and administration so people in Wenge are aittle bit scared of his authority since he is the guy who along with the guitarist and Werra decides his much space member will have.
For Heritier Werra has treated him like a son even refusing the demission letter that Heritier sent to Werra before leaving.
Since Werra treated like his own son his bad behaviour is under the radar, but he is the guy who had a baby with Sylvie Mamoata's sister (Mampata and her family is untouchable in MM fans's mind) and the guy who sent some kids to beat Brigade that resulted in Brigade being seriously injured with photo walking all over internet
(https://s10.postimg.org/ujy39bnu1/Screenshot_20180221-021535.png) (https://postimg.org/image/o69062ixx/)
(https://s10.postimg.org/6roryd6jt/Screenshot_20180221-021544.png) (https://postimg.org/image/hr9z9ywyt/)
(which I think he did because he was sensing that Brigade was becoming too much important for Werra) which led to Brigade leaving the group since he went to Werra telling him whole the story, but Werra didn't even say a word by looking at Brigade with an empty stare that basically made Brigade felt humiliated.
The crazy fact is that now Brigade and Heritier publicly gave each other compliment, Brigade in interviews and Heritier on his first concert as a solo artist were like I am very glad that my brother Brigade is here today.
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@Manzambi94
Man, Brigade really took a beating and Werrason was foul for downplaying the attack!
Thanks for the update, always wondered what became of those two artist.
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@mvulusi96
JB Mpiana should have kept Burkina Faso Mboka Liya in BCBG, they were neck and neck with Masion Mere.
After Mboka Liya departed from the group, Ficarre and Alba had to step to the forefront as soloist but I don't think they were ready to match the success of TH.
Don't get me wrong, Internet was good. But the rhumbas definately were better composed then the sebenes, although they had Masion Mere beat in percussion. Titina and Seugin were an excellent duo.
I feel like JB Mpiana never quite recovered from Mpela and Burkina Faso leaving.
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lol, that footage cracks me up every time. So cringeworthy
https://youtu.be/Me-LS-Sn6M0
Imagine if someone said that to JB, Werra, or Koffi...
There was even a parody done ;D
https://youtu.be/UFVJPFaXY-c
The Parody though!! ;D ;D
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@mvulusi96
JB Mpiana should have kept Burkina Faso Mboka Liya in BCBG, they were neck and neck with Masion Mere.
After Mboka Liya departed from the group, Ficarre and Alba had to step to the forefront as soloist but I don't think they were ready to match the success of TH.
Don't get me wrong, Internet was good. But the rhumbas definately were better composed then the sebenes, although they had Masion Mere beat in percussion. Titina and Seugin were an excellent duo.
I feel like JB Mpiana never quite recovered from Mpela and Burkina Faso leaving.
Alba Accompagnero is a rhythm player. Yeah Burkina Faso's departure was a big blow for them. But is was replaced by Coco Kiandia "Pina Colada". He participated on Internet, but didn't last long, because he ran a away when they toured in Canada. I guess that he wanted to study there, like Fiston Zamuangana, who left Wenge BCBG in 1998 those reasons. So he was replaced by Pathy Moleso when they came back in 2001.
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@mvulusi96
I suppose the only person in Maison Mere who doesn't have a story of business or personal polemic is Papy Kakol and maybe Heriter! ????
Who do you think was better qualified to be leader of Les Marquis de Masion Mere? Such a promising offshoot band, but apparently all the founding members were vying for that leadership position.
In my opinion, JDT was always the best choice for leader. After all, wasn't the whole idea his when they first had problems with Werrason during the tour for Solola Bien?
It was tough watching those London concerts of Masion Mere in 2004, because you could tell that the whole group was on the verge of a split.
https://youtu.be/xq5CEfCR1tg
Sometimes I wonder if Werrason regretted those underhanded tricks that broke apart such a talented group. I gave him a pass the first time around with Wenge 4X4, but this split seemed a direct result of greed and reckles self-ambition.
Btw, whatever happened to Christian Mabanga and Michael Tshendu? I was surprised how that young boy got a song placed on the first Masion Mere album before Ferre Gola, Gola had been by Werrason's side since Pentagone.
I'm just surprised Michael Tshendu never went on to do more with the group, he was a promising vocalist, had style, and could dance but he just vanished.
Papy Kakol and Heritier has a long polemic history, Kakol since he became Chef D'Orchestre really made everything for guys to feel uncomfortable if he thinks that they need to leave (Prince, Bercy, Lobeso) for example he will do everything for you to make you leaving and then on TV he will say "leaving the group is a big mistake" even though he well knows he forced those guys out but he never got that aura of a polemic guy because he is only under Werra and administration so people in Wenge are aittle bit scared of his authority since he is the guy who along with the guitarist and Werra decides his much space member will have.
For Heritier Werra has treated him like a son even refusing the demission letter that Heritier sent to Werra before leaving.
Since Werra treated like his own son his bad behaviour is under the radar, but he is the guy who had a baby with Sylvie Mamoata's sister (Mampata and her family is untouchable in MM fans's mind) and the guy who sent some kids to beat Brigade that resulted in Brigade being seriously injured with photo walking all over internet
(https://s10.postimg.org/ujy39bnu1/Screenshot_20180221-021535.png) (https://postimg.org/image/o69062ixx/)
(https://s10.postimg.org/6roryd6jt/Screenshot_20180221-021544.png) (https://postimg.org/image/hr9z9ywyt/)
(which I think he did because he was sensing that Brigade was becoming too much important for Werra) which led to Brigade leaving the group since he went to Werra telling him whole the story, but Werra didn't even say a word by looking at Brigade with an empty stare that basically made Brigade felt humiliated.
The crazy fact is that now Brigade and Heritier publicly gave each other compliment, Brigade in interviews and Heritier on his first concert as a solo artist were like I am very glad that my brother Brigade is here today.
Yeah the list of people who left because of Kakol & Heritier is very long. Espcially Kakol. You got Michel Bass, Bibicia, Cappucino LBG, Teka Diobanza, etc.
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the last trick kakol as a chef has pulled which his best friend seguin also does which pisses me off big time is making musicians to pay to be on stage,on tours, on albums regardless of their talent and their form of the moment
that way we are seeing some guys who deserved chance rotting in reserves while other who play the game get loads of opportunity
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the last trick kakol as a chef has pulled which his best friend seguin also does which pisses me off big time is making musicians to pay to be on stage,on tours, on albums regardless of their talent and their form of the moment
that way we are seeing some guys who deserved chance rotting in reserves while other who play the game get loads of opportunity
Wow, that guy really gets on my nerve, both of them, they are the reason especially Seguin of Wenge downfall from big band to small one.
Maybe Kakol is only mad because every time he sees his daughter thinks about the fact is not the real father lol.
Anyway that is exactly what I meant with Wenge ekufi, it has became a death place where you need to be very strong mentally to stay there, and it is just gross, gross I am speechless I knew Kakol was mean but this is beyond meanness especially in a poor country like Congo... SMH
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Is it true that Ferre didn't want Baby Ndombe in Les Marquis ? I don't know where i got that from.
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Is it true that Ferre didn't want Baby Ndombe in Les Marquis ? I don't know where i got that from.
I heard it also, but I don't believe it. They called even Fally Ipupa, Jordan Kusa & Shella Mputu to join their band.
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Woah at this thread. This is all too shocking to me. It's pretty much corruption at every level. This is the first time i'm hearing about these practices of punishing band members in such a way physically and financially. Does this happen in 90% of our Congolese bands? Plus how do you know so much insider info?
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Woah at this thread. This is all too shocking to me. It's pretty much corruption at every level. This is the first time i'm hearing about these practices of punishing band members in such a way physically and financially. Does this happen in 90% of our Congolese bands? Plus how do you know so much insider info?
Congolese culture revolves heavily on what Franco called “les on dits” or gossip. If something happens, someone will talk or it will be caught on tape.
These events happen in many bands, but everything (especially fights) are to another level in Maison Mère due to all the hot heads that have passed through the group.
I blame Werra in part because though he publicly tries to be a hands off guy... in every situation he’s usually instigating in the background via Sankara and co
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@mvulusi96
I totally forgot about Coco Kiandia, I had no idea he settled in Canada! His run with the group was so short. What was the deal with Kilimanjaro? There was some hype about him joining Wenge BCBG but nothing came from it. And is he really related to Bill "Clinton" Kalonji?
@mvulusi96
Baby should have joined Les Marquis, his career would have likely went on better. Even though the band was short lived, all the main members got a career boost to pursue other things because their songs were very popular. Ferre Gola slowly became a Rhumba master (100 Kilos & Amour intérêt), Bill Clinton expanded his craft beyond just animation (Vous me reverrez), and JDT (Ecole & Eric Gwenye) really got to showcase his songwriting skills. I'm sure Baby would have been able to tease some of his potential as a solo artist just as well as the others. Can't forget about Serge, his song Mariage is among my favorite!
@Manzambi94
Kakol is definately a unique kind of bully, his insolence has almost no restraint. Probably the only person he didn't mess with directly was JDT, I've heard that he could fight very well.
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Is it true that Ferre didn't want Baby Ndombe in Les Marquis ? I don't know where i got that from.
I heard it also, but I don't believe it. They called even Fally Ipupa, Jordan Kusa & Shella Mputu to join their band.
Had that happened that band would've collapsed in a couple of months let alone a year
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Woah at this thread. This is all too shocking to me. It's pretty much corruption at every level. This is the first time i'm hearing about these practices of punishing band members in such a way physically and financially. Does this happen in 90% of our Congolese bands? Plus how do you know so much insider info?
Congolese culture revolves heavily on what Franco called “les on dits” or gossip. If something happens, someone will talk or it will be caught on tape.
These events happen in many bands, but everything (especially fights) are to another level in Maison Mère due to all the hot heads that have passed through the group.
I blame Werra in part because though he publicly tries to be a hands off guy... in every situation he’s usually instigating in the background via Sankara and co
I'm Congolese myself (1st gen American) and the concept of gossip/songi-songi/les on dits is nothing new to me. If anything,like you said it's one of the biggest parts of our culture.
But what amazes me is that it's gone to a level where people are getting physically harmed and not getting financially compensated because of gossip is crazy to me.
Does anyone know if any of the original bands members are getting royalties from their previous work with Maison Mere? Or is it's a foreign concept to them? I know lots of business is centered on getting things now. I feel like I can automatically assume that general African distribution deals are fishy to begin with.
It also sounds like Japonais had a huge part in arranging the music and left with nothing except gifts. Did I read that right?
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Does anyone know if any of the original bands members are getting royalties from their previous work with Maison Mere? Or is it's a foreign concept to them?
lol, no. That's royalites is a foreign langage to MM ex-members. They were barely getting scrap payments in the band. If it weren't for benevolent donors, most would have had nothing to really live on.
Early on Ferre and the rest were walking long distances to concerts, while Werra was being chauffered in Benzes. Meanwhile, they were the ones who made Maison Mère what it is. Whith out them, Werra would have left DRC in 1998 and settled in Montreal, Canada, no longer a musician.
It also sounds like Japonais had a huge part in arranging the music and left with nothing except gifts. Did I read that right?
Yup. You read that right.
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Does anyone know if any of the original bands members are getting royalties from their previous work with Maison Mere? Or is it's a foreign concept to them?
lol, no. That's royalites is a foreign langage to MM ex-members. They were barely getting scrap payments in the band. If it weren't for benevolent donors, most would have had nothing to really live on.
Early on Ferre and the rest were walking long distances to concerts, while Werra was being chauffered in Benzes. Meanwhile, they were the ones who made Maison Mère what it is. Whith out them, Werra would have left DRC in 1998 and settled in Montreal, Canada, no longer a musician.
It also sounds like Japonais had a huge part in arranging the music and left with nothing except gifts. Did I read that right?
Yup. You read that right.
THE HELL?!
Ugh, sorry for the excessive questions but there's just an overwhelming of information on this board. Thanks. I had no clue Werra azalaki lokoso ya mbongo. It's upsetting but really unsurprising considering the corruption at every angle.
Is there a thread on the specifics of how business works between artists and distribution/record deals? Specifically Diego Music, Sonodisc and JPS? Because I know people are still buying these albums, it's more on how much if these artists are given for royalties and if they're given at all. And considering that Kabila is bribing musicians I'm guessing it's very little. Plus piracy is at an all time high in DRC. Where the hell is the Prime Minister of Music?
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@Matebu
I could be wrong, but most artist within these big group like QL, Wenge, and so on make their living from saving the payment recieved from touring, mabangas, and their membership salary.
If you're a leader of these groups like Koffi, Werrason, and Roga Roga then they make the real money from touring and endorsement deals like Primus and Skol.
They really ought to make royalties a thing in Congo because too many of these talented artist struggle financially since they have zero ownership of the songs they help create.
That's why it is better to be a musican like a drummer, bassist, or guitarist than a singer in Congolese music. If you don't like your band, then you can pick up your instrument and walk but someone will quickly hire you. Where as singers may have difficulty due to combatants and crazed fans obstructing progress.
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Does anyone know if any of the original bands members are getting royalties from their previous work with Maison Mere? Or is it's a foreign concept to them?
lol, no. That's royalites is a foreign langage to MM ex-members. They were barely getting scrap payments in the band. If it weren't for benevolent donors, most would have had nothing to really live on.
Early on Ferre and the rest were walking long distances to concerts, while Werra was being chauffered in Benzes. Meanwhile, they were the ones who made Maison Mère what it is. Whith out them, Werra would have left DRC in 1998 and settled in Montreal, Canada, no longer a musician.
It also sounds like Japonais had a huge part in arranging the music and left with nothing except gifts. Did I read that right?
Yup. You read that right.
THE HELL?!
Ugh, sorry for the excessive questions but there's just an overwhelming of information on this board. Thanks. I had no clue Werra azalaki lokoso ya mbongo. It's upsetting but really unsurprising considering the corruption at every angle.
Is there a thread on the specifics of how business works between artists and distribution/record deals? Specifically Diego Music, Sonodisc and JPS? Because I know people are still buying these albums, it's more on how much if these artists are given for royalties and if they're given at all. And considering that Kabila is bribing musicians I'm guessing it's very little. Plus piracy is at an all time high in DRC. Where the hell is the Prime Minister of Music?
I'll try to be short.
DRC is not a very organised country, and the music (since Congo has a huuuge high rate of unemployment) is seen along with soccer as the best way to get out of misery the problem is that except for Koffi, JB and Wazekwa, nobody in Congo pays directly the musicians unless the musician itself asks it (even though the musician does it it is probable that the administration will ask him part of the money the boss gave him) and Koffi furthermore stop to pay when he feel that you don't fit his group anymore for musicians, royalties are only received by the leader that decides to share it with the administration and the Chef of Orchestra. 100% of the time the musicians are played by donors who played them directly to make songs or to get mabanga into the songs, and the only time the artist get royalties is when they have their own songs but it happens if only you have some trust by the administration and luck, for example Brigade left Wenge MM without even a song credited to his name despite being the number one Atlaku in the entire country at the time, Ambulance the same, the deal that (in the past since now everyone except small leaders are independent) was to sell the album to the best producer and distributor who had the responsibility of marketing the album taking in exchange part of the disc's sells which he shared with the artist (Diego Music with Werra for example).
Furthermore on royalties it can give you a good life for some months but it doesn't give you the sureness of being healthy financially, only big leaders benefit from Royalties because the generique in the group albums are always credited to the leaders and if not to the orchestra (which is credited to the leader as well lol) and in the solo albums they are credited for whole the songs like Werra's 7 Jours so for concluding it no, I mean Bill doesn't benefit anymore of the time he had in MM by signing his songs same for Celeo or Lobeso, copyright in Congo is not a serious business by the way you can have the best song ever and sing it into a concert and themn the next day you could see someone singing it with no power to do nothing for example Japonais created the melody of Musselu (The Lobeso Crie) but Wenge MM stole it and it became one of the biggest successful crie in Ingeta with people going nuts for the crie.
Doing music in Congo it is hard and after all this legal, copyright, and royalties issues, of course there is the spiritual aspect, the bullies aspect, for example you have examples of.guys who did 10+ years in Orchestras with families to feed that are never promoted
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@Matebu
I could be wrong, but most artist within these big group like QL, Wenge, and so on make their living from saving the payment recieved from touring, mabangas, and their membership salary.
On the surface, that's what one would think (and it happened in other bands), but with Werra's reputation that has existed since the days of Wenge 4x4, this has not happen in MM
It was mentioned Baby Ndombe in a recent interview that in 2001/2 Werra recieved $200,000 bonus from President Sassou of Brazza, but he give just 10 of 50+ musicians a $100 bonus. This is not normal behavior.
Frankly, if he paid everyone adequately, Les Marquis would've not been a thing.
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In case you were wondering, here is the tell-all interview. Baby's tone and body language is of someone who doesn't give a damn who his ex-boss is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Iet_h96QM
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@Matebu
I have a few more questions regarding A La Queue Leu Leu, did Otis Lumumba play guitar alongside Japonais and Flamme Kapaya on the album? I know he toured with Wenge Musica Masion Mere, so it's possible he may have played on the album.
Lastly, whatever became of Guylian Mpungi? Was he a rhythm guitarist or mi-soloist? His run with Wenge Musica was very short, I suppose Werrason decided that he didn't need three guitarist.
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@mvulusi96
I totally forgot about Coco Kiandia, I had no idea he settled in Canada! His run with the group was so short. What was the deal with Kilimanjaro? There was some hype about him joining Wenge BCBG but nothing came from it. And is he really related to Bill "Clinton" Kalonji?
@mvulusi96
Baby should have joined Les Marquis, his career would have likely went on better. Even though the band was short lived, all the main members got a career boost to pursue other things because their songs were very popular. Ferre Gola slowly became a Rhumba master (100 Kilos & Amour intérêt), Bill Clinton expanded his craft beyond just animation (Vous me reverrez), and JDT (Ecole & Eric Gwenye) really got to showcase his songwriting skills. I'm sure Baby would have been able to tease some of his potential as a solo artist just as well as the others. Can't forget about Serge, his song Mariage is among my favorite!
@Manzambi94
Kakol is definately a unique kind of bully, his insolence has almost no restraint. Probably the only person he didn't mess with directly was JDT, I've heard that he could fight very well.
Only god knows if Baby's career would have better of he joined Les Marquis.
Yes Kilimandjaro and Bill are brothers, they lived in the same house. Bill Clinton invited him to animate on his generique Mukusa Mukongo
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g7C0DkCs6is
BCBG-fans were claiming that Bill cries were created by Kilimandjaro. Kilimadjaro had some short parts on Internet. He had to animate on the original version of Anti-Terro (2002), which a PPU (Pipiyu) album in the beginning. But JB Mpiana stayed to long in Kinshasa, which made them leave.
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@Matebu
I have a few more questions regarding A La Queue Leu Leu, did Otis Lumumba play guitar alongside Japonais and Flamme Kapaya on the album? I know he toured with Wenge Musica Masion Mere, so it's possible he may have played on the album.
Lastly, whatever became of Guylian Mpungi? Was he a rhythm guitarist or mi-soloist? His run with Wenge Musica was very short, I suppose Werrason decided that he didn't need three guitarist.
Guylain Mpungi was a rhythm-player. The mi-solist in Maison Mere was Aridjana who spent some months and went to Super Choc of Shora Mbemba.Maison Mere was rarely using the mi-solo position from 1997 till 2003, when Mogratana joined. I never heard about Guylain Mpungi again since Intervetion Rapide.
Yeah Otis Lumumba played on A La Que Leu Leu.
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In case you were wondering, here is the tell-all interview. Baby's tone and body language is of someone who doesn't give a damn who his ex-boss is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4Iet_h96QM
sssss ahhhh ndombeleeee oza na vrai boule hein :D :D :D :D
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@mvulusi96
In reference to PPU, I was actually surprised that group didn't last after Wanted. The generique alone was stellar, the last good animations from Bebe Kerozene before he went on auto-pilot. They had all the makings to be a great spin off band from BCBG; Bic Rouge's excellent solos and the members could all sing just as good as they could dance.
Considering the troubles they had to overcome from being disconnected from BCBG because of ngulu affair, the fact that they could muster to release quality without backing from JB Mpiana is worth commending.
In my opinion, Bebe Kero should have stayed with Les Pipiyus instead of joining JDT. He felt more energized in these songs compared to the others, especially when he starts rapping in wolof.
Clearly imitating his idol, Bill Clinton often threw West African languages in his animations during the era of Kibusia Mpimpia...Mr.Photocopie ???????????? though both are talented
https://youtu.be/dgc_iVRIm74
https://youtu.be/gc1vChGLL_A