Congo Vibes
Music => Congolese Music => Topic started by: Mfumu Vata on February 26, 2020, 01:42
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Today its 43 years ago that the band Viva La Musica had its "sortie officiel" at Tabu Ley's bar "Type Ka", after Papa Wemba's departure from Yoka Lokole in december 1976. The band would from that date dominate Kinshasa 5 years long as most popular band of Zaire until the creation of Victoria Eleison in 1982 and Papa Wemba would become the role-model of most youngsters. Viva La Musica would also influence the young generation with La Sape. The band would make alot of stars (King Kester Emeneya, Reddy Amisi, Dindo Yogo, Debaba, Rigo Star, Awilo Longomba, Stino Mubi, Ramazani, Djuna Djanana, etc. the list long). The huge amount of stars and many artists having a decent career after their departure from Viva La Musica which was very rare in the Congolese music scene, made Papa Wemba earn the nickname Foridoles which is the abbration of Formateur des Idoles. Until the 90s, youngsters were dreaming about joining Viva La Musica, knowning that they could succeed one day as solo-artist. Donors, Sapeurs and songwriters wanted also to get associated with Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica, in order to get some way. We can name guys like Koffi Olomide, Felix Wazekwa, Stervos Niarcos and Modogo Gianfranco Ferre who all received support and fame from Papa Wemba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o1l0P36zGk&t=315s
Notables events of Viva La Musica are the many tours at Japan between 1986 and 1991, being the first band of youngsters to tour in Europe in 1980 being produced by Franco Luambo Makiadi, the double events at Stade de 24 Novembre (nowadays Stade Cardinal-Malula) in 1984, the fara-fara at Stade de 20 Mai (nowadays Stade de 20 Mai) against Evoloko's Isifi Melodia in 1977, the fara-fara against Yoka Lokole at the mythic Cine Palladium (which would become Cinemax, it doesn't exist anymore), the Zenith's of 1999 and 2000, Olympia in 2000, Bercy in 2001, Stade des Martyrs in 2002 and the double event of Viva La Musica at Cine Palladium in 1982 (he was performed twice at Cine Palladium two days in a row, giving in total 4 concerts) after Wemba's 6 months of absence in Zaire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT_smbCGXow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwRF3ko2H-U&t=1248s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esHNrlCpbyY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R08K__KTb5U&t=3239s
From 1983 until 2002, Papa Wemba used to celebrate every year Viva La Musica's existence in June (which is in the month of his birthday).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxG0DjqqNO4&t=3232s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfLxSx8HboE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMNtsWVQQ7I&t=63s
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Is that project being released this year still? Someone mentioned that a album is being recorded as we speak.
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I know Bendo Son has been revoked from the band again.
Mfumu Vata, Why did Luciana or Bongo Wende participate in the albums of the Viva singers even though they left the group? Wasn't that a problem with La nouvelle Generation ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvYRdCUNjnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ukjdk0_Ll8
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Is that project being released this year still? Someone mentioned that a album is being recorded as we speak.
the album is already finished. They recorded it with Maika Munan last year before that Bendoson left.
They are waiting to release the album during the anniversary of Papa Wemba's death which is on 24 April.
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I know Bendo Son has been revoked from the band again.
Mfumu Vata, Why did Luciana or Bongo Wende participate in the albums of the Viva singers even though they left the group? Wasn't that a problem with La nouvelle Generation ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvYRdCUNjnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ukjdk0_Ll8
They were open-minded. It wasn't for nothing that they were calling themselves "Nouvelle Generation de la Republique Democratique" (which means the New Generation of the Democratic Republic). When Awilo recorded his album Moto Pamba after his departure from Nouvelle Generation, he invited Luciana Demingongo which didn't create problems. Luciana Demingongo is very different, he recorded LP's with Veve when he was a Viva La Musica-member while Papa Wemba was in a open conflict with Verckys Kiamuangana.
Also don't forget that musicians from the 3th generation are very different from those of Clan Wenge and the generations after it. Guys of the 3th generation could perform on the same stage despite conflicts and inviting each other to record discs, etc. Good examples are King Kester Emeneya and Papa Wemba who used often to perform on a same stage during the 80s and 90s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUcTEoapnkA
Those of Clan Wenge are weird and not real musicians. They really poisoned our music.
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Mfumu Vata you surprised me how you said Papa Wemba used celebrate Viva La Musica anniversary in June.
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Ok, they are open minded but they diss very hard Papa wemba and Viva.
How was Lidjo's return to Viva? Because, he was very angry towards Papa Wemba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMeUMLhChXM
When did he record this ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biO51MWr5Uw
here is the end of the new generation, apparently they tried to follow the Clan Wenge in 1999/2000
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Ok, they are open minded but they diss very hard Papa wemba and Viva.
How was Lidjo's return to Viva? Because, he was very angry towards Papa Wemba.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMeUMLhChXM
When did he record this ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biO51MWr5Uw
here is the end of the new generation, apparently they tried to follow the Clan Wenge in 1999/2000
I can't find the video. But there used to be a video of Tabu Ley on youtube, explaining that he and Franco used to make diss-tracks against each other, but that they used then to meet each other at restaurants and jocking about it.
Yes, they dissed Wemba very hard in Monimambu. But guys like Awilo Longomba and Luciana Demingongo were still meeting Papa Wemba.
Lidjo Kwempa was deported back to Kinshasa back in 1994, so he spent there 3/4 years. He started to have some concerts there with Jadot Le Cambodgien and Maray Maray under the label of Nouvelle Generation, but conflicts made them split. Then he formed his own and band and released an album called Cour des Grands. Then he Japanse sidechick managed to get him back in Paris and he rejoined Viva La Musica, since that he hadn't a band to join (back in 1994, he was along with Awilo forced out the band by Fafa de Molokai). Papa Wemba hadn't problems with having back in Viva. You must understand that Wemba, Koffi, Emeneya, Franco and co are very different then Fally, Werrason, JB and co. They don't have problems with getting former musicians back in their band, even if they were heavily insulted by them. A guy like Mboshi would have never returned to Quartier Latin, if it was Fally band, because Mboshi used to insult Koffi very hard in old polemic videos.
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@Mfumu Vata
Is it because of the age difference between leaders like Wemba, Koffi, and Emeneya and their band that gives them a soft spot for defectors who wish to return? In many videos where they showcase their group, they see those musicians almost as their own children, in a way.
However, Werrason is roughly ten years older than most of his Masion Mere members of the golden age. I noticed he only seemed consistently genuine to Bill Clinton, Heritier, and Ferre Gola. Since then, you only see him outside of his cold character with Papy Kakol and other former members whenever they cross path
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@Mfumu Vata
Is it because of the age difference between leaders like Wemba, Koffi, and Emeneya and their band that gives them a soft spot for defectors who wish to return? In many videos where they showcase their group, they see those musicians almost as their own children, in a way.
However, Werrason is roughly ten years older than most of his Masion Mere members of the golden age. I noticed he only seemed consistently genuine to Bill Clinton, Heritier, and Ferre Gola. Since then, you only see him outside of his cold character with Papy Kakol and other former members whenever they cross path
It doesn't have to do with age. Fofo le Collegien and Beniko are of Koffi's generation and left on a bad way, but both returned before leaving Ql again some years later. The same for the musicians who went to form Victoria Principal in 1984, but all returned back (except Bipoli) to Victoria Eleison. They were all of Emeneya's generation, came from Viva La Musica and co-founded Victoria Eleison. Safro Mazangi who was one of them is like 7 years older than Emeneya. It has all to do with education and the era they lived and also for strategic reasons. If someone like Bendoson, Champion or Lebou would talk band about their ex'boss, the public will react strange, because they all returned. The musicians of Victoria Principal hadn't any rights anymore over the name Victoria Eleison, when they returned.
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I read somewhere that Jadot Le Camodgien wanted to stay Kinshasa back in 1986 or was it a different story?
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I read somewhere that Jadot Le Camodgien wanted to stay Kinshasa back in 1986 or was it a different story?
Jadot le Cambodgien didn't want to stay in 1986. I guess that you read it from Wemba's biography on his old website, which written by a Britsh hardcore fan. The same guy claimed that he sacked some his musicians (Gauthier Mukoka, Dezay, Lidjo Kwempa, Awilo and co), because they weren't able to adopt the the international area, which wasn't even true. They were left behind in Kinshasa, when Wemba decide to settle in Paris in 1987. This was because Wemba's staff weren't liking them the way there were complaining about salary, so they were punished for that. It was from 1988 that Martin Messoniers picked a few musicians of Viva La Musica to form a new band called Molokai, for his world-music career. Since that there were to much musicians. So they watched Viva La Musica performing live during a rehearsal, picking only Richacha, Demukuse, Reddy, Luciana and Stino. He also claimed that Nouvelle Generation split, becauseof financial problems since that the life without Wemba wasn't different,which isn't true.
Jadot Le Cambogien explained in an interview that Wemba went to Paris for a moment back in late 1986 and that Viva La Musica, started facing financial problems. Reddy Amisi then being close to join Zaiko and other members also wanting to leave, but they still survived. They then celebrated Viva's 10th birthday without Wemba (who was still in Europe). So then the press interviewed him about that and he said that Wemba is like a Eagle (in a way to praise him) and that he they could live without him (in a good way). But the journalists then wrote as title in the newpapers (Jadot Le Cambogien veut casser le mythe "Papa Wemba") which means Jadot Le Cambogien wants to break the myth Papa Wemba. Wemba's staff didn't like it and when Wemba came back in mid 1987 to bring Viva La Musica and his staff to Paris, he was among the guys who got punished. He tried on his own way to come in Europe, but it didn't work.
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OP, so was Viva more successful than Zaiko during those first years (1977-1982)?
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Zaïko was also popular at that time, but Viva La Musica used to beat them in terms of popularity and big crowds. Back in those days Viva La Musica was voted 5 years as beat band for the youngsters and Wemba as best star of the year (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 & 1981)
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I read somewhere that Jadot Le Camodgien wanted to stay Kinshasa back in 1986 or was it a different story?
Jadot le Cambodgien didn't want to stay in 1986. I guess that you read it from Wemba's biography on his old website, which written by a Britsh hardcore fan. The same guy claimed that he sacked some his musicians (Gauthier Mukoka, Dezay, Lidjo Kwempa, Awilo and co), because they weren't able to adopt the the international area, which wasn't even true. They were left behind in Kinshasa, when Wemba decide to settle in Paris in 1987. This was because Wemba's staff weren't liking them the way there were complaining about salary, so they were punished for that. It was from 1988 that Martin Messoniers picked a few musicians of Viva La Musica to form a new band called Molokai, for his world-music career. Since that there were to much musicians. So they watched Viva La Musica performing live during a rehearsal, picking only Richacha, Demukuse, Reddy, Luciana and Stino. He also claimed that Nouvelle Generation split, becauseof financial problems since that the life without Wemba wasn't different,which isn't true.
Jadot Le Cambogien explained in an interview that Wemba went to Paris for a moment back in late 1986 and that Viva La Musica, started facing financial problems. Reddy Amisi then being close to join Zaiko and other members also wanting to leave, but they still survived. They then celebrated Viva's 10th birthday without Wemba (who was still in Europe). So then the press interviewed him about that and he said that Wemba is like a Eagle (in a way to praise him) and that he they could live without him (in a good way). But the journalists then wrote as title in the newpapers (Jadot Le Cambogien veut casser le mythe "Papa Wemba") which means Jadot Le Cambogien wants to break the myth Papa Wemba. Wemba's staff didn't like it and when Wemba came back in mid 1987 to bring Viva La Musica and his staff to Paris, he was among the guys who got punished. He tried on his own way to come in Europe, but it didn't work.
The sad story so that website lied? I remember I saw a video of Jadot with his own band but it did not last long and he faded away from the scene. Plus Jadot was in Viva since 77 I founded a bit it disrespectful how they punished him it seemed the amout of loyalty gone to waste.
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In the Congolese music-scene they don't really care about loyalty. Only a little can go wrong and will thrown in the thrash.
There were moments that Jadot left, he left in 1977 to form Karawa Music with Esperant Kisangani, Bipoli, Julva and a part of Wemba's staff, then in late 1983 he went to settle in Europe before rejoining Viva 2 years later.
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That figures I didn't hear his voice on ceci cela and nana efiye but he returned in 1984 when he sang his famous song Adieta
https://youtu.be/bVYuNMNJjWc
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If you were a musician of viva you had to have a kanga motema spirit.
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That figures I didn't hear his voice on ceci cela and nana efiye but he returned in 1984 when he sang his famous song Adieta
https://youtu.be/bVYuNMNJjWc
He was there in 1983. You can see him on the concert they made at Studio Maman Ngebi after the creation of Victoria Eleison.
Back in the 70s and 80s, they were only singing with 4 singers max or the formula bandleader+4 singers, never more than that. Only Langa Langa Stars was using 5 singers.
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If you were a musician of viva you had to have a kanga motema spirit.
lol kanga motema spirit.
If you wanted to join Viva La Musica you had to be a real Yankee, smoke weed and kozala na esprit. If you was a yuma, you wouldn't spent 3 days there lol. King Kester Emeneya had a very hard time in the first months, he was often bullied by Bipoli, Esperant and Jadot. Wemba himself didn't had in the faith in Emeneya in the beginning saying "he sings well, but he's a yuma" and "comment nduleman akoki kozala na forme ya batu ya tchik boye".
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That figures I didn't hear his voice on ceci cela and nana efiye but he returned in 1984 when he sang his famous song Adieta
https://youtu.be/bVYuNMNJjWc
He was there in 1983. You can see him on the concert they made at Studio Maman Ngebi after the creation of Victoria Eleison.
Back in the 70s and 80s, they were only singing with 4 singers max or the formula bandleader+4 singers, never more than that. Only Langa Langa Stars was using 5 singers.
I was about to point that out I made mistake I forgot that he participated in that concert.
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If you were a musician of viva you had to have a kanga motema spirit.
lol kanga motema spirit.
If you wanted to join Viva La Musica you had to be a real Yankee, smoke weed and kozala na esprit. If you was a yuma, you wouldn't spent 3 days there lol. King Kester Emeneya had a very hard time in the first months, he was often bullied by Bipoli, Esperant and Jadot. Wemba himself didn't had in the faith in Emeneya in the beginning saying "he sings well, but he's a yuma" and "comment nduleman akoki kozala na forme ya batu ya tchik boye".
It's very difficult to build up confidence but he proved himself in the early 80s until he started leading Viva in Wemba's absences.
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yup. It already started when Bipoli, Esperant, Jadot and Julva left to form Karawa Musica. Which coincidenced with Papa Wemba going on a trip to Europe, leaving Emeneya and the rest behind in Kinshasa. Emeneya then started to get confidence from Wemba , when he came back from Europe and they recorded then Ata Nkale which was his first hit in Viva La Musica, becoming then also the second most popular artist of the band after Wemba.
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Emeneya had more space at least his best friends Djanana and Dindo Yogo were good to him.
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Esperant, Jadot & Bipoli would become cool with Emeneya when they rejoined Viva La Musica
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Esperant, Jadot & Bipoli would become cool with Emeneya when they rejoined Viva La Musica
True, it turned into a brotherhood relationship.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JthNYQQAzTs
This song was created when he was in Viva ?
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No. It was recorded when just left. Luciana’s solo album is by the way their first album.
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I said that, because he says in a sentence like "we are Viva and we are behind le Kuru" 3 min 26
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2f10HflLCY
Guy Wazambi was in Jadot's Group ?
Where can we find this album? it must be rare
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I said that, because he says in a sentence like "we are Viva and we are behind le Kuru" 3 min 26
He just said Esanga Mosenge, esanga lokola Viva na Molokai. He didn't say we are Viva and are behind le Kuru. It was like they say in French a "clin d'oeil". They did the Zimpompa-Pompa animation which was never animated in Viva La Musica. If you look to the credits of the album you will see Collegien and Porokondo who were not Viva-members, but musicians of NGRD
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2f10HflLCY
Guy Wazambi was in Jadot's Group ?
Where can we find this album? it must be rare
I don't know it can be possible. it is impossible to find or must contact Jadot who lives in Kinshasa. Don't believe that he's in possension of it.
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Zaïko was also popular at that time, but Viva La Musica used to beat them in terms of popularity and big crowds. Back in those days Viva La Musica was voted 5 years as beat band for the youngsters and Wemba as best star of the year (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 & 1981)
One day I will write a thread about how different generations of congolese musicians gave us a different test of music until this generation of Wera, Kofi and JB held us to ransom. The music in Congo has been static for the last 20 years, if you remember when Wenge came into the limelight they brought a different music genre that was copied by bands all around Africa, they changed in 1996 when Pentagon was released and immediately Kofi and Defao and others followed suit, and we danced to Pentagon, Loi and the likes. After 3 years Bill Clinton came with his style and we danced to Solala Bien, and Kofi as usual copied replicating Bill Celo Combo with Brigade and Kerosene. 20 years later, the congolese music has not evolved much, Werra still recruits Bill imitators, his line up must have Ferre and Mabiala copy cats. And Fally, Ferre and Co who are regarded as 5th generation have not given us any new innovation. It is time for a new generation of congolese to take the mantle and become creative. Just like the other generation that gave us good music to enjoy. Other wise our beloved music will soon be erased in Africa by the Nigerians. Mpiana, Werra and Kofi will never take us anywhere, they have nothing new they can offer.
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Zaïko was also popular at that time, but Viva La Musica used to beat them in terms of popularity and big crowds. Back in those days Viva La Musica was voted 5 years as beat band for the youngsters and Wemba as best star of the year (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 & 1981)
One day I will write a thread about how different generations of congolese musicians gave us a different test of music until this generation of Wera, Kofi and JB held us to ransom. The music in Congo has been static for the last 20 years, if you remember when Wenge came into the limelight they brought a different music genre that was copied by bands all around Africa, they changed in 1996 when Pentagon was released and immediately Kofi and Defao and others followed suit, and we danced to Pentagon, Loi and the likes. After 3 years Bill Clinton came with his style and we danced to Solala Bien, and Kofi as usual copied replicating Bill Celo Combo with Brigade and Kerosene. 20 years later, the congolese music has not evolved much, Werra still recruits Bill imitators, his line up must have Ferre and Mabiala copy cats. And Fally, Ferre and Co who are regarded as 5th generation have not given us any new innovation. It is time for a new generation of congolese to take the mantle and become creative. Just like the other generation that gave us good music to enjoy. Other wise our beloved music will soon be erased in Africa by the Nigerians. Mpiana, Werra and Kofi will never take us anywhere, they have nothing new they can offer.
You see. Congolese musician in the late 2000's have become very childish with a worsen of the condition in 2010's.
What do I mean by childish. They are costantly insulting each other saying that their group is the better that other people aren't like them etc. The only guys that aren't childish get overlooked and mocmed by journalists.
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I know Bendo Son has been revoked from the band again.
Mfumu Vata, Why did Luciana or Bongo Wende participate in the albums of the Viva singers even though they left the group? Wasn't that a problem with La nouvelle Generation ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvYRdCUNjnM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ukjdk0_Ll8
They were open-minded. It wasn't for nothing that they were calling themselves "Nouvelle Generation de la Republique Democratique" (which means the New Generation of the Democratic Republic). When Awilo recorded his album Moto Pamba after his departure from Nouvelle Generation, he invited Luciana Demingongo which didn't create problems. Luciana Demingongo is very different, he recorded LP's with Veve when he was a Viva La Musica-member while Papa Wemba was in a open conflict with Verckys Kiamuangana.
Also don't forget that musicians from the 3th generation are very different from those of Clan Wenge and the generations after it. Guys of the 3th generation could perform on the same stage despite conflicts and inviting each other to record discs, etc. Good examples are King Kester Emeneya and Papa Wemba who used often to perform on a same stage during the 80s and 90s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUcTEoapnkA
Those of Clan Wenge are weird and not real musicians. They really poisoned our music.
In what sense are not real musicians? Because I totally agree with the fact that at least the leaders and the imprint they give in Wenge Musica Maison Mere are weird.