Congo Vibes
Music => Congolese Music => Topic started by: congo-243 on March 30, 2020, 19:17
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I have Koffi which doesn't need an explanation. I posted this because on social media ppl are debating about it. Who do ya'll have?
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Cmon now of course its koffi. Yes the last 10 years or so have been questionable for him, but no one can deny how high his peak was and for how long it went. Werra's peak was very close but it wasn't as long.
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Ndeko what are you asking? It's not clear enough to understand.
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I would go for wemba,yeah nsone and koffi have built the image of their longterm success better and seem to have handled it longer,but in reality wemba did a bit of everything they did plus some which they never did and might never do either
i have asked myself that question too and i asked people from other countries and most were naturally saying koffi since marketing wise koffi maintained himself closer to various generations in a row,but as soon as i said what about papa wemba people's face changed and you could feel immense respect
but then again the biggest is very subjective,unless you have an insane advance like mukalenga jackson lol
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When Wemba died (RIP), literally every media outlet reported on his passing; to a point to when I was surprised, impressed, and proud. Wemba had the biggest global reach thanks to his venture to world music and his notoriety with be leading ambassadeur of La SAPE. He was such a captivating character - the subject of so many documentaries and the first star of DRC's first-ever feature film.
Among a strictly African and African diaspora audience, I give the nod to Koffi since he works are much more known in west, north and East Africa than Wemba's, Werra, or JB - Before the fan club representatives join and get mad at me, I'm speaking objectively as a decades long music fan .
That be said, if it weren't for Wemba instilling confidence in a once reluctant Koffi then he would've had no illustrious career to speak of.
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:
1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare
Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.
Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend
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Yes bro, but the industry of Congolese music had the misadvantage to not have big production company and therefore no legal and actual count of CD's sales.
If i'm not mistaken, all the artists you quotted had the advantage to be in big production compagny and have their sales counted well. I think if Congolese musician in 80s and 90s had most of their albums published by "serious" company, quickly it would go up in millions of "legal" sales and would have exceeded at least Tiken Jah Fakoly, Oumou Sangare and Mory Kante...
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Yes bro, but the industry of Congolese music had the misadvantage to not have big production company and therefore no legal and actual count of CD's sales.
If i'm not mistaken, all the artists you quotted had the advantage to be in big production compagny and have their sales counted well. I think if Congolese musician in 80s and 90s had most of their albums published by "serious" company, quickly it would go up in millions of "legal" sales and would have exceeded at least Tiken Jah Fakoly, Oumou Sangare and Mory Kante...
Correct all those artists benefits from being signed to the very best record label - Nonesuch, Warner, Universal, Sony, Island/Mango, etc. With the exception of Tiken Jah and Alpha Blondy, all those artists were pure to their heritage as well.
Sono was a very good African label in the 90’s, but imagine if Koffi (who turned down huge offers to remain loyal) and Wemba (same case except for his Real World albums, which were huge)) signed to above labels and had the same level of promotion?
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Ndeko what are you asking? It's not clear enough to understand.
I know what I'm asking seems crazy but on Twitter a lot were voting against Koffi bizarrely
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Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?
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Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?
Sales/popularity, but the aforementioned top artists have put out some of the best crafted albums you will hear.
Personally, I’d take TH, V12, Kibuisa, Fula Ngenge, etc over nearly everything, but the albums are not to outsider’s taste because they don’t understand the genre
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To be honest it is probably between Koffi and Papa Wemba especially in terms of influence and popularity throughout Africa , then it is quite close between the two.
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Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?
Sales/popularity, but the aforementioned top artists have put out some of the best crafted albums you will hear.
Personally, I’d take TH, V12, Kibuisa, Fula Ngenge, etc over nearly everything, but the albums are not to outsider’s taste because they don’t understand the genre
Okay I see what you are saying
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Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?
Sales/popularity, but the aforementioned top artists have put out some of the best crafted albums you will hear.
Personally, I’d take TH, V12, Kibuisa, Fula Ngenge, etc over nearly everything, but the albums are not to outsider’s taste because they don’t understand the genre
It's sucks that those album didn't had the same success as those other African artists
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I have never experienced Papa Wemba's prime so I can't judge him based on what he had done since I wasn't even born when he had success but I can say I love his Fula Ngenge A La Une Prohect and the joint AlPatshino made with Bill Clinton between Werra JB and Koffi well international Koffi Nationally Werrason the whole Congo knew him while JB I don't know I hadn't lived Titanic and TH success to judge him I do like his recent work but it seems that he have lost interest to push himself over the top
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I have never experienced Papa Wemba's prime so I can't judge him based on what he had done since I wasn't even born when he had success but I can say I love his Fula Ngenge A La Une Prohect and the joint AlPatshino made with Bill Clinton between Werra JB and Koffi well international Koffi Nationally Werrason the whole Congo knew him while JB I don't know I hadn't lived Titanic and TH success to judge him I do like his recent work but it seems that he have lost interest to push himself over the top
JB had many chances to become an international superstar in his prime, but in most cases his camp advised against it. We can go into detail with our brothers, but it’s really a tragedy
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@Matebu
Was this the period when he released his first solo album? Ndombolo was a pretty huge wave. I'm surprised they talked him out of it, why?
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My two-cent reply.....
The comparison should be based on a reference point and period.
- Comparison can be by who has made more money from music
- Comparison can be by who has won most international accolades (genuine ones ;D ;D ;D)
-Comparison can be by who has the largest followership or is the biggest trendsetter
Comparison can be by who has the most albums under his belt
and many more
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Yes bro, but the industry of Congolese music had the misadvantage to not have big production company and therefore no legal and actual count of CD's sales.
If i'm not mistaken, all the artists you quotted had the advantage to be in big production compagny and have their sales counted well. I think if Congolese musician in 80s and 90s had most of their albums published by "serious" company, quickly it would go up in millions of "legal" sales and would have exceeded at least Tiken Jah Fakoly, Oumou Sangare and Mory Kante...
This is debatable, based on which part of the continent you are, the above mentioned musicians are not that much famous in Anglophone East Africa, I don't know about other parts of the continent but for Tanzania it will always be.
1. Kofi
2. Papa Wemba
3. Werra
4. JB.
The arrangement is mine, but those are the four most famous congolese musicians of this generation.
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:
1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare
Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.
Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend
come one .......why is it that after being given the admission to the next floor people tend to imagine what is still above?!.... the question here was all about the four. Lets say may take is Koffi, then the next closest thing should be why.
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:
1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare
Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.
Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend
come one .......why is it that after being given the admission to the next floor people tend to imagine what is still above?!.... the question here was all about the four. Lets say may take is Koffi, then the next closest thing should be why.
Relax.... ndeko @Jeffrey Sirjeza Sibanda introduced the discussion of biggest star in Africa rather than Congo, I responded with the artist who are biggest in Africa by popularity and album sales
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They say that Wemba got a gold disc from USA? why can't I find it on RIAA site (site to check who went platnium, gold) and why hasn't wemba ever showed his plaque?
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They say that Wemba got a gold disc from USA? why can't I find it on RIAA site (site to check who went platnium, gold) and why hasn't wemba ever showed his plaque?
Look at Wemba's Zenith of 1999 with Molokai, Reddy and co.
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They say that Wemba got a gold disc from USA? why can't I find it on RIAA site (site to check who went platnium, gold) and why hasn't wemba ever showed his plaque?
Look at Wemba's Zenith of 1999 with Molokai, Reddy and co.
Namoni YANGO. since it was certified in USA why can't I find it here https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:
1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare
Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.
Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend
Wow this list is eye opening to me our "stars" aren't actually stars like they proclaim because those artist you listed have impressive accolades
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I think this one differs a lot, I said Koffi cause he is among the richest in Africa, relevant in all corners of the world and his social media presence surpasses everyone on your list....... Those are indeed great but not as popular as Koffi. Even if you check blogs about Africa's all time greatest musicians there is only Yousou and other names. Pepe Kalle, Fela kuti, etc
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:
1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare
Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.
Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend
Wow this list is eye opening to me our "stars" aren't actually stars like they proclaim because those artist you listed have impressive accolades
Angelique Kidjo is also on this top 10 list. She’s a multiple Grammy winner and has performed some of the greatest soundtracks for huge movies. A few other of the artists mentioned have also won Grammy’s
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Yes bro, but the industry of Congolese music had the misadvantage to not have big production company and therefore no legal and actual count of CD's sales.
If i'm not mistaken, all the artists you quotted had the advantage to be in big production compagny and have their sales counted well. I think if Congolese musician in 80s and 90s had most of their albums published by "serious" company, quickly it would go up in millions of "legal" sales and would have exceeded at least Tiken Jah Fakoly, Oumou Sangare and Mory Kante...
This is debatable, based on which part of the continent you are, the above mentioned musicians are not that much famous in Anglophone East Africa, I don't know about other parts of the continent but for Tanzania it will always be.
1. Kofi
2. Papa Wemba
3. Werra
4. JB.
The arrangement is mine, but those are the four most famous congolese musicians of this generation.
No doubt Ndugu, This is the order for East Africa. I think JB is a fool, He never tried to capture East Africa. He would have easily captured EA during Ndombolo era. Werra also lost the golden opportunity during Solo la Bien era, the guy couldn't learn English. Fally will take over the leadership of EA from Koffi because the guy is always trying to connect with his followers not like his brother who behaves like a robot whenever he comes to EA.
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No doubt Ndugu, This is the order for East Africa. I think JB is a fool, He never tried to capture East Africa. He would have easily captured EA during Ndombolo era. Werra also lost the golden opportunity during Solo la Bien era, the guy couldn't learn English. Fally will take over the leadership of EA from Koffi because the guy is always trying to connect with his followers, not like his brother who behaves like a robot whenever he comes to EA.
I would not spend sleepless nights on the East African market with the exception probably of Tanzania which if I was an artist I would go for...
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No doubt Ndugu, This is the order for East Africa. I think JB is a fool, He never tried to capture East Africa. He would have easily captured EA during Ndombolo era. Werra also lost the golden opportunity during Solo la Bien era, the guy couldn't learn English. Fally will take over the leadership of EA from Koffi because the guy is always trying to connect with his followers, not like his brother who behaves like a robot whenever he comes to EA.
I would not spend sleepless nights on the East African market with the exception probably of Tanzania which if I was an artist I would go for...
And Kenya...
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No doubt Ndugu, This is the order for East Africa. I think JB is a fool, He never tried to capture East Africa. He would have easily captured EA during Ndombolo era. Werra also lost the golden opportunity during Solo la Bien era, the guy couldn't learn English. Fally will take over the leadership of EA from Koffi because the guy is always trying to connect with his followers, not like his brother who behaves like a robot whenever he comes to EA.
I would not spend sleepless nights on the East African market with the exception probably of Tanzania which if I was an artist I would go for...
Lol Why Omwami?
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No doubt Ndugu, This is the order for East Africa. I think JB is a fool, He never tried to capture East Africa. He would have easily captured EA during Ndombolo era. Werra also lost the golden opportunity during Solo la Bien era, the guy couldn't learn English. Fally will take over the leadership of EA from Koffi because the guy is always trying to connect with his followers, not like his brother who behaves like a robot whenever he comes to EA.
I would not spend sleepless nights on the East African market with the exception probably of Tanzania which if I was an artist I would go for...
Lol, Why Omwami?
East Africa and especially Kenya there is no money to make. Consider the concerts that have happened , most artists barely recoup their expenses. We don't have proper fans who can "carry" their favorite artists. In Kenya, the only one who comes close is the COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:
1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare
Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.
Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend
Wow this list is eye opening to me our "stars" aren't actually stars like they proclaim because those artist you listed have impressive accolades
Angelique Kidjo is also on this top 10 list. She’s a multiple Grammy winner and has performed some of the greatest soundtracks for huge movies. A few other of the artists mentioned have also won Grammy’s
Wow it doesn't get more impressive than that. Too bad our artist will never reach that level.
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No doubt Ndugu, This is the order for East Africa. I think JB is a fool, He never tried to capture East Africa. He would have easily captured EA during Ndombolo era. Werra also lost the golden opportunity during Solo la Bien era, the guy couldn't learn English. Fally will take over the leadership of EA from Koffi because the guy is always trying to connect with his followers, not like his brother who behaves like a robot whenever he comes to EA.
I would not spend sleepless nights on the East African market with the exception probably of Tanzania which if I was an artist I would go for...
Lol, Why Omwami?
East Africa and especially Kenya there is no money to make. Consider the concerts that have happened , most artists barely recoup their expenses. We don't have proper fans who can "carry" their favorite artists. In Kenya, the only one who comes close is the COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli
That is not true, Kofi was here in Tanzania last month, the entrance fee was 50 USD and the show was sold out 2 days before the show.
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Grammy awards are United States awards lets not forget that....... Those guys (Americans) just want to rule the world and make us believe what they want...... Am not saying they are wrong, am just saying let's have our own way to select our legends which is not American, those guys don't care about Africa, look at what they do in their movies, they take someone from Zimbabwe to act as Congolese general, speaking Zimbabwean language (Seal team 8) Malawian to act as South African (Blended) and he butchered the zulu language......list goes on, My point is, they look at what they like (music that they can't produce) what they call great is what they like and what they like is what they call best in Africa hence give awards......... Awards are mostly for the influence and impact someone is making on planet........If Americans were in charge of Ballon d'ors Beckham would be owning more than 10 lol.
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I just realized now that we judge our legends based on what America says about them, Grammys are just American awards and through the influence of media they have made us crazy about them...... If you look at it properly 2e have legends in Africa that never got the Grammy.
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100% American validation is no way to judge an artist from Africa, the respect is nice and appreciated but we cannot hold it so high in importance.
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Grammy awards are United States awards lets not forget that....... Those guys (Americans) just want to rule the world and make us believe what they want...... Am not saying they are wrong, am just saying let's have our own way to select our legends which is not American, those guys don't care about Africa, look at what they do in their movies, they take someone from Zimbabwe to act as Congolese general, speaking Zimbabwean language (Seal team 8) Malawian to act as South African (Blended) and he butchered the zulu language......list goes on, My point is, they look at what they like (music that they can't produce) what they call great is what they like and what they like is what they call best in Africa hence give awards......... Awards are mostly for the influence and impact someone is making on planet........If Americans were in charge of Ballon d'ors Beckham would be owning more than 10 lol.
8)
Nothing to ad
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Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)
1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela
Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:
1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare
Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.
Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend
come one .......why is it that after being given the admission to the next floor people tend to imagine what is still above?!.... the question here was all about the four. Lets say may take is Koffi, then the next closest thing should be why.
Relax.... ndeko @Jeffrey Sirjeza Sibanda introduced the discussion of biggest star in Africa rather than Congo, I responded with the artist who are biggest in Africa by popularity and album sales
OUI Ndeko.....I second you on the bigger picture(AFRICA). The perception of the masses is not what is on the ground.