Congo Vibes
Music => Congolese Music => Topic started by: Mfumu Vata on July 23, 2025, 00:08
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Today marks 20 years since Werrason gave his Changement de Frequence show in Kikwit. From the mid 1990s, shows of Kinshasa-based artists within the cities of Congo were slowly losing their importance in Congolese music. However, from 2003 and especially from 2005, the importance of these shows started to make a comeback, though not at the same level as during the Zaire-era. The revival was largely driven by the 'beer war' between Primus (Bralima) and Skol (Bracongo), two competing companies who were fighting market dominance. Another factor was the decline in success of European tours since 2003. The different shows across stadiums of cities such as Matadi, Lubumbashi and Mbuji Mayi and across different areas in Kinshasa (Masina, N’djili, Malueka, Camp Luka, Bandalungwa, Kasa-Vubu, etc.) were important for artists themselves to measure their popularity and show their superiority above rivals.
Werrason’s performance in Kikwit was his second show in the city since his solo-career (first one being in 2003) and his first show after signing with Bralima.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv7j9J0ThG0
After a series of concerts in Kinshasa to celebrate New Year's Eve 2005 and the cancellation of a sponsored event by Vodacom at Stade des Martyrs
(planned for January 22nd) due to security concerns, Werrason returned to Europe in February 2005 to continue his European tour, which he had paused after his double LSC show during Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVrpm2Oev_c&t=1843s
Werrason gave successful performances in Brussels, Paris (where he invited Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, and Koffi Olomidé), Germany, the Netherlands, etc.. However, there was also drama. Dancer Tantine was deported to Kinshasa and his sponsor Bracongo accused rival company Bralima of approaching their artist and allegedly getting him to sign with them, despite Werrason still being under contract with Bracongo until July 2005.At the same time, tensions emerged between Werrason and his tour promoter Dario Kindongo. Werrason decided to not show up at the remaining tour-dates. Several attempts were made by Dario for a reconciliation, but they were not successful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0azmBUaHhSg&t=51s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NleG5dqgUM4&list=RDNleG5dqgUM4&start_radio=1&t=4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VNGyqaZYCg&list=RD7VNGyqaZYCg&start_radio=1
Werrason's planned return to Kinshasa in May 2005 was also delayed and Bracongo announced it would sue Bralima, claiming the company had manipulated Werrason to stay in Europe until the expiration of the contract with Bracongo and made that they made him sign a deal while still under contract.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6te8xHdAon4
In July 2005, Werrason finally returned to Kinshasa with his group, without singer Teka Diobanza and bassist Michel Bass, who both decided to remain in Europe. However, bassist Mimiche Bass (RIP) rejoined the band. After the collapse of Les Marquis de Maison Mère and he co-founded Les Marquis Plus with Japonais, Celezino, and Serge Maladi after leaving Jus d’Été Mulopwe, but the group failed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvIa37qT3qc
Just before returning to Kinshasa, several newspapers released articles about Werrason having signed a lucrative four-year deal with Bralima. There were also rumors that JB Mpiana was about to be dropped by Bralima, but these were quickly denied. Still, the public was wondering how JB Mpiana and Werrason would co-exist under the same sponsor.
To organize Werrason’s return and his first show under Bralima sponsorship, several ideas were considered. The original plan was for Werrason to make his comeback at Stade des Martyrs. However, Werrason proposed to Bralima that his first concert should take place in his home province, followed by a performance at Stade des Martyrs, in order to build anticipation among fans in Kinshasa.Unfortunately, the authorities refused to grant authorization for an event at Stade des Martyrs, fearing a repeat of the 2003 incident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9FkuzGaasU&t=2513s
On July 21st, 2005, Werrason and his band received a triumphant welcome. Thousands of fans flooded the streets as he was escorted from N’djili Airport to Zamba Playa (WMM headquarter). After spending time with fans and friends, the band was taken to the Grand Hotel de Kinshasa, where Maison Mère used to stay traditionally after European tours since 1999. Fans expected to receive the album Temoignage des Miracles (which would later get shortened to Temoignage) in a few weeks, since before the tour it was announced for the summer. But it was made clear to the press that Maison Mere would first record a single for their sponsor Primus and that the album got delayed to autumn (it would finally get released in December 2005).
On July 23rd, Werrason arrived in Kikwit, where he was welcomed by traditional chiefs and thousands of fans. The concert took place at Stade Kazamba, which was packed, with many people unable to get in. After the show, the press would exaggerate the numbers of attendance, claiming 200,000 people had been present, while Kikwit's population being around 300,000 in 2005. Some newspapers even reported numbers as high as 600,000. Nevertheless, the event was seen among the biggest highlights of 2005 (next to FIKIN 2005, LSC 2005, Ferre’s arrival in Quartier Latin and Koffi’s show in Paris)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us526ystwNk
Aftermath;
Producer/Concertpromoter Badive Fulampungu, who fell out with JB Mpiana at that time, over the promotion of the album Anti-Terro, would release a DVD of the show, under name Danger de Mort 600 000 Volts “l’embouchure” and a DVD of Werrason’s triumphal return to Kinshasa as well, under the name “Etat de Siege”. The DVD of the Kikwit-show would sell like crazy. But at the same time, like many events at that era, Gaulthier Mascotte would also release a DVD of that event through his label Lennox Productions. However, the DVD would have footage from a different angel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dAGqBl-NAY&t=9115s
After the Kikwit concert, Maison Mère returned to Kinshasa and performed at the Grand Hotel. The event was dedicated to Mimiche Bass, who was getting officially presented for rejoining Wenge Maison Mere. Sadly, the footage of that performance got lost. Shortly afterward, Maison Mère entered the studio to record the single Changement de Fréquence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ-lVQ0859o&list=RDnZ-lVQ0859o&start_radio=1
However, when the single was released, it failed to meet the high expectations set by the massive success of Tindika Lokito (released with Skol in 2003) and JB Mpiana’s summer hit Bolongowayi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZmucpoKu5U&list=RDkZmucpoKu5U&start_radio=1
Still, Werrason went on to open the 2005 FIKIN edition with a double show at the Village Bralima on August 6th and 7th, followed by another performance at Village Bralima the following week. The third performance became the scene of a fara-fara against Koffi Olomidé, who was performing at the rival Village Bracongo. The succeses of Werrason at FIKIN made him receive another contract to perform at FIKIN on August 20th at Village Vodaom. The fourth performance at FIKIN, would become the longest concert taking in Congolese music-history, as his rival JB Mpiana performed the same day at Vilage Bralima and none of the artist wanting to stop performing until them both shows getting intterupted by the police.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rdzBIJZcWA&t=33s
Coming Soon;
FIKIN fara-fara: Werrason vs Koffi Olomide
FIKIN fara-fara: JB Mpiana vs Werrason
Papa Wemba - Olympia