Thoughts on the new channel?
I think its really a good idea but with the current state of the music I’m not sure how it’ll work. Are they just gonna play old songs because we dont really have much good new content from our artits currently. Are they gonna play the same 10 songs that came out this year over and over mixed with old stuff? If its mostly documentaries and music from other areas as well then we might be good but if its just congolese music idk

If this woulda came out in 2004 it wouldnt been fire and the playlists would have been endless

great idea,but the elders gotta show maturity if what i hear is true,over the last few years,several times i have heard musicians complain that their ex leaders are blocking their promotion on trace because they have relationship among the bosses of channel(and in other countries like ivory coast aswell i heard such complaint)

talking about here is the ceremony with mohombi,koffi,heritier,fabregas,robinio,noella madinga,naty lokole, papy mboma... haha a bunch of "rivals" there

from 1994 until 2003 you had a channel called MCM Africa. Who was putting only African music and 70% of their music was Congolese. Back in 1997, 98, 99 and 2000 ther playlist was very hot with the hitsongs of Koffi, Extra Musica. You can see the logo of MCM Africa on Fula Ngenge, Droit de Veto, Attentat, etc. MCM Africa and Africa N1 who was based in Libreville with Alain-Saint Pierre (R.I.P.) as radiohost where very powerful. I liked Alain's line alot "La musique est une drogue et moi je suis un dealer" which Koffi recited in Rond Point.

 But there came an end on it when Trace bought MCM Africa in 2003 and renamed it Trace Urban. Putting a  limit of 5 min and promoting Coupe Decale-music more on their tv than Congolese music. While in 2003 and 2004 Ndombolo had more hits than Coupe Decale with their generics Et Apres, Somo Trop, Code Pin, Ligne 11, Tindika Lokito, Karolina, etc. 2003 was really a bad year for the Congolese music-scene. Everything went bad from that year. From 2010 it became worser on Trace with unkwnon artists and music which doesn't make sense from West-Africa being put on tv and Congolese music almost not. 3 years later artists themselve discovered that people who were working on the African section were blocking video's mostly coming from DR Congo, but also from other countries and made them pay money. Alot who paid money but didn't saw their music come on the channel, except if they denouced them on Facebook and tv with Trace immediatly putting their music weeks on tv.

I'm happy for them. But I'm afraid that those bandleaders will mess it up. I heard that alot of talents and those new dj's/artists are coming on Trace tv. That's a good thing instead of hearing only artists coming from Clan Wenge and Clan Langa Langa.

the project of Trace kitoko its a good idea, i think it will push the musician to work hard and this new channel may perhaps allow us to discover new talent because our music is filled with new talent but, lack of promotion, dont get the audience they deserve.

It is with this kind of project that we see that Congolese music is a sacred heritage. Trace kitoko is the beginning of the reconquest of our place of n°1, then once the concerts are reopened in Europe and the Congolese musicians stop their ego wars in favor of a fair war, there we will become the N°1 of Africa without any doubt

Thoughts on the new channel?
I think its really a good idea but with the current state of the music I’m not sure how it’ll work. Are they just gonna play old songs because we dont really have much good new content from our artits currently. Are they gonna play the same 10 songs that came out this year over and over mixed with old stuff? If its mostly documentaries and music from other areas as well then we might be good but if its just congolese music idk

If this woulda came out in 2004 it wouldnt been fire and the playlists would have been endless

Most music channels play the same 25 songs all day long, so it won't change a thing.

the project of Trace kitoko its a good idea, i think it will push the musician to work hard and this new channel may perhaps allow us to discover new talent because our music is filled with new talent but, lack of promotion, dont get the audience they deserve.

It is with this kind of project that we see that Congolese music is a sacred heritage. Trace kitoko is the beginning of the reconquest of our place of n°1, then once the concerts are reopened in Europe and the Congolese musicians stop their ego wars in favor of a fair war, there we will become the N°1 of Africa without any doubt

It's  a good thing that there is  a channel dedicated to congolese music. But we have to see what philosophy they have and what(s their vision. The main issue I have with this channel (and with music channel in general) is that it may become too powerful on our music, since they will have a monopoly, and a big one, bigger than MCM Africa. They can start making and destroying careers according to THEIR agenda. And we don't know what their vision of our music is.

They need a concurrent, a congolese one.

Also, you're right : things are going to change (in the right direction) when our musicians will be able to do their things freely in Europe and the US.

Those come back concerts will be crazy !

Can you guys fill us in for those not in the region? Is it just a music video channel or will there be Congolese journalists with their own shows as well?

the project of Trace kitoko its a good idea, i think it will push the musician to work hard and this new channel may perhaps allow us to discover new talent because our music is filled with new talent but, lack of promotion, dont get the audience they deserve.

It is with this kind of project that we see that Congolese music is a sacred heritage. Trace kitoko is the beginning of the reconquest of our place of n°1, then once the concerts are reopened in Europe and the Congolese musicians stop their ego wars in favor of a fair war, there we will become the N°1 of Africa without any doubt

It's  a good thing that there is  a channel dedicated to congolese music. But we have to see what philosophy they have and what(s their vision. The main issue I have with this channel (and with music channel in general) is that it may become too powerful on our music, since they will have a monopoly, and a big one, bigger than MCM Africa. They can start making and destroying careers according to THEIR agenda. And we don't know what their vision of our music is.

They need a concurrent, a congolese one.

Also, you're right : things are going to change (in the right direction) when our musicians will be able to do their things freely in Europe and the US.

Those come back concerts will be crazy !

journalist Yves Kambala is against that idea. Seeing it as a neo-colonialism and giving other reasons why he's against that idea. It's sad that Delanation cut alot of parts out of the video. Is he against the truth ?

Can you guys fill us in for those not in the region? Is it just a music video channel or will there be Congolese journalists with their own shows as well?

Trace is a channel network that have a few other channels like Viacom in the states (VH1,MTV, BET) in france. They just created Trace Kitoko which would be the equivalent of MTV Congo if it was here in the states. So I’m sure they’re going to have influent people from the culture have shows but its a french network so its gonna be like MCM africa or Africa numero 1 but just for us.


My only thing is that theres not even any new music that comes out right now. I cant even think of 5 new singles off the top of my head. Thats my only problem, because our music is pretty much dead right now so I dont know how they’re gonna manage unless they play old songs ALLL day. Which wouldnt be bad but ehh. Especially when you have Youtube and can just watch any video you want. The only thing they have advantage on is if they documentary and special show content is outta this world. If the documentaries and radio hosts and stuff like that have interresting shows and if theres interviews its gonna be interresting but we’ll see.


Wont be available in the states I dont think, not sure how ima be able to watch.

In my opinion i think the project is a bad idea  and the statement saying that its  meant to promote congoleae music more is false .guys the chanel is dedicated only for congolese music ..this to me show how deep they want to sink congolese music ..non-congolese people will not be watching it.they will focus on new stuff on trace urban or africa and make our music only popular for congolese comunities around the world  not for all african ..i dont see a guy from cameroun or ivory coast watching a 100% congole music chanel. This is a bad idea.

We Congolese are just lazy.

This channel should have been made by Congolese a long time ago. But Congolese are in love with everything that come from the West so they are going to praise it. I'm very suspicious...

It's a shame Londala "Lauder" died so young. To me, he was one the few that a big vision for our culture.