At the time I got into heated debates with friends about it which (sebene, not album) was more impactful. It's getting close to 20 years later and it's still a debate matter.

Titanic was clearly recorded in better conditions in Europe (with a proven team), but Intervention Rapide was so different sounding and teenage Bill Clinton was already a force to be reckoned with.


Animation: Bill Clinton
Solo: Japonais Maladi
Bass: Didier Masela Christian Mabanga
Rhythm: Guylian Mpungi
Drums (programming): Godé Lofombo
Snares: Papy Kakol
Mbonda: Ali Mbonda


Animation: Tutu Calludji
Solo: Mboka Liya
Bass: Patient Kusangila
Mi Solo: Maitre Ficarre
Rhythm:  Kusangila
Drums : Titina
Keys: Theo Bidens

If you were in cities outside of Kin or the eastern DRC cities, you were more likely to hear Titanic. The album was a sucess to the highest degree. In Kinshasa, however, especially in the common communities you were more likely to hear Intervention Rapide, as Maison Mère had a grassroots chégue following. The youth preferred Wenge MM.

Technically, Maison Mère got even (and surpassed) BCBG in sheer popularity around the time of Solola, but Intervention rapide was a way of saying to BCBG, we don't have all the resources you have yet, but we're coming for you..

Thoughts or opinions on which you preferred at the time?

I'm pretty sure Christian Mabanga played bass on Intervention Rapide.

I'm pretty sure Christian Mabanga played bass on Intervention Rapide.

Indeed, my misto

I remember Titanic was a huge success, in Zambia and i would imagine in many countries. Even now i still get nolstagic when i play this track.

Yeah it's Christian "Mabanga" Mwepu on the bass guitar. Bill Clinton even mentioned his name at 2:47 min "Ya Christian Mabanga mema nga na leka".

On Titanic it's Fiston Zamuangana Savimpi "Misapi ya Talo" on the rhythm. Patient Kusangila went at that time back to his bass-player rol sharing it with Alain Makaba.

I don't know for what reason, but I always preferred Intervention Rapide above Titanic, despite that mediocre quality. I think that it's because the power and that new style Japonais & Kakol brought in, while we were in the ndombolo-era. I remember people complaining about that saying that it was "manzanza", "makelele" and that it was music of the street. So they recorded Solola Bien on the vision of Titanic and went back to the ndombolo-style, having less noisy/aggressive sebene's, having Flamme Kapaya on the lead, who was at that time not really aggressive on his guitar until Burkina arrived. Inviting Djudju-chet, Maika Munan, Philiphe Guez and Guy Nsangue. But it didn't change their reputation and people still saying that it was "manzanza" (or maybe it was just hate) and they went then on the Kibuisa Mpimpa-album back to the original Maison-Mere style, which Japonais, Kakol & Christian Mwepu created in 1998.

lol ndeko at that time both camps were "hating" on each others i remember a face off between sankara and seguin at an interview with sankara saying that bcbg's music titanic th and internet was like valium which would make you sleep and seguin replied with the "manzanza" thing

Intervention rapide was more exciting for me due to the new vocalists however Titanic had better a better sound....at that time I was over the nbombolo crie, I liked Bill Clinton's work