I was often who Wabalonzo was. In the last years that I was following Digitalcongo on their website, I saw articles writing about him and some of a man called Shangostar or something like that. I think that ShaddyRaddy even uploaded two albums of Wabalonzo back in the days. But I will look it later up.
Wabalonzo said that he grew up in Makala and later went to live in Masina, adding that he grew up with Reddy in Makala. Later in the interview he said that Reddy kept saying that he didn't had time to sing on his first album which backed by Viva la Musica. Also adding that he was already accepted to join Viva la Musica, but Reddy Amisi refusing to let him sing. This made me think back, about Wabalonzo that he knew Reddy already in his childhood in Makala. There some people who don't like to be associated with people that know them during the time of struggling, espcially when they present a different image. Reddy for example always says that he's from Yolo, because of being ashamed to say that he's from Makala. Many people from Makala don't like that and sometimes attack him in the comments when saying that. He's not the only one. Many people that grew in areas/quarters that were construced after 1960 are ashamed of it. Them often citing the area/quarters next to it who were constructed before the Belgians left Kinshasa, when being asked where they are from, others replying by citing the quarter/area where aunt/uncle/cousins live. Today it's not really an issue anymore, because of the state of Kinshasa today. But back in the days it was really and thing, some saying it because of not wanting to get bullied or discriminated by those coming from the pre-indepedence areas/quarters. For example, many people from Ngaba used to say that they are from Lemba, those coming from Selembao lying that they are from Bandal, those of Bumbu saying Ngiri-Ngiri, Kisenso lying that they are of Matete and those of Kimbanseke saying that they are bana N'djili.
There are many people that got in Europe through Angola in the 1980s and early 1990s. Back in those days it was so easy. Looks like before the hype of Turkey and Morrocco, that the majority of people in Europe came from there, followed by Nigeria and Benin being 3th of having brought many Congolese people in Europe. I have also many relatives that managed to come here, through those tourist visa's. Many people would be ashamed for the story Wabalonzo said, that he got deported from Prague to Luanda and being put for 60+ days and then the second time finally succeeding.
It's the first that I hear a singer singing with late Eseperant Kisangani's voice. Often its always Emeneya and Papa Wemba and on a few occassions Bozi.
The part of Papa Wemba saying "Nazwi ba chanteurs na coté ya bino ya Bayaka wana" killed me. Wabalonzo then replying "Vieux ba coté nini ya Bayaka wana ?. Te ba coté na ya bino na Masina, nazwi mwa ba chanteurs ebele". It would have been a good move to join Nouvelle Ecriture like Wemba requested him, seeing that Reddy kept blocking him.
