@mvulusi96

You're right, Koffi always wins over Wenge when it comes to rhumbas! That area of music is his strongest suit. Although, the lead singers from Wenge did have their fair share of solid rhumbas; Verset Oublier, Omba, J'suis La, among others...

The music scene was changing going into the 90s, albums were comprised of a generique, rhumbas, and sebene based songs. Koffi was smart enough to sense the direction of music and adapt to it, while maintaining the style which long earned him respect. In the beginning, he made some errors trying to find the music formula that worked but he managed and the rest is history

@mvulusi96

You're right, Koffi always wins over Wenge when it comes to rhumbas! That area of music is his strongest suit. Although, the lead singers from Wenge did have their fair share of solid rhumbas; Verset Oublier, Omba, J'suis La, among others...

The big asterisk with that is that the biggest rhumbas hits Adolphe, Werra, & JB had were written/consulted by other people. Particularly the great composer, Pascal Poba.

Voyage, Blandine, Feux de l'amour, Chantal Switzerland, Omba you name it...


When you get a chance, listen to Pascal's album, then listen to Toujour Humble's rhumbas. The similarities in composition structure and arrangement is striking.

@Matebu

Thanks for the recommendation, I had NO idea Pascal Poba was a singer who put out albums! I hope he's been paid well for all those amazing compositions of his!

What about King Kester, Defao, or Roga Roga (of Extra Musica); did they compose their own songs or consult ghostwriters?

@Matebu

Thanks for the recommendation, I had NO idea Pascal Poba was a singer who put out albums! I hope he's been paid well for all those amazing compositions of his!

What about King Kester, Defao, or Roga Roga (of Extra Musica); did they compose their own songs or consult ghostwriters?

I dont know who said it between the brothers @Archos, @mvulusi96 or @Matebu but defao is one of the only Congolese artists who writes all his songs himself

@Matebu

Thanks for the recommendation, I had NO idea Pascal Poba was a singer who put out albums! I hope he's been paid well for all those amazing compositions of his!

What about King Kester, Defao, or Roga Roga (of Extra Musica); did they compose their own songs or consult ghostwriters?

I dont know who said it between the brothers @Archos, @mvulusi96 or @Matebu but defao is one of the only Congolese artists who writes all his songs himself

Yes, that is very true, along with King Kester. Hence why they liked doing remixes of their past songs. I heard from a from a friend that Defao can write a new song a day if he wanted, which is incredibly impressive. Most of the 5 gen. don’t really know to compose, even the biggest ones. 

Simaro praised Koffi as one of the greatest composer/singers, but as he became really established he’s became very open to having paroliers (work on the non-main rhumbas of albums), and that’s when he emphasis on Tcha Tcho went away. Early on, it was Josky, then Do Akongo providing consultation services. Then of course Wazekwa in 91-93. But for V12, he took upon himself to really create his best tcha tcho rhumbas.

Karmapa, Benz Boziana, & Wazekwa are also seriously good composers still active.

@Matebu

Thanks for the recommendation, I had NO idea Pascal Poba was a singer who put out albums! I hope he's been paid well for all those amazing compositions of his!

What about King Kester, Defao, or Roga Roga (of Extra Musica); did they compose their own songs or consult ghostwriters?

I dont know who said it between the brothers @Archos, @mvulusi96 or @Matebu but defao is one of the only Congolese artists who writes all his songs himself

Yes, that is very true, along with King Kester. Hence why they liked doing remixes of their past songs. I heard from a from a friend that Defao can write a new song a day if he wanted, which is incredibly impressive. Most of the 5 gen. don’t really know to compose, even the biggest ones. 

Simaro praised Koffi as one of the greatest composer/singers, but as he became really established he’s became very open to having paroliers (work on the non-main rhumbas of albums), and that’s when he emphasis on Tcha Tcho went away. Early on, it was Josky, then Do Akongo providing consultation services. Then of course Wazekwa in 91-93. But for V12, he took upon himself to really create his best tcha tcho rhumbas.

Karmapa, Benz Boziana, & Wazekwa are also seriously good composers still active.

King Kester Emeneya used ghostwriters, but they were "mpangi" and had alot of respect for him so they came never out. Willo Mondo was a written by Colombani Wasenga (the guy who wrote Wake Up & Litio Ya Calendrier). Defao also sometimes use ghostwriters, but the guys of their generations don't come out because of the respect they have for "vieux na bango ya secteur", having gave them alot of cloths and sometimes a shot-out. Bourman Idolo also gave his pure vieux some songs. Guys like Wazekwa & Pascal Poba went to break that thing, by saying in public that they wrote this, this and this. With goshtwriters not more accepting cloths and wanting to get money and increase the prise of their songs more and more with the artists going to songwriters of lower class. With guys who wanted were dreaming of a solo carreer selling songs to artists and immediately coming out and announcing the record of their solo album, who never came out on most the most cases.

Koffi Olomide was hating ghostwriters. He was scared to that someone would come up and said that he made his carreer, etc. Since that he was Wemba's songwriter in the past. His first song he used from somebody else was Dieu Voit Tout, which was written by Reddy Amisi and already sung in concerts. But Reddy Amisi don't like to say that in public (he wrote also some songs for Papa Wemba). Then from 1989 gave Do Akongo the opportunity to put a song on his solo album and it was credited to Do Akongo's name (Coucou). Then in 1990 He did the same thing with Toussaint, Rigo Star & Do Akongo on Les Prissoniers Dorment. From Koweit Rive Gauche he finally accepted to work with ghostwriters and credit their songs on his name (Wazekwa, Do Akongo, the other I forgot his name), but he was then mixing their work with his writing skills. That made lose that élégance he once had. Having classics like V.I.P., Mbabula, Zero Faute, Henriquet, Elle et Moi, Claudia Likulia, Stephie, Rue d'Amour, Diva, Lady Bo, l'Homme de La Rue, Orphelinat, Djino, etc. on his name. V12 brought that back for a moment. With Monde Arabe he wanted to make a comeback, but it was not the same Koffi like the 80's. But the album had still classics.

@Matebu all songs of V12 was written by Koffi, no ghostwriters ? i was thinking that Koffi used Wazekwa on V12 like he did with Noblesse Oblige

@mvulusi96 ndeko, I wanted to ask you who is Toussaint and what song did he sing in the album "The prisoners sleep" since the songs are all credited to Koffi except "Kot kot" credited to Do Akongo, "Les prisonniers dorment" to Indianga Mayel (by the way who is he?) and "Mulherengo" to Rigo Star ? after I dont know if these three are the composers and writers of these songs or only composers or writers of these songs ?

@Matebu all songs of V12 was written by Koffi, no ghostwriters ? i was thinking that Koffi used Wazekwa on V12 like he did with Noblesse Oblige

Thye reason why Koffi holds V12 so dearly is because it all him composing and artistic direction. Before each rhumba he promotes Tcha Tcho "Jackpot c'est Tcha Tcho" etc.

He and Wazekwa already fell out due to his heavy contribution to Wemba's Foridoles & Pole Position. By mid-1995 Wazekwa was already solo (encourage by Wemba) and released his first album "Tetragramme" with vocal help from Wemba, who was in polemic with Koffi (late 1993-96). And of course. Wazekwa was forbidden to help in any way in the "Wake Up" project as part of their temp cease fire.

@Matebu all songs of V12 was written by Koffi, no ghostwriters ? i was thinking that Koffi used Wazekwa on V12 like he did with Noblesse Oblige

Thye reason why Koffi holds V12 so dearly is because it all him composing and artistic direction. Before each rhumba he promotes Tcha Tcho "Jackpot c'est Tcha Tcho" etc.

He and Wazekwa already fell out due to his heavy contribution to Wemba's Foridoles & Pole Position. By mid-1995 Wazekwa was already solo (encourage by Wemba) and released his first album "Tetragramme" with vocal help from Wemba, who was in polemic with Koffi (late 1993-96). And of course. Wazekwa was forbidden to help in any way in the "Wake Up" project as part of their temp cease fire.

So Koffi and Wemba fell out in 1993 ? Was ut their first fall out ? Because it seems like they were not close anymore in the 90's.

I had the impression that Koffi started to have beef with everyone during the Magie days lol

So Koffi and Wemba fell out in 1993 ? Was ut their first fall out ? Because it seems like they were not close anymore in the 90's.

I had the impression that Koffi started to have beef with everyone during the Magie days lol

Yeah, i believe it started after Koffi went to his anniversary party in '93 below and really stole the show with how much the ladies loved him. At the end it plays solo guitar, which shocked the crowd not knowing his skill. The exact circumstances of how the beef started were never really made clear to me I heard different things over the years


The thing about Wemba was that he'd put people on (help them get their start), but once he sensed they were getting a decent/high level of fame he'd get jealous and turn on them (sometimes doing drastic things to strike back). Happened to Kester, Reddy, Stino, Koffi, etc. With Kester it was seriously bad how relations broke

@Matebu

There really isn't much Koffi could of done otherwise, because making a name for himself required him to break one of the 48 Laws of Power: "never outshine the master".

The basis of Papa Wemba's polemic with Koffi seems rooted in this concept – Wemba's fear and insecurity of Olomide's growing popularity outside of Wemba's influence.

I'm not saying Koffi shouldn't of aggressively pursued a solo career, but he could of done more behind the scenes to make Wemba appear more brilliant than he is, maybe he could of reached the heights of power without the nasty polemic that followed.

Then again, some would argue that intense feuds between artists yields the best music since both sides are trying to solidify themselves as the leader of the music culture.

What do you guys think?

Yeah. Papa Wemba was a little bit jealous the way Koffi started to become a big star Africa. With Papa Wemba attacking him in the song La Reference "na libota papa azalaki se moko", "their is only father in the family", since that Koffi Olomide took the nicknames Papa Plus, Papa Bonheur, Papa Fleur, Papa Top, etc. With then the both artists throwing shots together in interviews and Koffi Olomide starting ignoring Papa Wemba if he was talking the way he started his career. It have been said that the thing which made him furious was when he heard that Papa Wemba slept with Kamono. So from then he wrote the song Andrada, where he attacked Papa Wemba very hard.

About the conflict Koffi Olomide and Wazekwa. It started when he heard that Wemba shout him out in the song 10eme Commandement. He understood then that Wazekwa gave him songs in the Foridoles-album. You know before 1994 Papa Wemba was very weak with Koffi & Wenge dominating the music-scene, fans being disspointed the way he was to focused on his world-music, the way his musicians started to release solo albums and having more succes then him and started to disrespect hi and the split of Viva La Musica in 1992 which maked him more weaker. So because of that he wanted to make a comeback with Foridoles. But since that he isn't strong songriter he asked people of his staff they look for songwriters. Felix Wazekwa who started to build a reputation as a ghostwriter was then contacted by Jules Masuwa. Wazekwa wrote then the songs 10eme Commandement, Nzete ya Seqouia, Moyi & La Reference. The album was a huge succes and brought Papa Wemba back on the top which didn't please his rivals Koffi Olomide & Emeneya and his own musicians. Koffi Olomide understood that Wazekwa gave Papa Wemba songs when he heard Papa Wemba giving him a shout out in the song 10eme Commandement. "Nako benga Felix Wazekwa Prix Nobel ya ba soucis". Which made him furious and he then called Wazekwa. In that phone he asked Wazekwa which song he gave to Wemba with Wazekwa saying it. And then Koffi replying "noooo you messed the songs up. That guy doesn't have a voice. I'm the man who let the girls go crazy with my songs, don't you see how they messed Reference up, doesn't give those elders guys songs because they are ungrateful, etc., etc. From that day the problems started. hahahahaha

Yeah. Papa Wemba was a little bit jealous the way Koffi started to become a big star Africa. With Papa Wemba attacking him in the song La Reference "na libota papa azalaki se moko", "their is only father in the family", since that Koffi Olomide took the nicknames Papa Plus, Papa Bonheur, Papa Fleur, Papa Top, etc. With then the both artists throwing shots together in interviews and Koffi Olomide starting ignoring Papa Wemba if he was talking the way he started his career. It have been said that the thing which made him furious was when he heard that Papa Wemba slept with Kamono. So from then he wrote the song Andrada, where he attacked Papa Wemba very hard.

About the conflict Koffi Olomide and Wazekwa. It started when he heard that Wemba shout him out in the song 10eme Commandement. He understood then that Wazekwa gave him songs in the Foridoles-album. You know before 1994 Papa Wemba was very weak with Koffi & Wenge dominating the music-scene, fans being disspointed the way he was to focused on his world-music, the way his musicians started to release solo albums and having more succes then him and started to disrespect hi and the split of Viva La Musica in 1992 which maked him more weaker. So because of that he wanted to make a comeback with Foridoles. But since that he isn't strong songriter he asked people of his staff they look for songwriters. Felix Wazekwa who started to build a reputation as a ghostwriter was then contacted by Jules Masuwa. Wazekwa wrote then the songs 10eme Commandement, Nzete ya Seqouia, Moyi & La Reference. The album was a huge succes and brought Papa Wemba back on the top which didn't please his rivals Koffi Olomide & Emeneya and his own musicians. Koffi Olomide understood that Wazekwa gave Papa Wemba songs when he heard Papa Wemba giving him a shout out in the song 10eme Commandement. "Nako benga Felix Wazekwa Prix Nobel ya ba soucis". Which made him furious and he then called Wazekwa. In that phone he asked Wazekwa which song he gave to Wemba with Wazekwa saying it. And then Koffi replying "noooo you messed the songs up. That guy doesn't have a voice. I'm the man who let the girls go crazy with my songs, don't you see how they messed Reference up, doesn't give those elders guys songs because they are ungrateful, etc., etc. From that day the problems started. hahahahaha

Wemba really slept with Kamono No that was a rumor. I'm surprised that it was enough for him to write a whole diss song.

@Matebu all songs of V12 was written by Koffi, no ghostwriters ? i was thinking that Koffi used Wazekwa on V12 like he did with Noblesse Oblige

@mvulusi96 ndeko, I wanted to ask you who is Toussaint and what song did he sing in the album "The prisoners sleep" since the songs are all credited to Koffi except "Kot kot" credited to Do Akongo, "Les prisonniers dorment" to Indianga Mayel (by the way who is he?) and "Mulherengo" to Rigo Star ? after I dont know if these three are the composers and writers of these songs or only composers or writers of these songs ?

Indianga Mayel 'aka Toussaint Vice' was a guitarist in Quartier Latin. Koffi liked him, Djunafa who was one of the singers and Do Akongo alot. So he gave Toussaint and Do Akongo the opportunity to put a song in his album also for Rigo Star who contributed alot in his solo career from his frist album Ngounda until Les Prissoniers Dorment. Rigo Star, Do Akongo & Toussaint are the writers. Toussaint didn't like Do Akongo participate in the recordings of the album. Sonodisc made a mistake by putting them as composer and Koffi as songwriter, while it had to be the opposite. Back in the days he was very grateful. Rigo Star and Manu Lima didn't participate on Koweit Rive Gauche, but Koffi Olomide thanked in booklet of Koweit Rive Gauche along with Do Akongo and Wazekwa. Than he changed after Noblesse Oblige with him beefing with everybody.

Yeah. Papa Wemba was a little bit jealous the way Koffi started to become a big star Africa. With Papa Wemba attacking him in the song La Reference "na libota papa azalaki se moko", "their is only father in the family", since that Koffi Olomide took the nicknames Papa Plus, Papa Bonheur, Papa Fleur, Papa Top, etc. With then the both artists throwing shots together in interviews and Koffi Olomide starting ignoring Papa Wemba if he was talking the way he started his career. It have been said that the thing which made him furious was when he heard that Papa Wemba slept with Kamono. So from then he wrote the song Andrada, where he attacked Papa Wemba very hard.

About the conflict Koffi Olomide and Wazekwa. It started when he heard that Wemba shout him out in the song 10eme Commandement. He understood then that Wazekwa gave him songs in the Foridoles-album. You know before 1994 Papa Wemba was very weak with Koffi & Wenge dominating the music-scene, fans being disspointed the way he was to focused on his world-music, the way his musicians started to release solo albums and having more succes then him and started to disrespect hi and the split of Viva La Musica in 1992 which maked him more weaker. So because of that he wanted to make a comeback with Foridoles. But since that he isn't strong songriter he asked people of his staff they look for songwriters. Felix Wazekwa who started to build a reputation as a ghostwriter was then contacted by Jules Masuwa. Wazekwa wrote then the songs 10eme Commandement, Nzete ya Seqouia, Moyi & La Reference. The album was a huge succes and brought Papa Wemba back on the top which didn't please his rivals Koffi Olomide & Emeneya and his own musicians. Koffi Olomide understood that Wazekwa gave Papa Wemba songs when he heard Papa Wemba giving him a shout out in the song 10eme Commandement. "Nako benga Felix Wazekwa Prix Nobel ya ba soucis". Which made him furious and he then called Wazekwa. In that phone he asked Wazekwa which song he gave to Wemba with Wazekwa saying it. And then Koffi replying "noooo you messed the songs up. That guy doesn't have a voice. I'm the man who let the girls go crazy with my songs, don't you see how they messed Reference up, doesn't give those elders guys songs because they are ungrateful, etc., etc. From that day the problems started. hahahahaha

Wemba really slept with Kamono No that was a rumor. I'm surprised that it was enough for him to write a whole diss song.

Then you don't know Congolese artists well. They can start beef for the most little things. It's not a secret but alot Congolese leaders see their female dancers as their girls. Tabu Ley made many of his girldancers pregnant and sung songs about them.



dedicated to Peguy Tabu's mother Mundi who danced for him.



tribute song to Karibou Ya Bintou who died after suidice