I am proud to have helped organize and chaperone QL for these concerts. It was the first time most of that team visited the states and they all wanted the "American Experience" in NYC with their wide eyes.

It is regrettable that a proper video production team was not on hand. Camara Productions, a Malian video production company based in Paris-NYC was not available in the country at that time.

Martin Sinnock wrote how they all were pressing us to take them to McDoo's (McDonalds)

 lol thats the ritual,back in early 2000's when i wanted to be a manager to musician as my fulltime job i was sent here a group of guys  from kin(by a late uncle who would be their producer) who were meant to record their album here,and the first thing they asked was can we eat at mac do(just for the record,one week after 8 of the 11 disappeared )

@Matebu

That's so awesome! Did you meet Koffi as well? How did you get approached to help Quartier Latin with the American leg of their tour? Were you already connected to the industry or were you an event organizer commisioned by their label to assist?

@Matebu

That's so awesome! Did you meet Koffi as well? How did you get approached to help Quartier Latin with the American leg of their tour? Were you already connected to the industry or were you an event organizer commisioned by their label to assist?

A friend of mine was in charge of producing/organizing (same thing honestly) half the US tour itineraries. I made sure he selected me to volunteer help chaperone. I was young at the time and did it out of enthusiasm. We handled all the logistics like going to the airport, getting them to the hotel, dinner, making sure all the rented instruments are where it supposed to be, etc. A lot goes on behind the scene that I didn't realize till then.

Koffi was already in the states because he went on vacation prior to that in Miami with his wife, if I remeber correctly. I met Koffi formally for the first time in a hotel lobby. Not going to lie, it was the first time I was truly star struck. I went from listening to his music for most of my life... then boom, there he is standing front of me and greeting me. Despite his large than life personality in the media, he's a nice and humorous guy. He remembers faces too.

...

Another friend of organized just about all of Fally's concerts in NYC over the years, DJ Abdul-Aziz (you'll hear his name in Fally's albums, particulary generiques). We've been trying to get Ferre to have concerts in the US as well, but his manger, Charles Tabu (Ley's son) keeps declining. We keep trying to tell them he has a big fanbase here, but I don't know why they don't accept.

@Matebu

That's so cool! From his interviews, Koffi looks like a pretty down to earth guy. I bet you those Quartier Latin members were like kids in a candy shop walking around NYC, I know I was when I first arrived to America!

Was Bouro Mpela as much as a diva as he appeared from those polemic videos of the past? I remember watching him back then thinking that he must of been a hard guy to handle, especially with Fally in the mix...egos lol

At that time, was there any worries that some of them might not return to Kinshasa after the concert, or were you pretty confident in the team?

@Matebu

That's so awesome! Did you meet Koffi as well? How did you get approached to help Quartier Latin with the American leg of their tour? Were you already connected to the industry or were you an event organizer commisioned by their label to assist?

A friend of mine was in charge of producing/organizing (same thing honestly) half the US tour itineraries. I made sure he selected me to volunteer help chaperone. I was young at the time and did it out of enthusiasm. We handled all the logistics like going to the airport, getting them to the hotel, dinner, making sure all the rented instruments are where it supposed to be, etc. A lot goes on behind the scene that I didn't realize till then.

Koffi was already in the states because he went on vacation prior to that in Miami with his wife, if I remeber correctly. I met Koffi formally for the first time in a hotel lobby. Not going to lie, it was the first time I was truly star struck. I went from listening to his music for most of my life... then boom, there he is standing front of me and greeting me. Despite his large than life personality in the media, he's a nice and humorous guy. He remembers faces too.

...

Another friend of organized just about all of Fally's concerts in NYC over the years, DJ Abdul-Aziz (you'll hear his name in Fally's albums, particulary generiques). We've been trying to get Ferre to have concerts in the US as well, but his manger, Charles Tabu (Ley's son) keeps declining. We keep trying to tell them he has a big fanbase here, but I don't know why they don't accept.

i am pretty sure him like many musicians fears the "crowd" issues,other than that i believe nothing would have stopped nsone for example to bring nicodem and co when they artived  in the group or later when nicodem went 2 3 times with him but they are soooooo obsessed with this mpiaka thing that they'd want to play at staples center or madison square to be really happy of performing in states

@Matebu

That's so cool! From his interviews, Koffi looks like a pretty down to earth guy. I bet you those Quartier Latin members were like kids in a candy shop walking around NYC, I know I was when I first arrived to America!

Was Bouro Mpela as much as a diva as he appeared from those polemic videos of the past? I remember watching him back then thinking that he must of been a hard guy to handle, especially with Fally in the mix...egos lol

At that time, was there any worries that some of them might not return to Kinshasa after the concert, or were you pretty confident in the team?

The whole team was super hyped up to be in NYC and all acting like divas to have fun. I honestly though they'd record their polemic video towards Wenge BCBG there to stick it to BCBG that were doing concerts in the states at prestigous venues.

I remember Bouro was trying flirting with American women left and right.. He knew a little english too. Kiekie, the man with 20+ children worldwide, some sharing the same name supposedly.

I heard that Fally & Brigade didn't like each other from the onset, but they had no issues there.

At that time, was there any worries that some of them might not return to Kinshasa after the concert, or were you pretty confident in the team?

That team of QL had the best living conditions of any band to date, nobody was seeking to run away, thankfully. In the other thread we talking about how they all were gifted Benzes in 2000 returning to Kin.

I think Koffi told us once to keep an eye on everyone when we went out, but that was it. It wasn't like post-Ngulu affaire, where band members were reportedly getting locked in hotel rooms with 24/7 surveillance.

Koffi & QL came to the US at a perfect time because about 2 months later 9/11 happened, which shut down big foreign bands getting visas for years.

i am pretty sure him like many musicians fears the "crowd" issues,other than that i believe nothing would have stopped nsone for example to bring nicodem and co when they artived  in the group or later when nicodem went 2 3 times with him but they are soooooo obsessed with this mpiaka thing that they'd want to play at staples center or madison square to be really happy of performing in states

Mpiaka is ingrained in every decision the make. It's sad... they don't want to take chances anymore.

They're still holding out for concerts in France, yet the combatants shut it down every time since authorites don't do much to protect musicians.

lol, if his aspiration is to have a concert at Madison Square garden, then he'll never come to the states

Where was deo and soleil? Weren't they on the tour too I don't see them in the videos