I was just wondering if congolese music would sound like if the great legends like mpongo love, grand kalle and baroza did not pass away.

The same because the style of playing changed when Wenge 4x4 totally took the control in 1991 with Kin E Bouge with all young bands trying to play like them. The influence of Wenge was so big that bands who didn't like to have atalaku's started to recruit them just to be still … (Viva La Musica & Nouvelle Ecriture). Pepe Kalle himself started Delta Force. The Congolese music would maybe sound different if Werrason or JB Mpiana pass away already in 1998/99 because they had the key and everybody were copying their style and strategy, espcially Wenge Musica Maison Mere. Maison Mere doesn't have the influence anymore like they had 10 years ago, but lead-guitar players all still plays like Flamme Kapaya, drummers play like Papy Kakol, all young try to sing like Ferre,...

Baroza's influence wasn't big anymore when he left Zaiko in 1995. He rejoined Zaiko somewhere in 1997 before passing away, but Volo Volo was then the main act. Grand Kalle (R.I.P.) wasn't influent anymore when the whole band decided to leave African Jazz in 1963 (Dr Nico, Tabu Ley, Izeidi, etc.) to start African Fiesta. Tabu Ley was mocking him in a song Palmares after having performed at Olympia, saying that he was finished. Just Grand Kalle critized his show of Olympia, which wasn't even in a bad way. The song was released on the fake-Live a l'Olympia disc as Mousa 3.



Female singers had succes but didn't really change something/influence the music-style like Zaiko, African Jazz, Wenge & OK Jazz did.

Fair enough another question what Carlyto and debaba did not become brother of christ.

nothing lol, Choc Stars succes was finished and Debaba didn't know what to do back in 1994. If he continued then he would have end up like Lengi Lenga, Jo Poster, etc.

Carlyto was very sick and people were claiming that he had AIDS, some said that he pact he signed for his album was to strong that he was scared, other say that his pact came to an end. He became a brother in christ when he released Makolo Ya Massiya which a huge succes. If he continued as solo artist then he don't think that he would be very very succesful. You can release a succesful album today, but to maintain that succes is very difficult and started a band in Kinshasa is another thing (he was living then in Europe) with all those people who try to eliminate you, the difficult life in Kinshasa with then being forced to look for donors and sponsor who are dominated by bandleaders. Alot of people saw their deals with Bralima and/or Bracongo being cancelled on the last minute because of a call from a leader who didn't want to see them succeed even those who aren't succesful. A succesful artist like Madilu saw his contract with Bralima (Primus) not being accepted on the last minute, because of Lutumba Simaro who said that he would leave them if Madilu would sign with them. Many singers dissapeared after releasing a succesfull album. That era of Carlyto & Debaba was over, from 1997 people started to focus more on dance and animation. Back in those days bands started to recruit musicians who didn't even know to sing, but who knew to dance and who had good looks. They started then also to focus more on atalaku's, female dancers and lead-guitarists.

The world changes but I don't understand why musicians who reigned in the 80s force themselves it could kill them.

nothing lol, Choc Stars succes was finished and Debaba didn't know what to do back in 1994. If he continued then he would have end up like Lengi Lenga, Jo Poster, etc.

Carlyto was very sick and people were claiming that he had AIDS, some said that he pact he signed for his album was to strong that he was scared, other say that his pact came to an end. He became a brother in christ when he released Makolo Ya Massiya which a huge succes. If he continued as solo artist then he don't think that he would be very very succesful. You can release a succesful album today, but to maintain that succes is very difficult and started a band in Kinshasa is another thing (he was living then in Europe) with all those people who try to eliminate you, the difficult life in Kinshasa with then being forced to look for donors and sponsor who are dominated by bandleaders. Alot of people saw their deals with Bralima and/or Bracongo being cancelled on the last minute because of a call from a leader who didn't want to see them succeed even those who aren't succesful. A succesful artist like Madilu saw his contract with Bralima (Primus) not being accepted on the last minute, because of Lutumba Simaro who said that he would leave them if Madilu would sign with them. Many singers dissapeared after releasing a succesfull album. That era of Carlyto & Debaba was over, from 1997 people started to focus more on dance and animation. Back in those days bands started to recruit musicians who didn't even know to sing, but who knew to dance and who had good looks. They started then also to focus more on atalaku's, female dancers and lead-guitarists.

After listening to Makolo Ya Massiya it's the last chapter for Debaba, Carlyto and Wally Ngonda who released his last album "Mody".

The world changes but I don't understand why musicians who reigned in the 80s force themselves it could kill them.

They hadn't a choice. The life in Zaïre was already very difficult with the crisis which became very strong in the 80's , especially that who started from 1991 with the lootings. To find another respectable work in Kinshasa was already difficult and most musicians of that time didn't even finish school compared to the generation of Tabu Ley, Dr Nico and Victor Longomba. What had they then to do selling fish at Marche Bayaka or Marche Central ?Congolese people are very rude people if your fame is over with them mocking you on the street or alot of children following you suddenly on singing songs to piss you off. "Aaah tala mutu oyo asila". They had only one choice immigrating to Europe which is difficult if you are broke or becoming a brother in christ to get earn respect from christians and people who hate musicians. Don't you see how Reddy is losing his head a little these days, because of people keeping saying to him everyday "guy are finished and comparing him everytime to Fally, Ferre, Werrason who which isn't even comparable because they started music after him him".

Very tough in Congo I can see why musicians are stuck in Europe and never return to Congo.

nothing lol, Choc Stars succes was finished and Debaba didn't know what to do back in 1994. If he continued then he would have end up like Lengi Lenga, Jo Poster, etc.

Carlyto was very sick and people were claiming that he had AIDS, some said that he pact he signed for his album was to strong that he was scared, other say that his pact came to an end. He became a brother in christ when he released Makolo Ya Massiya which a huge succes. If he continued as solo artist then he don't think that he would be very very succesful. You can release a succesful album today, but to maintain that succes is very difficult and started a band in Kinshasa is another thing (he was living then in Europe) with all those people who try to eliminate you, the difficult life in Kinshasa with then being forced to look for donors and sponsor who are dominated by bandleaders. Alot of people saw their deals with Bralima and/or Bracongo being cancelled on the last minute because of a call from a leader who didn't want to see them succeed even those who aren't succesful. A succesful artist like Madilu saw his contract with Bralima (Primus) not being accepted on the last minute, because of Lutumba Simaro who said that he would leave them if Madilu would sign with them. Many singers dissapeared after releasing a succesfull album. That era of Carlyto & Debaba was over, from 1997 people started to focus more on dance and animation. Back in those days bands started to recruit musicians who didn't even know to sing, but who knew to dance and who had good looks. They started then also to focus more on atalaku's, female dancers and lead-guitarists.

About Djo Poster what happened to his career in 1994 until his comeback in 1997?

Very tough in Congo I can see why musicians are stuck in Europe and never return to Congo.

Those who are stuck in Europe are guys who decided to stay in Europe after leaving the band who brought them there for a tour. The most guys want to return, but want first release their albums. Because they are all working on soloalbums, but don't producers to release it and don't have enough money to pay studiofees and doing to promotion by themselves. Thats also why those albums flops from day 1, they have also the pressure to feedthose familymembers who are living in DR Congo and their own children and wife. Some try to return and start bands, but lacks support from donors and doing the most things bythemselves or some familymembers (most times their own brothers, sisters start mocking them lol) and then the media that you have to corrupt to be on tv, since that those journalists aren't paid by their tv-bosses. With those artists hoping then that they will promote you, but then being in their show you will be roastered, 80% of the time talking about your ex'boss or Fally & Ferre with who you didn't even sing, comparing to them and asking why you aren't succesful like them and not even get the time to talk about your songs and new album, the female-journalist seeing it mostly as a battle to denigrate you and thinking that she's talking good French while it very bad lol. Performing thrn in some bars here in there in Bandal, Kasa-Vubu, Ngiri-Ngiri and if you are lucky also in your province with is mostly the case to artists who coming from Kongo Central or Katanga. In the most cases those things spent 2 or 3 months max. with them suddenly returning to Europe to get more money, calming their wives down hahahah (who heard some rumors) and those artists setting on the mind that they will back in 3 or 6 months. Being then in Europe they discover that the problems they had are bigger then they were  thinking with staying there more than a year and the band in Kinshasa disbanding with the artist himself returning after 6/7/8/9 years and starting over again.

nothing lol, Choc Stars succes was finished and Debaba didn't know what to do back in 1994. If he continued then he would have end up like Lengi Lenga, Jo Poster, etc.

Carlyto was very sick and people were claiming that he had AIDS, some said that he pact he signed for his album was to strong that he was scared, other say that his pact came to an end. He became a brother in christ when he released Makolo Ya Massiya which a huge succes. If he continued as solo artist then he don't think that he would be very very succesful. You can release a succesful album today, but to maintain that succes is very difficult and started a band in Kinshasa is another thing (he was living then in Europe) with all those people who try to eliminate you, the difficult life in Kinshasa with then being forced to look for donors and sponsor who are dominated by bandleaders. Alot of people saw their deals with Bralima and/or Bracongo being cancelled on the last minute because of a call from a leader who didn't want to see them succeed even those who aren't succesful. A succesful artist like Madilu saw his contract with Bralima (Primus) not being accepted on the last minute, because of Lutumba Simaro who said that he would leave them if Madilu would sign with them. Many singers dissapeared after releasing a succesfull album. That era of Carlyto & Debaba was over, from 1997 people started to focus more on dance and animation. Back in those days bands started to recruit musicians who didn't even know to sing, but who knew to dance and who had good looks. They started then also to focus more on atalaku's, female dancers and lead-guitarists.

About Djo Poster what happened to his career in 1994 until his comeback in 1997?

I don't know I saw him suddenly joining Big Stars for a short moment and then didn't see him anymore until he died. It's only 5 years ago that I discovered that he recorded an album together with Ben Nyamabo, Lengi Lenga, Likinga Redo called 'Boom des As' back in 1997 or 1998. I also didn't follow him much, I was more into Koffi Olomide, Wenge 4x4 and Papa Wemba.

The album boom des as was recorded in 1997 because Lengi Lenga passed away in May 1998 and the photo of Lengi Lenga was taken in the early 90s.