I’ve been thinking recently with the recent Polémique and the interviews of former QL members, and some people (including me in the past) blame Ferre for QL collapsing (even though I blamed Fally and Ferre for that). Was it a mistake cause even Jipson said it was a mistake and Koffi regretted/regrets bringing him in, the upside it was nice to see Ferre in the group and seeing him and Fally being able to collaborate together (which they annoyingly use to dodge questions about why they won’t work together), was it really worth in the end? Sure Ferre gained an even bigger fan base when he left, but it seem to ruin a lot of things especially for the group. But another part of me wouldn’t mind finding out how it would’ve been if Ferre last longer,...

So thoughts?

I don't think that it was a mistake. Koffi Olomide regrets because Ferre Gola hurt him very hard with that 2eme soin interview (he forced himself to record videos every day to show that he could sing without that "eeeeeeh"-voice hahahaha, but you could barlely hear his voice. It made me think about the way Emeneya used to mock him about the way he used to sing before starting his musiccareer back in 1977) and didn't record that videoclip of Cobetox with him which started to beef. But before that Koffi kept saying that Ferre Gola left to early, that he's the best QL-ever and that his departure is the only one he regrets in QL.

There were already tensions in Quartier Latin before Ferre's arrival, there rumors about members like Fally not being happy to still being paid 100 dollars or something like that and many other things who happened which only will know if one of those members will speak about it. Ferre's recruiment was also a way to punish Fally for that. Somewhere towards the end of 2004, Fally and Jordan received a suspension of 1 or two weeks. I'm sure that they would create an Academia in 2006 or 2005 if Ferre didn't arrive.  If I remember well Jordan Kusa said also that something happened during the mourning of Mireille Konde in 2004, but he didn't go further in it. Back in 2003 it was spread everywhere in the press that the whole band abandoned  Koffi to create a rebel band after having performed in Miami, but they ended up bychanging their mind (I guess that they saw that the USA wasn't a good place to create a new Academia).

Btw Ferre Gola was the first musician of Quartier Latin to leave before the others. It started during the rehearshal before the concert at Le Marignan in Brussels where Koffi presented Bouro Mpela who just returned. Ferre Gola heard from people that Koffi paid Bouro Mpela alot of money get him back in Quartier Latin, with people of Bouro's staff bragging that it was "le transfer le plus chere, etc." which was pissing Ferre Gola off, because Koffi still earned him 10.000 dollars. Then during the rehearshal Koffi decided to give Ferre Gola's place which next to that Koffi to Bouro and it hurt Ferre even more, seeing like they tried to humilate him. Then they had to perform at Le Marignan (the concert of that Bouya Mayola-affaire), but Ferre Gola didn't show up. With the next days rumors beind spread in Brussels that Koffi apparently slapt Ferre before the concert which was the real reasons that he didn't show up. Then the next week they had to perform at Elysee Montmarte (the concert where they presented Bouro Mpela) and Ferre didn't show up again with rumors being spread that Ferre gave a playback show at a picnic in Brussels at the Atonium-monument, Fally also didn't show up (he was present during the soundcheck, but went to give a playback show in  a Congolese restaurant when they had to perform). Koffi decided to sent Jerome Motingiya to negociate with Ferre Gola, but it didn't work. Then Koffi decided to give an ultimatum to Ferre to show up before returing to Africa, but it didn't come, which made Koffi decide to sue him to justice after arriving in Kinshasa.

About Quartier Latin members leaving Koffi Olomide. I remember back in 2006 that it was stated in the press that Koffi himself said to some of the Quartier Latin-members during the start of the tour that they had to stay in Europe to get papers. Saying that he didn't want to aply for visa's again for the next tour, because it was getting difficult and he struggled alot to get it for the last tour. That's why Felly Tyson, Gipson Butukondolo, Junior Kingombe and co stayed in Europe. I will try to find a link where they are wrote about that. (Here's the link, the last sentences. http://www.congoforum.be/fr/nieuwsdetail.asp?subitem=1&newsid=14271&Actualiteit=selected)

Soleil Wanga had already papers and had plans to record also a solo album like Fally Ipupa and leave, but he was unlucky to get deported to Kinshasa some weeks after being arrested by the police of Belgium. Hence why he wasn't present during the last two concerts of Quatier Latin in Europe (Le Marignan and Elysee Montmarte). The rest in Kinshasa (Modogo, Bouro Mpela, Titina, etc.), starting to leave one by one, after getting bad reactions Koffi when they were asking to him to record a solo album (Koffi was really hurt by Fally's departure).

Fally Ipupa on his side was still in Quartier Latin, but he was furious that Koffi sued David Monsoh and his label for releasing Droit Chemin in order to block the release of the album, also hearing bad stories from staffmembers that Koffi was talking bad about him. For example saying that Fally got to much money from mabanga's and that it was better to get him out the band. That's was the reason why he didn't show up to the concerts of Elysee Montmarte, Abidjan, Pointe Noire and Brazzaville. Thinking also about recording a polemic dvd to insult Koffi very hard to get attention from people and boost the succes of his album. In meantime Shabani Records was manipulating Fally to start his own band in Kinshasa and promote Droit Chemin, giving the example that Reddy missed that opportunity in 1995 to start a solo career with the succes he had.  But Fally was still doubting it since that all Quartier Latin-member who left before him didn't go very far in their careeer. They gave him then some tactics how to respond to questions of journalists if they were asking about Koffi Olomide. Then he gave a playback-concert in Libreville (Gabon) with Marcation, Bennie and co who ran away from Koffi, after it he performed at the swimmingpool of GHK while Quartier Latin had to perform at FIKIN against Werrason (their first concert in Kinshasa) and the following week Fally went to Brazzaville, but his head was still in Quartier Latin and he was already thinking about returning since that his concert in Brazzaville was mpiaka. Fally ended up by leaving when Koffi Olomide exposed him during that interview with Thierry Dawa who asked Koffi about that "mise en disponibilite" which Fally claimed to have received from Koffi.

Wait so Ferre was still there when Bouro returned? That story has always been confusing cause Bouro keeps saying Koffi approached him after both Fally and Ferre left, but Fally was at the soundcheck and Fally and Bouro appeared next to each other at the clip of the Generique.. it was such a mistake for Bouro to return but it would’ve been interesting to see him and Ferre on stage together.

So that explains why most members stayed behind in Europe but Shella returned quickly but Gipson and Junior stayed too long in Europe with them not returning in the end.

I really thought Fally never received a suspension, I remember there were rumours in 2005 that he was gonna join MM with us ql panicking hahaha

I wonder what it would’ve been like if Fally returned to QL at the end cause most of that team were gone or leaving:

 The idea to get papers was mainly for guitarists,so that koffi can come and perform on his own or with a few singers who have papers
by 2004 there was already quite some tension in latino with musicians  being upset not to get a big salary increase despite their complete change of dimension so koffi already was thinking about a plan b to perform with those who stayed here plus a couple of singers who got their papers
 the papers issue is always "suspect" leaders are ok but at the same time they fear and get their ears filled with reports that those musicians are becoming big headed and so on, instrumentists are easier to deal with for leaders in general
fally's upset also came from the fact that like with ferre in maison mere, koffi promised to let him bring in some contracts and take the bigger percentage,which never happened,and knowing tony and mosaka plus guys like pida star few times after gave him so much songs so it was not good for him anymore one song per album
 i would not say it was a mistake for ferre to have joined latino because he gained there what he needed at that moment which was money because he had ran out of money with what he was spending for les marquis and also had some personal things to deal with which took him quite some money,i would not necessarily say it made his fanbase bigger but rather like somebody almost everybody admired and suddenly "he is one of our own" i dont know if people will understand what i mean here
but on another side he made a mistake to have joined in a moment in which latino was already facing growing ego issues,and his arrival was the final nail in the coffin with musicians hearing that quadra ponders demoting fally to straight away make ferre chef d orchestre not even a month after joining,which is why even soleil and fally who could not stand eachother united to face ferre
lool thinking about it from the generation of guys who blossomed in 2000's( fally ferre and heritier) none of them left peacefully  there was always serious drama either publicly or behind the scenes

That's true. Fally Ipupa started already working on a solo album back in 2004. I remember having seen an article about that, thinking then that Fally would leave soon since that Koffi doesn't like that stuff. Then not long later Fally made it offical in the press.

Back when Koffi & Ferre went to tour in France and Germany with former QL-members, Fally Ipupa and co were furious, thinking that it was over for them. They tought that Koffi created a Quartier Latin-Aile Paris and that they won't tour in Europe anymore. It made some members wait to Fally's reaction thinking that he would create a band in Kinshasa and the press claiming that he was talking to Werra's staff members to join Wenge Maison Mere, but it didn't go that far.

Yeah, the money helped Ferre alot.  If Ferre Gola didn't join Quartier Latin, then he would have rejoined Wenge Maison Mere. He was really broke when he created his own band Les Marquis des beaux garcons. He hadn't a sponsor like Bracongo or Bralima to support him and not any sponsorship from big donors, while Bill Clinton had donors like Cardozo Mwamba and support from Bracongo. Ferre Gola was already negociating about his return in Maison Mere when he came in Europe to depulicate the dvd of his first concert at Bibi Play which never got released.

Soleil was smart to decide to follow Koffi and Ferre in Europe without them knowing. Koffi could’ve handled the entire situation a lot better.

If Ferre rejoined Maison Mere at the time, wouldn’t they have humiliated him at la zamba or would he had gained his place back or fall down the ranks?

I think it was a smart decision from the fame and status poimt but a terrinle one towards Wenge Musica Maisom Mere Members because still to this day. People from Maison Mere Camp always criticize or try to diminuish whatever Ferre is doing or accomplishing.
For example Nicodem suddenly became a great singer when he joined Wenge but was a mediocre one with Ferre.
Ferre is ungrateful to his "father" and so on and on.
But I am glad he accepted QL because I don't think he would have developed the Rhumba style is now famous for.

Soleil was smart to decide to follow Koffi and Ferre I’m Europe without them knowing. Koffi could’ve handled the entire situation a lot better.

If Ferre rejoined Maison Mere at the time, wouldn’t they have humiliated him at la zamba or would he had gained his place back or fall down the ranks?

Remember how Lacoste was forced to kneel down in repentance in front of hundreds, if not thousands of people when he returned to MM? Ferre would've had to go through something similar. Also, he wouldn't have become as big as he is right now if he came back.