Today its 43 years ago that the band Viva La Musica had its "sortie officiel" at Tabu Ley's bar "Type Ka", after Papa Wemba's departure from Yoka Lokole in december 1976. The band would from that date dominate Kinshasa 5 years long as most popular band of Zaire until the creation of Victoria Eleison in 1982 and Papa Wemba would become the role-model of most youngsters. Viva La Musica would also influence the young generation with La Sape. The band would make alot of stars (King Kester Emeneya, Reddy Amisi, Dindo Yogo, Debaba, Rigo Star, Awilo Longomba, Stino Mubi, Ramazani, Djuna Djanana, etc. the list long). The huge amount of stars and many artists having a decent career after their departure from Viva La Musica which was very rare in the Congolese music scene, made Papa Wemba earn the nickname Foridoles which is the abbration of Formateur des Idoles. Until the 90s, youngsters were dreaming about joining Viva La Musica, knowning that they could succeed one day as solo-artist. Donors, Sapeurs and songwriters wanted also to get associated with Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica, in order to get some way. We can name guys like Koffi Olomide, Felix Wazekwa, Stervos Niarcos and Modogo Gianfranco Ferre who all received support and fame from Papa Wemba.



Notables events of Viva La Musica are the many tours at Japan between 1986 and 1991, being the first band of youngsters to tour in Europe in 1980 being produced by Franco Luambo Makiadi, the double events at Stade de 24 Novembre (nowadays Stade Cardinal-Malula) in 1984, the fara-fara at Stade de 20 Mai (nowadays Stade de 20 Mai) against Evoloko's Isifi Melodia in 1977, the fara-fara against Yoka Lokole at the mythic Cine Palladium (which would become Cinemax, it doesn't exist anymore), the Zenith's of 1999 and 2000, Olympia in 2000, Bercy in 2001, Stade des Martyrs in 2002 and the double event of Viva La Musica at Cine Palladium in 1982 (he was performed twice at Cine Palladium two days in a row, giving in total 4 concerts) after Wemba's 6 months of absence in Zaire.






From 1983 until 2002, Papa Wemba used to celebrate every year Viva La Musica's existence in June (which is in the month of his birthday).

Is that project being released this year still? Someone mentioned that a album is being recorded as we speak.

I know Bendo Son has been revoked from the band again.

Mfumu Vata, Why did Luciana or Bongo Wende participate in the albums of the Viva singers even though they left the group? Wasn't that a problem with La nouvelle Generation ?

Is that project being released this year still? Someone mentioned that a album is being recorded as we speak.

the album is already finished. They recorded it with Maika Munan last year before that Bendoson left.
They are waiting to release the album during the anniversary of Papa Wemba's death which is on 24 April.

I know Bendo Son has been revoked from the band again.

Mfumu Vata, Why did Luciana or Bongo Wende participate in the albums of the Viva singers even though they left the group? Wasn't that a problem with La nouvelle Generation ?

They were open-minded. It wasn't for nothing that they were calling themselves "Nouvelle Generation de la Republique Democratique" (which means the New Generation of the Democratic Republic). When Awilo recorded his album Moto Pamba after his departure from Nouvelle Generation, he invited Luciana Demingongo which didn't create problems. Luciana Demingongo is very different, he recorded LP's with Veve when he was a Viva La Musica-member while Papa Wemba was in a open conflict with Verckys Kiamuangana.

Also don't forget that musicians from the 3th generation are very different from those of Clan Wenge and the generations after it. Guys of the 3th generation could perform on the same stage despite conflicts and inviting each other to record discs, etc. Good examples are King Kester Emeneya and Papa Wemba who used often to perform on a same stage during the 80s and 90s.



Those of Clan Wenge are weird and not real musicians. They really poisoned our music.

Mfumu Vata you surprised me how you said Papa Wemba used celebrate Viva La Musica anniversary in June.

Ok, they are open minded but they diss very hard Papa wemba and Viva.

How was Lidjo's return to Viva? Because, he was very angry towards Papa Wemba.



When did he record this ?


here is the end of the new generation, apparently they tried to follow the Clan Wenge in 1999/2000

Ok, they are open minded but they diss very hard Papa wemba and Viva.

How was Lidjo's return to Viva? Because, he was very angry towards Papa Wemba.



When did he record this ?


here is the end of the new generation, apparently they tried to follow the Clan Wenge in 1999/2000

I can't find the video. But there used to be a video of Tabu Ley on youtube, explaining that he and Franco used to make diss-tracks against each other, but that they used then to meet each other at restaurants and jocking about it.

Yes, they dissed Wemba very hard in Monimambu. But guys like Awilo Longomba and Luciana Demingongo were still meeting Papa Wemba.

Lidjo Kwempa was deported back to Kinshasa back in 1994, so he spent there 3/4 years. He started to have some concerts there with Jadot Le Cambodgien and Maray Maray under the label of Nouvelle Generation, but conflicts made them split. Then he formed his own and band and released an album called Cour des Grands. Then he Japanse sidechick managed to get him back in Paris and he rejoined Viva La Musica, since that he hadn't a band to join (back in 1994, he was along with Awilo forced out the band by Fafa de Molokai). Papa Wemba hadn't problems with having back in Viva. You must understand that Wemba, Koffi, Emeneya, Franco and co are very different then Fally, Werrason, JB and co. They don't have problems with getting former musicians back in their band, even if they were heavily insulted by them. A guy like Mboshi would have never returned to Quartier Latin, if it was Fally band, because Mboshi used to insult Koffi very hard in old polemic videos.

@Mfumu Vata

Is it because of the age difference between leaders like Wemba, Koffi, and Emeneya and their band that gives them a soft spot for defectors who wish to return? In many videos where they showcase their group, they see those musicians almost as their own children, in a way.

However, Werrason is roughly ten years older than most of his Masion Mere members of the golden age. I noticed he only seemed consistently genuine to Bill Clinton, Heritier, and Ferre Gola. Since then, you only see him outside of his cold character with Papy Kakol and other former members whenever they cross path

@Mfumu Vata

Is it because of the age difference between leaders like Wemba, Koffi, and Emeneya and their band that gives them a soft spot for defectors who wish to return? In many videos where they showcase their group, they see those musicians almost as their own children, in a way.

However, Werrason is roughly ten years older than most of his Masion Mere members of the golden age. I noticed he only seemed consistently genuine to Bill Clinton, Heritier, and Ferre Gola. Since then, you only see him outside of his cold character with Papy Kakol and other former members whenever they cross path

It doesn't have to do with age. Fofo le Collegien and Beniko are of Koffi's generation and left on a bad way, but both returned before leaving Ql again some years later. The same for the musicians who went to form Victoria Principal in 1984, but all returned back (except Bipoli) to Victoria Eleison. They were all of Emeneya's generation, came from Viva La Musica and co-founded Victoria Eleison. Safro Mazangi who was one of them is like 7 years older than Emeneya. It has all to do with education and the era they lived and also for strategic reasons. If someone like Bendoson, Champion or Lebou would talk band about their ex'boss, the public will react strange, because they all returned. The musicians of Victoria Principal hadn't any rights anymore over the name Victoria Eleison, when they returned.

I read somewhere that Jadot Le Camodgien wanted to stay Kinshasa back in 1986 or was it a different story?

I read somewhere that Jadot Le Camodgien wanted to stay Kinshasa back in 1986 or was it a different story?

Jadot le Cambodgien didn't want to stay in 1986. I guess that you read it from Wemba's biography on his old website, which written by a Britsh hardcore fan. The same guy claimed that he sacked some his musicians (Gauthier Mukoka, Dezay, Lidjo Kwempa, Awilo and co), because they weren't able to adopt the the international area, which wasn't even true. They were left behind in Kinshasa, when Wemba decide to settle in Paris in 1987. This was because Wemba's staff weren't liking them the way there were complaining about salary, so they were punished for that. It was from 1988 that Martin Messoniers picked a few musicians of Viva La Musica to form a new band called Molokai, for his world-music career. Since that there were to much musicians. So they watched Viva La Musica performing live during a rehearsal, picking only Richacha, Demukuse, Reddy, Luciana and Stino. He also claimed that Nouvelle Generation split, becauseof financial problems since that the life without Wemba wasn't different,which isn't true.

Jadot Le Cambogien explained in an interview that Wemba went to Paris for a moment back in late 1986 and that Viva La Musica, started facing financial problems. Reddy Amisi then being close to join Zaiko and other members also wanting to leave, but they still survived. They then celebrated Viva's 10th birthday without Wemba (who was still in Europe). So then the press interviewed him about that and he said that Wemba is like a Eagle (in a way to praise him) and that he they could live without him (in a good way). But the journalists then wrote as title in the newpapers (Jadot Le Cambogien veut casser le mythe "Papa Wemba") which means Jadot Le Cambogien wants to break the myth Papa Wemba. Wemba's staff didn't like it and when Wemba came back in mid 1987 to bring Viva La Musica and his staff to Paris, he was among the guys who got punished. He tried on his own way to come in Europe, but it didn't work.

OP, so was Viva more successful than Zaiko during those first years (1977-1982)?

Zaïko was also popular at that time, but Viva La Musica used to beat them in terms of popularity and big crowds. Back in those days Viva La Musica was voted 5 years as beat band for the youngsters and Wemba as best star of the year (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980 & 1981)

I read somewhere that Jadot Le Camodgien wanted to stay Kinshasa back in 1986 or was it a different story?

Jadot le Cambodgien didn't want to stay in 1986. I guess that you read it from Wemba's biography on his old website, which written by a Britsh hardcore fan. The same guy claimed that he sacked some his musicians (Gauthier Mukoka, Dezay, Lidjo Kwempa, Awilo and co), because they weren't able to adopt the the international area, which wasn't even true. They were left behind in Kinshasa, when Wemba decide to settle in Paris in 1987. This was because Wemba's staff weren't liking them the way there were complaining about salary, so they were punished for that. It was from 1988 that Martin Messoniers picked a few musicians of Viva La Musica to form a new band called Molokai, for his world-music career. Since that there were to much musicians. So they watched Viva La Musica performing live during a rehearsal, picking only Richacha, Demukuse, Reddy, Luciana and Stino. He also claimed that Nouvelle Generation split, becauseof financial problems since that the life without Wemba wasn't different,which isn't true.

Jadot Le Cambogien explained in an interview that Wemba went to Paris for a moment back in late 1986 and that Viva La Musica, started facing financial problems. Reddy Amisi then being close to join Zaiko and other members also wanting to leave, but they still survived. They then celebrated Viva's 10th birthday without Wemba (who was still in Europe). So then the press interviewed him about that and he said that Wemba is like a Eagle (in a way to praise him) and that he they could live without him (in a good way). But the journalists then wrote as title in the newpapers (Jadot Le Cambogien veut casser le mythe "Papa Wemba") which means Jadot Le Cambogien wants to break the myth Papa Wemba. Wemba's staff didn't like it and when Wemba came back in mid 1987 to bring Viva La Musica and his staff to Paris, he was among the guys who got punished. He tried on his own way to come in Europe, but it didn't work.

The sad story so that website lied? I remember I saw a video of Jadot with his own band but it did not last long and he faded away from the scene. Plus Jadot was in Viva since 77 I founded a bit it disrespectful how they punished him it seemed the amout of loyalty gone to waste.