I have Koffi which doesn't need an explanation. I posted this because on social media ppl are debating about it. Who do ya'll have?

Cmon now of course its koffi. Yes the last 10 years or so have been questionable for him, but no one can deny how high his peak was and for how long it went. Werra's peak was very close but it wasn't as long.

Ndeko what are you asking? It's not clear enough to understand.

I would go for wemba,yeah nsone and koffi  have built the image of their longterm success better and seem to have handled it longer,but in reality wemba did a bit of everything they did plus some which they never did and might never do either
i have asked myself that question too and i asked people from other countries and most were naturally saying koffi since marketing wise koffi maintained himself closer to various generations in a row,but as soon as i said what about papa wemba people's face changed and you could feel immense respect
but then again the biggest is very subjective,unless you have an insane advance like mukalenga jackson lol

When Wemba died (RIP), literally every media outlet reported on his passing; to a point to when I was surprised, impressed, and proud. Wemba had the biggest global reach thanks to his venture to world music and his notoriety with be leading ambassadeur of La SAPE. He was such a captivating character - the subject of so many documentaries and the first star of DRC's first-ever feature film.

Among a strictly African  and African diaspora audience, I give the nod to Koffi since he works are much more known in west, north and East Africa than Wemba's, Werra, or JB - Before the fan club representatives join and get mad at me, I'm speaking objectively as a decades long music fan .

That be said, if it weren't for Wemba instilling confidence in a once reluctant Koffi then he would've had no illustrious career to speak of.

Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)

1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela

Koffi Olomide (not for Congo only Africa)

1) Salif Keita
2) Koffi Olomide
3) Yousou
4) Hugh Masekela

Eh, my bro. Don't get carried away.... by global album sales for the biggest legends still alive (over 20 year career for each) it's more:

1) Yossou N'Dour
2) Salif Keita
3) Baaba Mal
4) Alpha Blondy
5) Mory Kante
6) Tiken Jah Fakoly
7) Oumou Sangare


Koffi and Wemba may or many not be in the 8-10 ranking by total sales, but those guys listed above have millions upon millions of a multi-national following.

Masekela (RIP) is obviously one of African's greatest legends, but is not top 10. The late Manu Dibango (RIP) is a comparable jazz legend

Yes bro, but the industry of Congolese music had the misadvantage to not have big production company and therefore no legal and actual count of CD's sales.

If i'm not mistaken, all the artists you quotted had the advantage to be in big production compagny and have their sales counted well. I think if Congolese musician in 80s and 90s had most of their albums published by "serious" company, quickly it would go up in millions of "legal" sales and would have exceeded at least Tiken Jah Fakoly, Oumou Sangare and Mory Kante...

Yes bro, but the industry of Congolese music had the misadvantage to not have big production company and therefore no legal and actual count of CD's sales.

If i'm not mistaken, all the artists you quotted had the advantage to be in big production compagny and have their sales counted well. I think if Congolese musician in 80s and 90s had most of their albums published by "serious" company, quickly it would go up in millions of "legal" sales and would have exceeded at least Tiken Jah Fakoly, Oumou Sangare and Mory Kante...

Correct all those artists benefits from being signed to the very best record label - Nonesuch, Warner, Universal, Sony, Island/Mango, etc. With the exception of Tiken Jah and Alpha Blondy, all those artists were pure to their heritage as well.

Sono was a very good African label in the 90’s, but imagine if Koffi (who turned down huge offers to remain loyal) and Wemba (same case except for his Real World albums, which were huge)) signed to above labels and had the same level of promotion?

Ndeko what are you asking? It's not clear enough to understand.

I know what I'm asking seems crazy but on Twitter a lot were voting against Koffi bizarrely

Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?

Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?

Sales/popularity, but the aforementioned top artists have put out some of the best crafted albums you will hear.

Personally, I’d take TH, V12, Kibuisa, Fula Ngenge, etc over nearly everything, but the albums are not to outsider’s taste because they don’t understand the genre

To be honest it is probably between Koffi and Papa Wemba especially in terms of influence and popularity throughout Africa , then it is quite close between the two.

Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?

Sales/popularity, but the aforementioned top artists have put out some of the best crafted albums you will hear.

Personally, I’d take TH, V12, Kibuisa, Fula Ngenge, etc over nearly everything, but the albums are not to outsider’s taste because they don’t understand the genre

Okay I see what you are saying

Are we going off sales/popularity or actual quality of music/albums?

Sales/popularity, but the aforementioned top artists have put out some of the best crafted albums you will hear.

Personally, I’d take TH, V12, Kibuisa, Fula Ngenge, etc over nearly everything, but the albums are not to outsider’s taste because they don’t understand the genre

It's sucks that those album didn't had the same success as those other African artists