Is there a QL biography on here? I've been searching the search columns and can't find a forum dedicating to how QL started.

Thanks.

I believe the band started in 1986. But the band really started to get noticed was after Koffi Olomide's 1992 album Pas de Faux Pas. 

I believe the band started in 1986. But the band really started to get noticed was after Koffi Olomide's 1992 album Pas de Faux Pas.

Thank you for the reply. I know about the start of 1986 but why did it take him 6 years? For the group to release their debut album?

HE didn't have singers in the group until early 90s I guess? Because if he did at the start, I don't  think singers would wait that long.

I believe the band started in 1986. But the band really started to get noticed was after Koffi Olomide's 1992 album Pas de Faux Pas.

Thank you for the reply. I know about the start of 1986 but why did it take him 6 years? For the group to release their debut album?

HE didn't have singers in the group until early 90s I guess? Because if he did at the start, I don't  think singers would wait that long.

Jean Louis Mazugidi, Do Akongo and Aladji were already in the group!

It was first just a group d’accompagnement with guys like Djunafa, Eldorado, Mascot de Katalas, Yoto Delta Force, Veron Mbungu, Fofo le Collegien, etc. giving only concerts in Kinshasa and Africa. If Koffi wanted to perform in Europe, he was always callin la Rigo Star, Manu Lima, Caien Madoka and co. Then in 1990 during the mourning of Blaise Kombo (guitarist of Wenge), he discovered Flash Musica who performed there (the band of Sam Tshintu, Modogo, Lebou, Willy Bila, Suzuki and Rocky Blanchard) From then he started until 1993 to recruit them one by one. The first musician of Flash Musica to be recruited was Rocky Blanchard and shortly after it Suzuki followed. Quartier Latin started to get succes when Fifi, Rosette and co got known after appearing in the Civilse videoclip. From then people started to get interested in his band and demanded in Europe  because of his dancers who danced in the Prissoniers Dorment videoclips. Throught the videos of Koffi’s concerts in Kinshasa, people in Europe started to prefer Quartier Latin above the session musicians who were accompaging Koffi in Europe concerts. Then shortly after it Quartier Latin started to prepare the Pas de Faux Pas and recorded it at Studio IAD in Brazzaville. Not long after that they went to Europe for the first time performing in Paris, Genève, Brussels, etc. The rest you can find on YouTube through video of Sam, Modogo, Do Akongo, etc.

It was first just a group d’accompagnement with guys like Djunafa, Eldorado, Mascot de Katalas, Yoto Delta Force, Veron Mbungu, Fofo le Collegien, etc. giving only concerts in Kinshasa and Africa. If Koffi wanted to perform in Europe, he was always callin la Rigo Star, Manu Lima, Caien Madoka and co. Then in 1990 during the mourning of Blaise Kombo (guitarist of Wenge), he discovered Flash Musica who performed there (the band of Sam Tshintu, Modogo, Lebou, Willy Bila, Suzuki and Rocky Blanchard) From then he started until 1993 to recruit them one by one. The first musician of Flash Musica to be recruited was Rocky Blanchard and shortly after it Suzuki followed. Quartier Latin started to get succes when Fifi, Rosette and co got known after appearing in the Civilse videoclip. From then people started to get interested in his band and demanded in Europe  because of his dancers who danced in the Prissoniers Dorment videoclips. Throught the videos of Koffi’s concerts in Kinshasa, people in Europe started to prefer Quartier Latin above the session musicians who were accompaging Koffi in Europe concerts. Then shortly after it Quartier Latin started to prepare the Pas de Faux Pas and recorded it at Studio IAD in Brazzaville. Not long after that they went to Europe for the first time performing in Paris, Genève, Brussels, etc. The rest you can find on YouTube through video of Sam, Modogo, Do Akongo, etc.

Ok I understand now. I thought it's because he saw that his tcha tcho style was not going to last against wenge because tcha tcho was for the women and wenge was for the young. Everyone was behind their movement, and koffi wanted to compete so he then decided to take the group more seriously. I thought it was because of the rise of wenge from 1988-1991 When they released kin e Bouge that made Koffi be like ok it's time to compete and adapt.

Because when I looked I saw he created the group on 1986 and he was putting out his solo albums. Didn't feel threatened until he saw wenge's force. That's what I thought.

It was first just a group d’accompagnement with guys like Djunafa, Eldorado, Mascot de Katalas, Yoto Delta Force, Veron Mbungu, Fofo le Collegien, etc. giving only concerts in Kinshasa and Africa. If Koffi wanted to perform in Europe, he was always callin la Rigo Star, Manu Lima, Caien Madoka and co. Then in 1990 during the mourning of Blaise Kombo (guitarist of Wenge), he discovered Flash Musica who performed there (the band of Sam Tshintu, Modogo, Lebou, Willy Bila, Suzuki and Rocky Blanchard) From then he started until 1993 to recruit them one by one. The first musician of Flash Musica to be recruited was Rocky Blanchard and shortly after it Suzuki followed. Quartier Latin started to get succes when Fifi, Rosette and co got known after appearing in the Civilse videoclip. From then people started to get interested in his band and demanded in Europe  because of his dancers who danced in the Prissoniers Dorment videoclips. Throught the videos of Koffi’s concerts in Kinshasa, people in Europe started to prefer Quartier Latin above the session musicians who were accompaging Koffi in Europe concerts. Then shortly after it Quartier Latin started to prepare the Pas de Faux Pas and recorded it at Studio IAD in Brazzaville. Not long after that they went to Europe for the first time performing in Paris, Genève, Brussels, etc. The rest you can find on YouTube through video of Sam, Modogo, Do Akongo, etc.

Ok I understand now. I thought it's because he saw that his tcha tcho style was not going to last against wenge because tcha tcho was for the women and wenge was for the young. Everyone was behind their movement, and koffi wanted to compete so he then decided to take the group more seriously. I thought it was because of the rise of wenge from 1988-1991 When they released kin e Bouge that made Koffi be like ok it's time to compete and adapt.

Because when I looked I saw he created the group on 1986 and he was putting out his solo albums. Didn't feel threatened until he saw wenge's force. That's what I thought.

also correct

Pas de Faux Pas came out because guys like Rocky Blanchard and Suzuki started to rehearse songs which motivated Koffi to let them record an album. Pas de Faux Pas was like a test, it had nothing to do with Wenge's succes. Koffi was btw doubting about that album, when they were recording it and said that he wouldn't record a group anymore if the album would flop. If you listen to the album it doesn't have anything coming with Wenge, it has more something coming with Big Stars of 1992 or Zaiko Nkolo Mboka mixed with he Tcha Tcho style.

Koffi started to get motivated to fight Wenge when Kalayi Boeing came out., being then sure of his band Quartier Latin who and wanting to get the n1 spot. Coming with stuff like Papa Top N1 d'Afrique (As reference to the trophees he won at the AfriCar Awards) and throwing shots towards Wenge like "Kokende liboso ezo ko koma te" in the Noblesse Oblige. Magie was then recorded in order to fight Wenge, Eric Tutsi, Babia Ndonga and Lebou admitted in some interviews of the past.

Pas de Faux Pas came out because guys like Rocky Blanchard and Suzuki started to rehearse songs which motivated Koffi to let them record an album. Pas de Faux Pas was like a test, it had nothing to do with Wenge's succes. Koffi was btw doubting about that album, when they were recording it and said that he wouldn't record a group anymore if the album would flop. If you listen to the album it doesn't have anything coming with Wenge, it has more something coming with Big Stars of 1992 or Zaiko Nkolo Mboka mixed with he Tcha Tcho style.

Koffi started to get motivated to fight Wenge when Kalayi Boeing came out., being then sure of his band Quartier Latin who and wanting to get the n1 spot. Coming with stuff like Papa Top N1 d'Afrique (As reference to the trophees he won at the AfriCar Awards) and throwing shots towards Wenge like "Kokende liboso ezo ko koma te" in the Noblesse Oblige. Magie was then recorded in order to fight Wenge, Eric Tutsi, Babia Ndonga and Lebou admitted in some interviews of the past.

With the invitation of Beevans Bienvenue right?

Pas de Faux Pas came out because guys like Rocky Blanchard and Suzuki started to rehearse songs which motivated Koffi to let them record an album. Pas de Faux Pas was like a test, it had nothing to do with Wenge's succes. Koffi was btw doubting about that album, when they were recording it and said that he wouldn't record a group anymore if the album would flop. If you listen to the album it doesn't have anything coming with Wenge, it has more something coming with Big Stars of 1992 or Zaiko Nkolo Mboka mixed with he Tcha Tcho style.

Koffi started to get motivated to fight Wenge when Kalayi Boeing came out., being then sure of his band Quartier Latin who and wanting to get the n1 spot. Coming with stuff like Papa Top N1 d'Afrique (As reference to the trophees he won at the AfriCar Awards) and throwing shots towards Wenge like "Kokende liboso ezo ko koma te" in the Noblesse Oblige. Magie was then recorded in order to fight Wenge, Eric Tutsi, Babia Ndonga and Lebou admitted in some interviews of the past.

Was there ever a point where QL dominated Wenge? From 94-2006

If there was , which period was it?

Pas de Faux Pas came out because guys like Rocky Blanchard and Suzuki started to rehearse songs which motivated Koffi to let them record an album. Pas de Faux Pas was like a test, it had nothing to do with Wenge's succes. Koffi was btw doubting about that album, when they were recording it and said that he wouldn't record a group anymore if the album would flop. If you listen to the album it doesn't have anything coming with Wenge, it has more something coming with Big Stars of 1992 or Zaiko Nkolo Mboka mixed with he Tcha Tcho style.

Koffi started to get motivated to fight Wenge when Kalayi Boeing came out., being then sure of his band Quartier Latin who and wanting to get the n1 spot. Coming with stuff like Papa Top N1 d'Afrique (As reference to the trophees he won at the AfriCar Awards) and throwing shots towards Wenge like "Kokende liboso ezo ko koma te" in the Noblesse Oblige. Magie was then recorded in order to fight Wenge, Eric Tutsi, Babia Ndonga and Lebou admitted in some interviews of the past.

With the invitation of Beevans Bienvenue right?

If true then it makes perfect sense about the invitation of Beevans

Which brings me to a question...
Do you guys prefer Ekokota or Beevans?

Pas de Faux Pas came out because guys like Rocky Blanchard and Suzuki started to rehearse songs which motivated Koffi to let them record an album. Pas de Faux Pas was like a test, it had nothing to do with Wenge's succes. Koffi was btw doubting about that album, when they were recording it and said that he wouldn't record a group anymore if the album would flop. If you listen to the album it doesn't have anything coming with Wenge, it has more something coming with Big Stars of 1992 or Zaiko Nkolo Mboka mixed with he Tcha Tcho style.

Koffi started to get motivated to fight Wenge when Kalayi Boeing came out., being then sure of his band Quartier Latin who and wanting to get the n1 spot. Coming with stuff like Papa Top N1 d'Afrique (As reference to the trophees he won at the AfriCar Awards) and throwing shots towards Wenge like "Kokende liboso ezo ko koma te" in the Noblesse Oblige. Magie was then recorded in order to fight Wenge, Eric Tutsi, Babia Ndonga and Lebou admitted in some interviews of the past.

Was there ever a point where QL dominated Wenge? From 94-2006

If there was , which period was it?

lol, it never happened. Yes, all Koffi and Quartier Latin albums had succes, but they were never able to dominate Wenge. Quartier Latin had huge impact in the Congolese diaspora of Europe and in Africa, but in Kinshasa it was seen as a band of copycats of Wenge and later Maison Mere. They were never really respected like them, Viva La Musica, Zaiko Langa Langa abd even bands like Victoria Eleison who had massive succes in the 80s, the legendary Anti Choc who was a respected band from 1986 to 1991, were more respected then Quartier Latin.

The problem was that Koffi hadn't a real fanbase in Kinshasa, because of being more Europe based, starting his solo-career a little bit late (having not a real band, while that's really important when you want to impose yourself in Kinshasa)and being more loved by women and the elite when releasing his albums Diva, Henriquet, etc. with the youngsters having their own heroes King Kester Emeneya, Papa Wemba, Nyoka Longo, Evoloko, etc. and later on Bana Wenge. He didn't also have a base despite coming from Lemba, while Wenge 4x4 and Wenge El Paris had Bandalungwa (stole it from Emeneya, Viva La Musica had Matonge, Anti Choc had Yolo, Big Stars had Ngiri Ngiri, Zaiko had Matonge, Maison Mere had Tshangu (Masina, Kingasani ya Suka & Ndjili) that they took over from Wenge El Paris and even small groups like Lavignora Esthetique had their bastion (Lemba). Koffi put his base in Matonge when he started to gain popularity with Quartier Latin, but he hadn't the same the popularity like Wenge.

Which brings me to a question...
Do you guys prefer Ekokota or Beevans?

That's easy. Ekokota.

Pas de Faux Pas came out because guys like Rocky Blanchard and Suzuki started to rehearse songs which motivated Koffi to let them record an album. Pas de Faux Pas was like a test, it had nothing to do with Wenge's succes. Koffi was btw doubting about that album, when they were recording it and said that he wouldn't record a group anymore if the album would flop. If you listen to the album it doesn't have anything coming with Wenge, it has more something coming with Big Stars of 1992 or Zaiko Nkolo Mboka mixed with he Tcha Tcho style.

Koffi started to get motivated to fight Wenge when Kalayi Boeing came out., being then sure of his band Quartier Latin who and wanting to get the n1 spot. Coming with stuff like Papa Top N1 d'Afrique (As reference to the trophees he won at the AfriCar Awards) and throwing shots towards Wenge like "Kokende liboso ezo ko koma te" in the Noblesse Oblige. Magie was then recorded in order to fight Wenge, Eric Tutsi, Babia Ndonga and Lebou admitted in some interviews of the past.

Was there ever a point where QL dominated Wenge? From 94-2006

If there was , which period was it?

lol, it never happened. Yes, all Koffi and Quartier Latin albums had succes, but they were never able to dominate Wenge. Quartier Latin had huge impact in the Congolese diaspora of Europe and in Africa, but in Kinshasa it was seen as a band of copycats of Wenge and later Maison Mere. They were never really respected like them, Viva La Musica, Zaiko Langa Langa abd even bands like Victoria Eleison who had massive succes in the 80s, the legendary Anti Choc who was a respected band from 1986 to 1991, were more respected then Quartier Latin.

The problem was that Koffi hadn't a real fanbase in Kinshasa, because of being more Europe based, starting his solo-career a little bit late (having not a real band, while that's really important when you want to impose yourself in Kinshasa)and being more loved by women and the elite when releasing his albums Diva, Henriquet, etc. with the youngsters having their own heroes King Kester Emeneya, Papa Wemba, Nyoka Longo, Evoloko, etc. and later on Bana Wenge. He didn't also have a base despite coming from Lemba, while Wenge 4x4 and Wenge El Paris had Bandalungwa (stole it from Emeneya, Viva La Musica had Matonge, Anti Choc had Yolo, Big Stars had Ngiri Ngiri, Zaiko had Matonge, Maison Mere had Tshangu (Masina, Kingasani ya Suka & Ndjili) that they took over from Wenge El Paris and even small groups like Lavignora Esthetique had their bastion (Lemba). Koffi put his base in Matonge when he started to gain popularity with Quartier Latin, but he hadn't the same the popularity like Wenge.

Thank you for the information. Because I'm a diaspora myself, I never understood why people were saying Koffi isnt popular like that in Congo. I thought he was the main star in Europe and congo.

Even when I come that  forum chat about who would win ballon d'ors and I said koffi would probably win majority. I was surprised when I got the reality check that koffi isn't as powerful and influential as id thought.

So it was good to dig deep into the wenge history and understanding more about how stars are received in Congo first. I mean the most important thing is to build yourself in your homeland before attracting a wider audience outside of your home.

But in the end Koffi has worked very hard to get to where he's at now. From starting off as a songwriter to then a solo career and he struggled at first until the late 80s to the creating a band and having to deal with competing with Wenge. It's incredible.

Koffi has basically almost had a history with most of the musicians. Whether good, bad or both You can talk about his history with Kester, his history with Papa Wemba, history against wenge. Jb,  Werra, Jossart, history with Defao,

I don't know how much history he had with Pepe Kalle that would be fascinating to know. I just remember his convert he had and Pepe Kalle Dindo Yogo Deyess was there. It was nice seeing them together. But yeah I don't know anything else about them whether good or bad.