documentary made by the French-German television channel Arte

Wemba made in 1999 a six day festival called Fula Ngenge to celebrate his 50th Birthday. In his dream, he wanted that the festival could take place every year and to involve big stars of the planet. But he wasn't funded by the Congolese governement, so he couldn't realize his dream. Magic System would get this opportunity 12 years later by started the Femua festivals in Ivory Coast.

The festival took place in August 1999 with an African tour following immediatly (Centrafrique, Gabon, Cameroon, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Gambia, Guinee and Ivory Coast).

It's the first time that I see those images. I always thought that the festival took place inside the stadium like the press claimed (who were pro-werra and not happy that he supported JB). The Congolese press really killed our genre. They mocked Wemba for having an attendence of 40.000, pretending that he performed inside the stadium while it was outside.

You can see how the lack of help from the government did not help the genre.

Ngomo Africa was one of the first panafrican music award ceremonies. Never got anyhelp.

How come we don't have a single proper festival for the genre? When you have bad leaders, nothing will work. In fact, the genre still being strong in the 90's till the early 00's was a miracle.

It's the first time that I see those images. I always thought that the festival took place inside the stadium like the press claimed (who were pro-werra and not happy that he supported JB). The Congolese press really killed our genre. They mocked Wemba for having an attendence of 40.000, pretending that he performed inside the stadium while it was outside.

Once journalists became poor and fanatics, they turned into musicians attack dogs and it destroyed the genre.

The death of the old guard, Lunkunku, Lutu Mabangau, Bolowa, Manda, etc, and the arrival of the new guard of paid and fanatics journalists (and owners) killed the genre.

Today, it basically impossible to have an objective journalist saying what it's right, even when it comes to superstars like Fally.