Is Christian struggling in Canada? The way he talks about needing sponsors to bring him to Kinshasa or Europe really surprised me. There are artists in Canada who travel to Europe or Kinshasa using their own funds, not necessarily for music, but just to visit family. Debleu Kinanga, for example, had gone to Europe several times. I’d really like to know why Christian wasn’t at the Wenge 4x4 reunion, but Mbuta probably forgot to ask him about it.
Like Mbuta Likasu, I always thought Christian played on Masampu and Capitaine de Beneluxe from Anges Adorables Volume 2, since he was always performing those songs in concerts. I was surprised to hear him say that it was actually Masela. But on the end, he wasn’t very clear himself, he said that he doesn’t know for sure himself. He played it, but when he saw Masela credited in the credits, him assuming that they had erased his contributions. Maybe he did play on them, but the person who wrote the credits either forgot to include Christian’s name or just blindly copied the credits from Volume 1.
People always talks about Bouger Bouger, while it's their second album Live! the album that was their breakthough. Christian himself didn't even know their songs when he joined. I think that JB also was reffering to that album after the split, when claiming that Wenge got fame because of him and adding that it could have been his solo-album since that 3 of the 4 songs were his, while Bouger Bouger has 6 songs. It's really strange how Live! isn't to find anywhere. I was thinking that it would reappear on digital platforms during Wenge's reunion, but it didn't happen. My last hope is youtube X Or Archives 45T, who next to vinyl often uploads old cassettes of Congolese artists that are rare.
So the nail in the coffin was Didier Masela telling JB Mpiana that he was dismissed from his position as president, because of receiving contracts for a European tour under his own name (for his album Feux de l'Amour), instead of under the name Wenge Musica? It means actually the tour being the main reason that caused Wenge split otherwise they would have continued their cold war ?However, Christian’s version of Wenge’s split is different compared to other bandmembers, since that most musicians say the group split after the meeting, when Werrason wanted to physically attack JB Mpiana. As for JB Mpiana being dismissed from his role as president, I remember Burkina Faso gave an interview 10 years ago with I think Voice of Congo or another YouTube channel. He said that through the journalist Manda Tchebwa, Masela had sent out a statement saying that no one in Wenge held an official position anymore and that everyone had to be present for the rehearshals at Samba Playa. Those who wouldn't show up would be fired. But I don’t remember if he said this happened before or after the split. Christian Mwepu said that if Wenge didn't split he would still have been there. But, in my opinion the split was good otherwise Werrason and JB Mpiana would be like Bimi Ombale and Nyoka Longo and not having reach the dimension they have today. Also Alain Mpela would never been Chef du Gouvernement, etc. Christian Mwepu would also not earn the respect he received after Force d'Intervention Rapide. I really regret that he left Wenge Maison Mère early, he had alot of potential, he should had played at least 3 or 4 albums before leaving.
I saw someone in the comments saying that Patient Kusangila being a better bass-player than Christian Mwepu. He's crazy. Everybody knows that Mwepu being far better than Kusangila. I think the guy said it out of anger probably due to him revealing that Titina said to him after the split that he would be Kusangila's back up and Masela not being there anymore (In other interviews he said that he was like Masela's confident and also being in conflict with JB since their last in Europe). The guy always comments on Titina's favour. For example if Djudju-chet or Champion are getting interviewed, he's always there to say that Titina being better than them, even if they don't talk about him. I think he's either related to him or used to be his courtjester. Christian Mwepu used to play bass, how it should be during sebenes. While Patient Kusangila just plays bass normal, not aggresive like Christian. I was preferring Christian above Masela, who play bass mostly in the style of Viva la Musica and Victoria Eleison. When Christian Mwepu explained that he used to be in Grand Zaiko Wawa Junior and him being coached by Egide of Grand Zaiko, it made totally sense, because Egide Losimba used really to play that Kimbongila style that many bass-players at that time used to play in the 1980s and 1990s.
I wonder what Dello Bass' reaction is about Christian Mwepu saying that he recruited Dello Bass, when they performed in Matadi. In Dello's interviews he always claimed that he was Wenge's 2nd bass player right after Didier Masela. But when watching old videos, for example Wenge's performance at Palais du Peuple as break, during the fara-fara of Swede Swede de Kintambo against Classic Swede Swede of Boketshu, it's Christian Mwepu playing bass, when JB, Werra and co came in before handing it to Masela. Another example is Wenge's show, where Dello Bass started those varieties and Christian Mwepu taking it before Masela came in.
Dello also said that he was among the guys that prepared Kalayi Boeing, he and Maradona were supposed to follow the group later in Europe, to add their contributions in Kalayi Boeing (like the way Collegien explained that Maitre Fi-Carre and Don Pierrot Mbonda had normally to join Wenge in Europe for the Kin E Bouge-recordings), but it didn't happen and them joining Wenge El Paris a few weeks later. But here Christian says that he was Wenge's back up bass-player, creating lines for different Wenge albums (Live!, Kin E Bouge, Les Anges Adorables, etc.) and Didier Masela playing it his creations. Who is telling the truth between the two guys ?
