Part 1 of Elvis Kunku's interview was a great interview. I think among the best Mr. La Rumba every made with artists. In part 1 Elvis explained how he started music within Minzoto Wella Wella next to Takinga, Bozi Boziana, Madilu System, etc. Also how he briefly joined Papa Noel's band Bamboula, how he joined Empire Bakuba, the way Likinga saved his life, the real reason why Sosoliso disbanded, the first days of Viva la Musica, etc. Towards the end, he talked about how late Jacob Desesvarieux of Kassav tought that late Meridjo Belobi of Zaiko being a millionaire for the way he created the kauka-style of drumming, after meeting him in the studio with Sec Bidens.



Today, Mr la Rumba released part 2

I agree with you Mfumu Vata. You are spot on. This was a great interview indeed. Elvis Kunku was a good guest for Mr. Rumba. Mr. Rumba did a great job conducting this interview. He has done great interviews before but this one is probably one of his best ones. I heard claims that there is a family connection between him and Madilu System. I see a strong ressemblence between Elvis Kunku and Madilu System. I am surprised to learn that he knew Papa Wemba in his earlier years. I am happily surprised to learn this situation didn't lead to a conflict between Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle. I wonder if Elvis Kunku is the one who got Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle to meet before they would sing together in the song Amena years later. I am sure Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex were mad to find out that Pepe Kalle sung with Papa Wemba and Kester Emeneya on the song Amena for Viva La Musica.

About Cocktail, it is clear from Elvis' response, it appeared that Empire Bakuba was about to split because it looked clear that Elvis, Doris, MP Cherie alongside Dilu and Papy were already becoming annoyed with Boeing 737, Lofombo and Djuna. From Elvis' response, I feel like Empire Bakuba was going to be Viva La Musica with Nouvelle Ecriture and Cour des Grands. Pepe Kalle was going to have two sides of Empire Bakuba. One would be Empire Bakuba Kadima with Dilu, Elvis, Doris, Papy with probable additions of old Viva or Quartier Latin folks like Do Akongo, Luciana and Popolipo with a possible return of Solo Sita with Djodjo Ikomo staying on that side. Another would have been Empire Bakuba Delta Force with Desouza, Biya, Laudy, Germain, Lofombo, Djuna, Boeing 737 with folks like Strelly Mikobi, John Scott Ortega, etc.

Back to Papa Wemba, I wonder if there were plans of a duet album between Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle because it apepared they hung somewhat during the periods of 1997 to 1998. I know Pepe Kalle was preparing duet albums with Madilu System and Nyboma. I wonder if Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle had plans of a duet album.

I agree with you Mfumu Vata. You are spot on. This was a great interview indeed. Elvis Kunku was a good guest for Mr. Rumba. Mr. Rumba did a great job conducting this interview. He has done great interviews before but this one is probably one of his best ones. I heard claims that there is a family connection between him and Madilu System. I see a strong ressemblence between Elvis Kunku and Madilu System. I am surprised to learn that he knew Papa Wemba in his earlier years. I am happily surprised to learn this situation didn't lead to a conflict between Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle. I wonder if Elvis Kunku is the one who got Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle to meet before they would sing together in the song Amena years later. I am sure Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex were mad to find out that Pepe Kalle sung with Papa Wemba and Kester Emeneya on the song Amena for Viva La Musica.

About Cocktail, it is clear from Elvis' response, it appeared that Empire Bakuba was about to split because it looked clear that Elvis, Doris, MP Cherie alongside Dilu and Papy were already becoming annoyed with Boeing 737, Lofombo and Djuna. From Elvis' response, I feel like Empire Bakuba was going to be Viva La Musica with Nouvelle Ecriture and Cour des Grands. Pepe Kalle was going to have two sides of Empire Bakuba. One would be Empire Bakuba Kadima with Dilu, Elvis, Doris, Papy with probable additions of old Viva or Quartier Latin folks like Do Akongo, Luciana and Popolipo with a possible return of Solo Sita with Djodjo Ikomo staying on that side. Another would have been Empire Bakuba Delta Force with Desouza, Biya, Laudy, Germain, Lofombo, Djuna, Boeing 737 with folks like Strelly Mikobi, John Scott Ortega, etc.

Back to Papa Wemba, I wonder if there were plans of a duet album between Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle because it apepared they hung somewhat during the periods of 1997 to 1998. I know Pepe Kalle was preparing duet albums with Madilu System and Nyboma. I wonder if Papa Wemba and Pepe Kalle had plans of a duet album.

I find it hard to imagine Luciana in Empire Bakuba, especially since he wanted to continue with Nouvelle Génération despite Fafa's arrest... this is the best interview Mr. La Rumba has ever done

In this interview Elvis claims that it were their idea to let Pepe Kalle get youngsters to appear in Cocktail-clips, after seeing Nouvelle Ecriture having success with 'L. But people later saying that their time is over, informing them that Lofombo recruited musicians and that they were secretly rehearsing in Binza.


I knew that Pépé Kallé performed with Delta Force, Lofombo and Djuna at Stade des Martyrs for the event Megaconcert 'Tokufa Pona Congo'. But I didn't knew that it performed with them without Empire Bakuba knowning, that it created problems and Pépé Kallé asking for forgevines about it do Empire Bakuba-bandmembers (Elvis, Doris, Dilu and co), when not getting the result he wanted. It's the first time that I am hearing this version. So Dilu was probably right by saying in a different interview  that they hadn't accepted the Delta Force singers yet and they had to do tests to officially accept them. I want to hear Doris, Boeing and Papillion versions about it to compare it to Lofombo's

I don't see Popolipo and Do Akongo joining Empire Bakuba, which was down at that time before releasing Cocktail, while Quartier Latin was enjoying huge succes in Africa with Loi and the bandmembers getting the best salary of Congolese bands at that time. It's because of these reasons that Beniko quickly rejoined Quartier Latin as Zaiko struggled to pay him the same amount he was getting when being with Koffi Olomidé. The same with Luciana Demingongo, which 35+ years based Europe musician that has a huge cv would except to leave France and his family to join a Kinshasa-based band instead of forming his own band ? Back then Luciana was still huge with the success he enjoyed with his first solo album (1993) and the track Sang Bleu from his second album of 1996, as well the reputation of Nouvelle Generation and the leadership was carrying to let the band survive after the many departures and Fafa de Molokai's imprisonment as Mukulu said