Did Manda Chante became a muslim or was the beginning of the video just a way to impress people ? I remember in the period around the release of Bouclage in 2000 and later with Onction in 2003, that he was acting on tv that he was a devoted christian and was often to be been around those big known pastors of Kinshasa, giving them even shout-outs. He was also throwing shots at different bandleaders, saying that they were sleeping at cemeteries and consulting witchdoctors to get fame.
Talking about Manda Chante's solo career, with all the hits he had with El Paris, you would think that he could become a big bandleader one day. But he never really made it. His two first albums were well received, but were not a huge success compared to his old mentors of Wenge 4x4 (Werrason and JB Mpiana).
YMCA in Matonge was from the mid-1990s until the early 2000s, a barometer for Congolese artists and bands to confirm their popularity. It lost its significance from the moment sponsored open-air concerts organized by Bracongo (Skol) and Bralima (Primus) started to dominate from 2002/03. This also killed the business of paid concerts at various bars around Kinshasa.Because why pay for a concert at Bar Vis-à-Vis, Nsimba Fils in N'djili or Bar Félicité in Kasa-Vubu when you could see your favorite artist for free at Terrain Sainte-Thérèse in N'djili, Terrain Assossa in Kasa-Vubu, Terrain Municipal in Bandal or Terrain Mefe in Lemba? When thinking about it, it seriously killed the business for artists that weren'ton the level of the big four and/or who didn't sign with a beercompany nor touring in Europe. Because having to lure more than 60.000 people for free every week in different quarters/areas of Kinshasa is no joke.
I haven't finished watching the video yet, but it seems that YMCA isn't full. The funny thing about our music back when it was still all about paid concerts is that you could have a big crowd following you through the streets, only to end up performing in an empty venue because the people didn't have the money to pay for tickets
