Papa Wemba
With his dynamic vocals and flamboyant personality, Papa Wemba (born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba) played an essential role in the evolution of Central African music. Respectfully known as "the King of Rhumba," Wemba successfully fused African traditions with Western pop and rock influences. A co-founder of Zaiko Langa Langa in 1970, he went on to international attention as the leader of Isife Lokole in 1974 and Viva la Musica after 1976.
Born in the Kinshasa region of what was then the Belgian Congo and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wemba was taught that he was descended from a long line of BaTetela warrior chieftains. His mother, a professional mourner who sang at funeral wakes, had a profound influence on his singing. He recalled in a late-'90s interview, "If mother was still alive, I would be rich in words and rich in melodies. She was my first teacher and my first audience." Wemba didn't begin singing until joining the choir of a Roman Catholic Church after the death of his father, a chief of customs, in 1966. The experience sharpened his abilities to sing in minor keys. Helping to form Zaiko Langa Langa in 1969, Wemba remained with the group for four years. During that time, the group went from playing American R&B to focusing on traditional Central African dance music. Their hits included several Wemba-penned tunes, such as "Pauline," "C'est la Vérité," "Chouchouna," and "Liwa Ya Somo."
Leaving Zaiko Langa Langa in 1974, Wemba formed the first bands of his own, Isife Lokole and Yoka Lokole. Both groups used the lokole, a hollow tree trunk played with two sticks, as a rhythmic foundation. Moving to the village of Molokai in the center of Kinshasa's Matonge district in 1977, Wemba formed his most successful group, Viva la Musica. Their music continued to reflect an authenticity campaign launched by President Mobutu. Wemba appeared frequently on state-sponsored television, talking about the influence of traditional music and the importance of the authenticity campaign. From the beginning, Viva la Musica's reputation was built as much on their passion for designer clothes as their music. Fans inspired by the band's style of dress began dressing similarly and were known as "La Sape," taken from the expression, "La Société des Ambienceus et Ces Personnes d'Élégance." Viva la Musica were extremely popular among the Congo's youth. Their first year climaxed with the Kinshasa newspaper Elima naming the band best orchestra, Wemba best singer, and their single, "Mère Supérieure," best song. Over the next three years, the group continued to record hit singles, including "Moku Nyon Nyon," "Nyekesse Migue'l," and "Cou Cou Dindon."
By the late '70s, determined to capture a European following, Wemba and Viva la Musica vocalist Rigo Star took a six-month sabbatical from the band in 1979 to join Tabu Ley Rochereau's group, Afrisa International. Relocating to Paris in the early '80s, Wemba formed a second version of Viva la Musica. While this group took a more Westernized approach, the original band continued to perform indigenous-based music. Wemba explained, "My original group is there for me Zairian fans who come to hear typical African sounds but when I decided to be a singer with an international name, I formed another group to appeal to a different public." Wemba appeared in the late-'80s musical revue Africa Oye!, and toured as the opening act for Peter Gabriel's Secret World tour in 1993. He received a best artist Kora Award at the first All Africa Music Awards ceremony three years later. Wemba continued to fuse the musical traditions of his homeland and Western pop. His 1995 album, Emotion, was produced by Stephen Hague of Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, and New Order fame. He continued to record and perform regularly, although a brief prison stay in the early 2000s (he was arrested for his suspected involvement in a ring smuggling immigrants into Europe) affected both his outlook and the theme of his recordings, including Somo Trop from 2003. Wemba died in 2016 at the age of 66, after being stricken while on-stage in Ivory Coast.
© Craig Harris /TiVo
Artistas semelhantes
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Le jour J
Africa - Lançado por Le Monde des Artistes em 23 de out. de 1985
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Le Zenith de Papa Wemba, vol. 2 (Live) (Esprit de fêtes, nouvelle écriture)
Africa - Lançado por Jimmy's Production em 1 de jan. de 1999
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Yolele
House - Lançado por HAUSA GROOVE em 9 de set. de 2022
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Mokili Pitié
Papa Wemba, Kito Dembela, Viva La Musica
Africa - Lançado por Glenn Music em 18 de jul. de 2003
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Ba Jetons
World - Lançado por ON A PAS VOULU 2 PROD em 28 de abr. de 2017
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Trait d'union (Chaque jour est une vie) - EP
Africa - Lançado por Letiok em 1 de jan. de 2009
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Le Jour J
Papa Wemba, Modogo Gian Franco Ferre, L'orchestre Viva La Musica
Africa - Lançado por Flash Diffusion Business em 1 de jan. de 1988
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Mayi ya pembe (Liso ya mokonzi)
World - Lançado por Jimmy's Production em 1 de jan. de 2015
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Ya Biso Moko (Nouvelle écriture)
World - Lançado por Le Monde des Artistes em 1 de jan. de 1998
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Bakala dia kuba
Africa - Lançado por Sonodisc em 1 de jan. de 2001
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Mwana Matebu - La cour des grands
World - Lançado por Le Monde des Artistes em 15 de set. de 1994
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De génération en génération
World - Lançado por Jimmy's Production em 30 de jan. de 2013
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Les meilleurs succès de Papa Wemba, vol. 2
World - Lançado por Le Monde des Artistes em 12 de mar. de 1996
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Le zenith de Papa Wemba, vol. 1 (live) (Esprit de fêtes, nouvelle écriture)
World - Lançado por Jimmy's Production em 1 de jan. de 1999
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Kuru yaka
Papa Wemba, Orchestre Viva La Musica
World - Lançado por Jimmy's Production em 1 de jan. de 1996
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À LA UNE (Nouvelle Ecriture)
Country - Lançado por makengoprod - RIGO MAKENGO PRODUCTIONS em 12 de mai. de 2001
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Mokriato (Micky Milan Remix)
World - Lançado por Sonodisc em 10 de abr. de 2019
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Mokili Complique
LE GRAND-PRETRE FRANCK-ISSEKYA, Papa Wemba
World - Lançado por KP&P-Sonodisc em 3 de jun. de 2001
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Le jour j (Nouvelle génération à Paris)
Papa Wemba, Moodogo Gian Franco Ferre, Orchestre Viva La Muisca
World - Lançado por KP&P-Sonodisc em 30 de abr. de 2021
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Honneur pour la paix
Culpac, Papa Wemba, Héritier Watanabe
Africa - Lançado por iMD-Culpac em 8 de mai. de 2019
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De génération en génération
Africa - Lançado por Maison Saint Nico em 30 de jan. de 2013
Qualidade de CD de 16 bits 44.1 kHz - Stereo