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THE ACCIDENTAL KINGS.
Wenge Musica's Sworn Musical Rivalry.
.
In the long school holidays of 1984 in Kinshasa, the heartland of Zaire, or as it was mildly called, 'Ile Congo Ya Mobutu', a young man in college went about young college men’s business.
Accounts Major.
.
A Thread!
Wenge Musica's Sworn Musical Rivalry.
.
In the long school holidays of 1984 in Kinshasa, the heartland of Zaire, or as it was mildly called, 'Ile Congo Ya Mobutu', a young man in college went about young college men’s business.
Accounts Major.
.
A Thread!
The young lad was just doing his thing. Displaying the knowledge he had to anyone who cared to listen to him
[PS: He failed his exams.]
Meanwhile, in one of the backstreets Kinshasa a group of about 7 vocalists were just singing, doing covers of popular songs. A crowd listened.
[PS: He failed his exams.]
Meanwhile, in one of the backstreets Kinshasa a group of about 7 vocalists were just singing, doing covers of popular songs. A crowd listened.
The young man joined the listeners.
In the singing group he recognized one of his schoolmates, Jean-Belis Luvutula. He marvelled at the band.
But he knew he was a better singer. Luvutula knew too. He mentioned it to the band leader. And the leader was willing & ready to listen.
In the singing group he recognized one of his schoolmates, Jean-Belis Luvutula. He marvelled at the band.
But he knew he was a better singer. Luvutula knew too. He mentioned it to the band leader. And the leader was willing & ready to listen.
They were in the streets because bars and restaurants in Kinshasa, and Brazzaville across the River, were full with stellar performing bands. There were more bands in Congo region than places to play at. If you really wanted to play, you sought space. The band found the streets.
In fact, these guys had been singing on this part of the streets for such a long time that they already had a massive following.
People carried chairs from their homes to come and listen to these guys.
Anyway, Mr. Accounts major sat with the crowd and listened to the covers.
People carried chairs from their homes to come and listen to these guys.
Anyway, Mr. Accounts major sat with the crowd and listened to the covers.
He watched as the two tenors in the band struggled, with one of King Kester and Victoria Eleison’ cover.
He knew that song in and out. He offered to assist, after Luvutula introduced him. He sang the part so well.
In fact, he rearranged the song entirely.
The crowd went wild.
He knew that song in and out. He offered to assist, after Luvutula introduced him. He sang the part so well.
In fact, he rearranged the song entirely.
The crowd went wild.
They loved him. They wanted him, and asked him to join the band, to replace one of the struggling tenors. Roho safi. Nothing personal.
And just like that, Machiro Kifaya, is out.
This new tenor agrees to join with specific conditions that must be met. Well, just one condition.
And just like that, Machiro Kifaya, is out.
This new tenor agrees to join with specific conditions that must be met. Well, just one condition.
The condition, he has to bring along his good and ably talented friend, called Blaise Bula.
Wait what? Two for the price of one? They agreed. That tenor part had been an issue for years. And with our man and his pal in there, the band was perfect and complete.
The world waited.
Wait what? Two for the price of one? They agreed. That tenor part had been an issue for years. And with our man and his pal in there, the band was perfect and complete.
The world waited.
That new tenor who showed up from nowhere on that day in 1984, that guy is Jean-Bedel Mpiana wa Tshituka. Porpularly known, JB Mpiana.
In under one year's time, Mpiana would become co-band leader, with the man who started it all, Noël Ngiama Makanda also known as Werra Son.
In under one year's time, Mpiana would become co-band leader, with the man who started it all, Noël Ngiama Makanda also known as Werra Son.
Within that year, Mpiana and Werrason would rebrand the outfit entirely to BCBG 4x4 Tout Terrain, meaning All Terrain. There was no stoping them.
This was musical Kingdom come.
Mpiana had laser focus ambition. And Werrason trusted him. Together they bring Adolphe Dominguez.
This was musical Kingdom come.
Mpiana had laser focus ambition. And Werrason trusted him. Together they bring Adolphe Dominguez.
In that year, they successfully test and launched a popular genre in Lingala's modern soukouss, the Ndombolo.
In that same year, they wage a deliberate onslaught on all Congolese bands, and they gain so much traction. Wenge Musica took on everyone including TPOK Jazz.
In that same year, they wage a deliberate onslaught on all Congolese bands, and they gain so much traction. Wenge Musica took on everyone including TPOK Jazz.
In My Opinion, I'd long held that JB Mpiana is probably the best thing to come out of the Langa Langa clan inspired Original Wenge Musica. Mostly because of his distinctly and ably handled tenor that overpowered everyone else.
I have changed my mind. Completely.
LET'S GO BACK!
I have changed my mind. Completely.
LET'S GO BACK!
The strength of the Wenge Musica and it’s many off shoots decades later, lay not in who was in the band, what part they sang, or what ambition drove them. Strength lay in how the band was formed, decades earlier.
Wenge Musica was built by design, by the Langa Langa clan culture.
Wenge Musica was built by design, by the Langa Langa clan culture.
Wenge was built the same way the Langa Langa tradition and outlook built Papa Wemba, Nkolo Mboka, Nyoka Longo, and Bozi Boziana. Same way they built Kofi Olomide's Quartier Latin, and the same way they continued to hold Werrason's MMW and many other groups after the fall out.
In 1993, Wenge Musica 4X4 Tout Terrain released the album, Kala Yi Boeing. It was also the title of the lead song.
[Who composed the song was a long fight, both claim the rights.]
For 10 years, it was the most popular album on the continent, and still regarded a masterpiece.
[Who composed the song was a long fight, both claim the rights.]
For 10 years, it was the most popular album on the continent, and still regarded a masterpiece.
Wenge was built by functional excellence. And only Werrason could do the work.
Werrason looked for musical capabilities as well as academic excellence. Everyone in the band initially, was a university student and doing well studies. He threatened to kick out JB for failed exams.
Werrason looked for musical capabilities as well as academic excellence. Everyone in the band initially, was a university student and doing well studies. He threatened to kick out JB for failed exams.
After the split of Wenge Musica, Werrason almost quit because of his perfectionist nature, only for Koffi Olomide to encourage him to stay in the game as things will would work out sooner or later.
Immediately after, he formed Wenge Maison Mere. Translated to The Headquarters.
Immediately after, he formed Wenge Maison Mere. Translated to The Headquarters.
In the grand scheme, JB Mpiana just completed a puzzle. Just a puzzle. He was a good piece. But not the whole, and now, definitely not the most important piece, either.
The architectural plans were designed long ago by Langa Langa ancestors, and only engineered by Werrason.
The architectural plans were designed long ago by Langa Langa ancestors, and only engineered by Werrason.
Werrason on the other hand, was too laid back.
Because, in fact, if there was no Werrason, there would never be Wenge.
While the band lasted, they did amazing songs. But their best output together as a unit was Kin E Bouge. A beautiful play between Mpiana and Werrason.
Because, in fact, if there was no Werrason, there would never be Wenge.
While the band lasted, they did amazing songs. But their best output together as a unit was Kin E Bouge. A beautiful play between Mpiana and Werrason.
This is after they fail to travel to Europe and were in jail for a couple of day.
In it you can clearly hear the ability of all the bands that would come after the great split, and why they coming bands would be great world class bands.
With Mpiana gaining popularity if a king.
In it you can clearly hear the ability of all the bands that would come after the great split, and why they coming bands would be great world class bands.
With Mpiana gaining popularity if a king.
Mpiana sat on the Iron Throne of Congolese Music.
But it is the modest Werrason who built the Wenge Kingdom in a massively huge musical empire, where he only got to be a chief, and an extremely inspiringly powerful chief at that.
But in truth, where he should have been Emperor.
But it is the modest Werrason who built the Wenge Kingdom in a massively huge musical empire, where he only got to be a chief, and an extremely inspiringly powerful chief at that.
But in truth, where he should have been Emperor.
