Wenge Musica

1979–1986: Early years, first performances, and lineup changes In 1979, a number of school friends that included Aimé Buanga (guitar), Werrason (vocals), Didier Masela (guitar), Machiro Kifaya (vocals), Papy Sanji (vocals), and Kija Brown formed a group called Celio Stars in Bandalungwa, Kinshasa. In 1981, they renamed themselves Wenge Musica. Their lineup initially remained the same, but they were later joined by Dede Masolo, Wes Koka, and Anicet Pandu on vocals; Alain "Docteur Zing" Mwanga, Alain Makaba, and Christian Zitu on guitars; and Ladins Montana, Maradona, and Evo Nsiona on drums. In late 1982, singer JB Mpiana joined the band and brought another vocalist, Blaise Bula, along with him. Following their early performances at the Moto Na Moto and Olympia bars around 1984 and an unreleased 1986 recording session at Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta's Studio Vévé, which featured "Kin É Bougé", "Bébé", "Laura", "Sylvie", and "Césarine", Wenge Musica experienced several lineup changes, with the departure of Pandu, Koka, Zitu, Masolo, Buanga, and Mwanga. The band stabilized at the end of the year around core members Mpiana, Werrason, Bula, Makaba, Masela, Maradona, and Nsiona, as well as new members Adolphe Dominguez (vocals), Ricoco Bulambemba (vocals), Alain Mpela (vocals), Djolina (guitar), Blaise Kombo (guitar), and their first atalaku, Full King. Around the same period, Aimé Buanga and Alain Mwanga relocated to Paris for studies, where they laid the groundwork for what would later become Wenge Musica Aile Paris. 1987–1989: Bouger!! Bouger!! Makinzu!!! The band's debut studio album, Bouger!! Bouger!! Makinzu!!!, recorded in 1987, was released on the Bisel label in 1988. It was reissued in 1994 on the English label Natari, with two additional tracks. Bouger!! Bouger!! Makinzu!!! yielded the band's first smash hit, "Mulolo", which was written by Mpiana, and also featured "Amoi Nicky D" by Werrason, "La Fille de Roi" and "Bakolo Budget" by Mpiana, "Dodo La Rose" by Didier Masela, and "Fisol" by Alain Makaba. After its release, music critics in Kinshasa accentuated the band's distinctive sound, which was influenced by the rhythmic style of King Kester Emeneya. Werrason's baritone voice was likened to that of Victoria Eleison's frontman, while the album's electronic arrangements resembled those on Emeneya's Nzinzi (1987). The band subsequently became emblematic of a new generation promoting upper-class, stylish fashion trends and the La Sape sartorial subculture. 1990–1993: Kin É Bougé, Pleins Feux, and Kala-Yi-Boeing In 1990, a second European tour brought Mpiana, Werrason, Masela, Makaba, Blaise Bula, Roberto Wunda Ekokota, Marie-Paul Kambulu, Collégien Zola, and drummer Titina Alcapone to Brussels, where they recorded Kin É Bougé and performed several concerts. The album was self-released in 1991 through the Mabisa label. The lead vocal sections were performed by singers Mpiana, Werrason, Blaise Bula, Adolphe Dominguez, and Marie-Paul, while the instrumentation featured Makaba's guitars, Masela's bass, Titina's drumming, synthesizers by Cyril Orcel and Makaba, and atalaku contributions from Ekokota and Full King. Pleins Feux emphasized the distinctive style of Makaba, with strong use of electronic instrumentation, including synthesizers handled by new keyboardist Désiré Kalala, and electronic drums. The album also introduced the young Manda Chante through compositions by Mpiana and Werrason, giving him prominent vocal opportunities. The album title, Kala-Yi-Boeing, derives from Werrason's eponymous composition, sung in his native Kikongo language. The record also popularized the "Boma Liwanza!" dance. Although he contributed vocals to the title track, Manda Chante soon left to join Wenge Aile Paris, reportedly amid strained relations with Mpiana and dissatisfaction with the band's response to his illness. Divided into two volumes of six tracks each, the album featured instrumental contributions from Alain Makaba (lead guitar), Ficarré Mwamba (lead), Patient Kusangila (rhythm and lead guitar), Christian Mwepu and Didier Masela (bass), Titi Alcapone (drums), and Ali Mbonda (percussion). By the mid-1990s, Wenge Musica had reached the pinnacle of their musical influence, setting trends for a whole generation and being a dominant force in the Zairian music industry. The group's popularity was evident in the surge of bands modeled after it, most notably Extra Musica from Brazzaville, founded in 1993, which in less than three years became a major rival. Initially dismissed as an imitator, the band's musicians were seen as mere copies of Wenge Musica. However, the animated and distinctive style of Extra Musica, driven by atalaku Kila Mbongo, quickly distinguished them and pushed Wenge Musica to elevate its creativity. Werrason and Mpiana introduced stylistic elements like twirls and expressive hand gestures, which were further refined by Souzi Versace and Bouro Mpela during a May 1995 rehearsal at La Samba Playa in Kinshasa. The album's commercial success led to multiple promotional offers for Mpiana, including a five-year contract with Cameroonian producer Simon Njonang of Simon Music S.I.P.E., who had also produced Pentagone. As a result, upcoming performances and international tours were expected to promote Mpiana's album, meaning the main financial benefits would go primarily to him. In the wake of fan demonstrations calling for unity, government authorities expressed concern that the dispute could become destabilizing, particularly amid the advancing AFDL rebellion led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila in eastern Zaire. Mediation efforts were attempted by influential musicians such as Tabu Ley Rochereau, and the Minister of Information and Cultural Affairs convened a meeting between Mpiana and Werrason to resolve their differences and promote social cohesion by urging the musicians not to lose focus "at a time when there is a need for unity in the name of national reconstruction". The mediation failed, and soon afterward, Werrason allegedly confronted Mpiana at the Grand Hôtel on the night of the album presentation, accusing him of betrayal. Soldiers from the Forces Armées Congolaises intervened to separate them. The band was ultimately split into two groups, with Wenge Musica BCBG, led by Mpiana, and Wenge Musica Maison Mère, led by Werrason. By the end of the 1990s, the rivalry between the two artists had become a dominant feature of the Congolese and broader African popular music scenes. ==Post-breakup==

2000s: Spin-off bands and rivalries During the 2000s, numerous groups carrying the Wenge name emerged, eventually numbering around ten. Many former prominent members had established their own bands, including Wenge El-Paris, led by Marie-Paul, Wenge Kumbela by Aimé Buanga, Wenge Référence by Manda Chante, Wenge Musica BCBG by JB Mpiana, Wenge Musica Maison Mère by Werrason, Pondération 8 by Blaise Bula, Wenge Musica 5/5 by Didier Masela, Wenge Tonya Tonya by Adolphe Dominguez, and Génération A by Alain Mpela. Diaby subsequently announced the reunion concert "Ya Biso Wengeeee", which was held at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa on 30 June 2022, during the 62nd anniversary of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's independence, in partnership with Africell DRC CEO Milad Khairallah. The sold-out concert included more than 15 Wenge Musica musicians, including Werrason, Mpiana, Didier Masela, Blaise Bula, Alain Mpela, Alain Makaba, Adolphe Dominguez, Patient Kusangila, and Tutu Caludji. After the concert, the government allocated 1,165,677,759 FC (approximately $582,000) to support the reconciliation production tied to the national celebrations. A portion of the concert proceeds was also directed to the FARDC, due to renewed insecurity in eastern Congo linked to the M23 campaign. Werrason expressed support for FARDC on his Facebook page, and the reunited musicians later presented a VIP concert on 9 July 2022 at the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hôtel. ==Band members==

• Werrason – vocals (1981–1997) • Dede Masolo – vocals (1981–1986) • Anibo Panzu – vocals (1981–1986) • Bienvenu Wes Koka – vocals (1981–1985) • Machiro Kifaya – vocals (1981–1984) • Alain Makaba – guitar, bass, synthesizer (1981–1997) • Alain "Zing-Zong" Mwanga – guitar (1981–1986) • Aimé Buanga – bass (1981–1986) • Didier Masela – bass (1981–1997) • Christian Zitu – guitar (1981–1985) • Ladins Montana – drums (1981–1982) • Maradona Lontomba – drums (1981–1990) • Evo Nsiona – congas (1981–1988) • JB Mpiana – vocals (1983–1997) • Blaise Bula – vocals (1984–1997) • Djolina Mandudila – guitar (1984–1993) • Aridjana – guitar (1984–1990) • Adolphe Dominguez – vocals (1985–1997) • Ricoco Bulambemba – vocals (1986–1991) • Alain Mpela – vocals (1986–1997) • Full King – atalaku (1986–1993) • Eddy Kandimbo – guitar (1986–1989) • Blaise Kombo – guitar (1986–1990, died 1990) • Marie-Paul Kambulu – vocals (1987–1993) • Pipo La Musica – drums (1987–1989) • Alain Mwepu – guitar (1988–1993) • Delo Vundu – bass (1988–1991) • Roberto Ekokota – atalaku (1988–1997) • Kennedy Mbala – atalaku (1988–1989) • Collégien Zola – guitar (1988–1991) • Don Pierrot Mbonda – congas (1988–1993) • Manda Chante – vocals (1989–1993) • Patient Kusangila – guitar (1989–1997) • Titina Alcapone – drums (1989–1997) • Christian Mabanga – bass (1990–1997) • Ficarré Mwamba – guitar (1990–1997) • Désiré Kalala – synthesizer (1991–1993) • Aimelia Lias – vocals (1993–1997) • Tutu Callugi – atalaku (1993–1997) • Burkina Faso Mboka Liya – guitar (1993–1997) • Ali Mbonda – drums (1993–1997) • Christian Nzenze – synthesizer (1993–1996) • Ferré Gola – vocals (1995–1997) • Fiston Zamuangana – guitar (1995–1997) • Théo Bidens – synthesizer (1995–1997) • Seguin Mignon – drums (1995–1997) • Japonais Maladi – guitar (1995–1997) • Michael Tshendu – vocals (1996–1997) ==Discography==

Wenge Musica released six studio albums during their career. Besides these records, the band issued two singles, "Bébé Ake Naye" (1986) and "Le Monde est méchant" (1993). Two further albums, Pile ou Face (1995) and ''Feux de l'amour'' (1997), were released as solo works by Alain Makaba and JB Mpiana, though other members of the band also took part in their production. • Bouger Bouger Makinzu (1988) • Kin É Bougé (1991) • Pleins Feux (recorded in 1992) (1996) • Kala-Yi-Boeing (1993) • Les Anges Adorables (volumes 1 and 2) (1994) • Pentagone (1996) ==References==