Here's the latest from Afropop Worldwide's man in Kinshasa, Kavlo Wadigesila. This is an edited collection of Kavlo's reports from December 2003, and January 2004.

Ngulu Hunt Update: December, 2003

Some of you may remember my report on Affair Ngulu, Papa Wemba's run-in with immigration authorities in Europe. Well, "Ngulu Hunt" continues with the Belgian law. This time Nyoka Longo of Zaiko Langa Langa happens to be the main victim. In his press conference held in late December (2003) at Grand Hotel de Kinsahasa, Koffi Olomide plead for fellowship in favor of Nyoka Longo Jossar, stating that his situation is really terrible, and asking for a "rennaissance" in Congolese music.

and from the Papa Wemba controversy file…

By the way, aside from Papa Wemba's experience with the French, he had previously run into serious trouble with some religious groups in Kinshasa, especially the followers of Simon Kimbangu, an early 20th century religious figure whom many Congolese revere as an African Christ. History tells us that Kimbanguism was the first movement to have raised the issue of the independence of Congo under the leadership of prophet Simon Kimbangu and on top of it the issue about the dignity of the black community wherever they were to be found back in 1921.

On his 1999 album Fula Ngenge (Fortune Blower), Papa Wemba let fly at a large number of Congolese God's servants who use the Bible as a passport in their monkey business. Wemba sang: "Elongi ya Jesus bozolata mpo bosalaka bato mabe; elongi ya Jesus bozolata mpo bokosaka bato ooh!" (You are deceiving and doing people harm under the pretense of Christianity). Wemba went even further showing a portrait of Papa Simon Kimbangu and also offerings and tithes being collected in huge baskets at a church after Kimbangu's death.

Wemba was accused of disregarding Papa Simon Kimbangu's personality and other great religious figures through his song. The Kimbaguists stood up fiercely against Wemba and uttered all kinds of curses at him. It wasn't until after a long negotiation that Wemba was forgiven. He apologized publicly for that unhappy mistake but maintained that he did not at all intend to be abusive. However, the general public enthusiastically welcomed Wemba's hit at these hypocritical servants of God, who many felt were to blame.

Alas! Over five years later, the author of that very moral lesson is hoist with his own petard. Did he forget, following the tumultuous nights of insomnia spent in prison under charges of illegal immigration, all that he had said in his album Fula Ngenge against those false preacher men?

Rival singer Emeneya jumped at the opportunity to point this out. On the TV show Songi-Songi, Emeneya didn't mince words. He openly revolted against the behaviour of his old friend "Bokul." At his first concert at Zenith, Paris, after his release from prison, Papa Wemba took advantage of the opportunity to sing the profane music on one hand, and to preach the Word of God on the other hand. According to Kester Emeneya, Wemba shouldn't have been in the service of both God and Satan the devil. Le Roi de Masantomo thinks that Papa Wemba and those prophets are birds of a feather.

End-of-Year Kinshasa Pop Music Notes

J.B. Mpiana ended up 2003 performing at Boulevard Triompal and then headed to back to South Africa to put a finishing touches on his long-awaited new album, Anti Terro, which is said to be the most anticipated album in Kinsahasa.

Mpiana's rival Werrason gave a concert at Fikin, short for La foire Internationale de Kinshasa [an annual international fair]. For the first time, he decided to stay home over December in order to celebrate with his numerous fans. Besides, he's hosting a producer from London known as "lawyer" Samba Placide with whom he's expected to sign a deal that will enable him to fly his band over Europe for a series of concert in London and other cities in early 2004. After that, Werra returns to the studio to work on his new album, Miracle.

Tshala Muana and Mbilia Bel Revels Kora Awards

At Koras 2003 in Johannesburg, in South Africa, the DRC got 5 trophies. The female singers Tshala Muana and Mbilia Bel were recognized as the best female artists from Central Africa. However, awards given to both of these musicians stirred up debate among Congolese artists, in part because the two singers were not there in person to receive them. Some say that they were unfairly favoured by the Kora organizers. Other maintain that "The Queen of Mutuashi" (Muana) and "La Cléôpatre" (Bel) didn't deserve the awards. This sort of sniping within the Congolese music industry really ought to be abandoned in so far as it does not honour the music. On the contrary, the two artists Tshala Muana and Mbilia Bel, should have been encouraged to use their moment in the spotlight to defend Congolese cultural validly abroad. The albums Malu by Tshala Muana and Welcome by Mbilia Bel have sold well everywhere they've been distributed. It's not for nothing that Ms. Adjovi and the jury singled out these two mothers. They did deserve them.

A few facts about Tshala Muana. Her full name is Elizabeth Tshala Muana Muidikay, but she goes by the nickname: La Reine de Mutuashi (Queen of Mutuashi) or Kasa wa Mutshanda. She was born in Lubumbashi on May 13, 1958, the second child in a large family. Her debut in music came in 1977 as a dancer for the band Tsheke Tsheke Love. In 1982, she became a singer and embarked on a solo career, enjoying much success over the next 20 years. She is a proud representative of Luba culture, enthroned in 1991 by the customary chiefs from Kasaï.. Known as a mobilizer of the masses, she has produced 19 albums so far. In 2002, she created a group of her own, Dynastie Mutuashi. Prior to the Kora award, she won several prizes, including one golden disc for the album Kuma, and the Female Merit Medal. Her favourite stars include Emedo Wabafike, Jojo Kashama and all other good musicians contributing to the development of Congolese music. Her ambition is to become a great producer and to set up a large ultra-modern studio in Kinshasa to record and form young musicians.

Here's the English translated version by Mr. Wadigesila of a recent interview the "Queen of Mutuashi" willingly gave to Visa newspaper:

Visa: How do you feel after being named best female artist at Koras 2003?
Tshala Muana: I am delighted. Thank God for giving me this chance, which coincides with my come-back on the scene with the album Malu.
Visa: What accounts for your absence in Johannesburg?
T.M.: You know, unlike the preceding Koras, the board asked us to take care of ourselves. My musicians and I needed $4000 just for our tickets. Not to mention the visas, board and lodging. Koffi Olomide was lucky to receive 10 plane tickets from the organizers. That's why I decided to stay home with the other musicians. Some artists were taken care of by their own governments, such as those from Gabon. Here with us however, when you make a request for assistance, the only answer you always get is, "There's no money!"
Visa: Who do you dedicate this trophy to?
T.M.: To the Head of State, to Mrs. Gene, the minister of culture and arts, to my musicians and dancers, to my fans and supporters, especially Cardozo Muamba, and Mashala Claude, to my manager and to Jean-Pierre Saah. The video of Malu was released by JPS Productions.
Visa: When are you going to celebrate your trophy?
T.M.: After presenting it to the Head of State and to the minister of Culture and Arts.
Visa: How is your band going?
T.M.: Dynastie Mutuashi is very well. We've just finished work recording the new album Liputa Ezanga Te (Let African Cloth Not Be Missing). That opus is going to be released in May of 2004 to replace the current album Malu, which keeps selling like hot cakes. Thanks to Malu, I obtained the trophy for best female artist from Central Africa along with my sister Mbilia Bel at Koras 2003.
Visa: Do you have a message to deliver to your fanatics?
T.M.: As Congolese musicians, we have to learn to live a united and affectionate life for the sound development of our culture. We've got all the same mission: To defend Congolese music abroad. May God forgive those who discredited our merits. I thank the Honorable Michel Lady Luya and all the Visa crew for their contribution to the development of our music.

Happy New Year!

The buzz in Kinshasa as 2004 begins is that Didier, one of the members within Koffi Olomide's inner circle, took Koffi's Jeep out for a joy ride on the New Year's Eve in his absence and went crashing into the wall of J.B. Mpiana's house on his way back. Both stars live in the same district, Mont Fleurie, a few steps away from Werra Son's home J.B. thought it was the first attempt at a challenge for the new year and that Koffi had plotted the attack. But Koffi, then on tour in Europe, denied the accusation as unfounded and punished Didier.

Later, on January 16 and 17, the Democratic Republic of Congo commemorated two big historical events, in particular, the deaths of our two officially declared heroes. The events were quite colorful, with concerts by a mosaic of bands throughout Kinshasa. Afropop should have been there!

The latest news is that Werrason and his band Wenge Musica Maison Mère were recently allowed to have a renewable four-year stay in the United Kingdom, a credit to the credibility of Werra and his producer/lawyer Samba Placide. The latter, based in London, has worked like mad for the procurement of a work license for the band. This piece of information was revealed by Patcho Panda, the spokesman of Wenge MMM at a Press conference given on January 7 at Salon Kasaï, Grand Hotel (former Intercontinental Hotel). Panda concluded his speech thanking the English government for honoring the Congolese music through this action and then the producer and lawyer Samba Placide, and ceremoniously handed him 25 passports and other documents. The event ended up in a pub called Place Sidegie Ma Mpata in Bandal commune, where cocktails were served to the honored guests.

For his part, Werrason Ngiama Makanda thanked the UK government and the lawyer. He said, "Now my dream will come true: that of promoting Congolese culture throughout the world through the Wenge MMM band." Before leaving the place Werra thanked the national special police squad (PIR=Police d'Intervention Rapide) and the Infinitif Sécurité elements under managing director Eric Lukasi because the event went off very well. Wenge MMM has been collaborating with Samba Placide since 1995. The band gave a great concert this January with the South African musician Brenda Fassie at the home of the South African ambassador in the context of president Thabo Mbeki's visit in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

January 20: Both Congos Mourn Bana Poto-Poto Leader, Bienvenu Faignon

Bienvenu Faignon was shot on the night of December 18-19, 2003, as he left his house in an attempt to cool down a bunch of rowdy soldiers. Faignon, founder of Bana Poto-Poto of Brazzaville, died on January 10 of this year in Paris where he had been rushed for appropriate medical care. Repatriated in Congo-Brazzaville, he was buried on January 16.

Faignon's death has been painfully felt all over the two closest capital cities in the world, Brazzaville and Kinshasa, and in surrounding areas. It is said that we are one people separated only by a river. Our culture is pretty much the same, and Faignon had as many friends and fans on both sides of the Congo River. Bienvenu Faignon is a never-to-be-forgotten artist for the Congolese. Many remember in particular his participation in his country peace process, especially his efforts aimed at disarming child soldiers.

He was the president and founder of the band Bana Poto-Poto, and a prolific author-composer. In 2002, the band released a 9-title album called Matiti Mabe (Weeds). He left a second album near completion in the studio. The title is Tuku Tuku which is being programmed for release soon.

Born in 1950, Faignon held a business law diploma from l'Université de Rennes (France) where he graduated in 1981. From 1982 until 1985, he worked as the judicial adviser and then as an assistant to the managing director of Hydro-Congo. From 1985 to 1989 he was the cabinet director for the mayor of Brazzaville. From 1989 to 1991 he led the urban transportation corporation in Brazzaville (Stub). It was in 1999 that he started of Poto-Poto. He was married, and leaves behind six orphans.

A Personal Note

If all goes well, I am going to fly soon to Luanda, Angola, where I'll be working for awhile teaching English. For that matter I have to hold a passport of my own which I've been trying to obtain for a week now. If I had one ready, I would be out there in Luanda at this very moment. Rest assured, THIS DOES NOT AT ALL MEAN THAT I HAVE LEFT AFROPOP WORLDWIDE! I'll still be reporting as much as I can. As Michael Jackson's mom told him:" A man should be faithful and fight till the end." Of course, I'm only human. What's more, I took part in the American Diversity Visa Lottery 2005 last December via computer and I got a preliminary notification that my application has entered the Lottery system. Wish me luck!

Best wishes,

Contributed by: Kavlo Wadigesila