June 5th 2001, Afropop correspondant Kristell Diallo interviewed one of Congo's music ambassadors, Koffi Olomide. He recently was Guest of Honor at the Lincoln Center's launch ceremony for this years' Africa Out Loud festival in New York City, where he will appear July 16th with his band Latin Quarter.

Born in 1956 in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, Antoine Koffi Olomide has topped the African music charts throughout the late 80s, 90s, and keeps it up in the new millennium. "I've been a singer for about 20 yrs now", he says. "I became professional after completing University in France in 1980, but before that people in my country called me the most popular student in Zaire. I had already written a lot of songs interpreted by popular singers at that time. When I finished school, my close entourage encouraged me to sing my own songs. So I went in the studio and started recording which led me to where I'm at today."

What keeps his fans and attracts more and more? A sulfurous baritone voice on well-arranged rumba type melodies. The style is the Tcha Tcho. "Tcha Tcho is a music that comes from the heart. A music that can't be if you don't feel anything. I sing because I live. To sing for me is to let my heart speak. I would find it hard to sing for "a soap bar". (laughs) However, I can sing for a girl that has beautiful eyes, a nice smile, frame…I need to be touched to touch my public. That's what Tcha Tcho is. Music of authenticity, truth… and also the difference in our music is that it is classy, comfortable…Music is not only meant to be jumping around."

The content of Koffi Olomide's songs is also important. He addresses various topics while insisting that he is "a big militant for love. I sing for love. But I also mention God. God is in all my songs. For me, all I am is because of God. I am a child of God. In fact, one of my songs is "Petit frere de Jesus" (Jesus' little brother). I don't believe you can get any result or anything without Him." Another important aspect of his music is the role it plays in terms of national identity for his own people. Indeed, Congo still being in a civil war, Koffi reveals that "a lot of Congolese people, love music and feared that I , Wemba, Wenge Musica, would become strangers. So we're worth something. Really what would Congo be without the music. I even wonder if that is not the only thing still remaining. We make people dream a bit… so let our music live for the sake of the people's minds!"

A well rounded artist--singer, musician, composer-- Koffi simply started humming songs by artists he admired-- Franco, Rochereau-- and discovered he could play the guitar. He then started writing and one thing led to another, his "songs got noticed in the industry for their nice melodies, poetical and original lyrics". Sounding almost like a true calling and God given gift, Koffi Olomide's talent was encouraged by another Congolese great Papa Wemba, amongst others. While still a youth in the business, Koffi thus enjoyed collaborations with bands such as Viva La Musica, Zaiko Langa Langa, Defao and many others, although he had never been a member of these groups. Only in 1986, because of his increasing success and number of performances at local venues and ceremonies, he decided to create his own band, "Latin Quarter", which is today in its fifteenth year of existence.

Koffi is not bashful: "I have recorded 15 albums which in my generation of singers is the most" he explains. "I'm the only black African artist to have performed and filled up the most prestigious concert venues in Paris: Bercy, the Zenith…In my country, I have won almost all the awards, best singer, best album..." All these benchmarks being attained, Koffi however points out that the Cora Awards won in 1998 in South Africa is the award he is the most proud of. Why? "Because it was the first time that in Africa we asked the public to vote live for the best male African artist. All the big names were there and I won leaving the second place far behind in terms of votes. The public voted for me". He adds, "I also won the "oscar of the oscar" prize that year in Abidjan. The 2000 people audience voted for me to be the best artist among those awarded. Again live. These are for me important highlights in my musical career because in both circumstances, the public voted for me and it's for them that I sing."

Undoubtedly a superstar both in Africa and France, Koffi's drive to deliver great music is nurtured by the love of his public. Although crowds can be positively crazier in African stadiums, Koffi is always touched by his followers worldwide whom he sweetly refers to as "Mopaoesses", "Koffiettes" or "Koffiphiles". "They have made me, make me, and will make me in the future", he remarks.

Koffi Olomide is a true artist of his time; his music evolves. On his last album he collaborated with Senegalese singer Coumba Gawlo on "Si Si Si", French/Congolese rapper Passi on "African Kings", and he did a song dedicated to children, "Chocolat", a topic not often addressed by Congolese artists. "We try to incorporate new styles and sounds." He says. "We're following that path for the next album Efarcata…that's why we pray to have Jennifer Lopez collaborating! Or Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston….Beautiful voices!" (laughs). On the future of Congolese musics in general he says "I'm optimistic. It could evolve really well if we do it right. Today there's a risk with the invasion of Dombolo ambianceurs. People start to think that this is Congolese music, only done for people to dance and sweat, when there's in fact much more to it. It's partly a fault of the club Deejays who wrongly filter our tracks and only play the "sebene" part (fast rhythm), last 2 minutes of the track. People need to know that Congolese musics can also generate deep feelings."

Koffi Olomide will perform at the Lincoln Center's Festival on July 16th, pending visas permissions. For more information call Avery Fisher Hall Box Office at 212.875.5030. He will be touring this summer in Europe with Latin Quarter, and will release Efarcata in the fall.

Stay tuned for more details. Kristell Diallo