Mike Kalambay

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Mike Kalambay
Also known asMike Kalambayi
Born (1980-04-21) April 21, 1980 (age 44)
Sankuru, Kasaï-Oriental, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Origin Kinshasa
Genres Gospel music, Christian music, Spiritual music
OccupationSinger-songwriter
InstrumentVocals
Years active2005–present
LabelsKin-Express Production ‧ Gospel Records ‧ MK Prod ‧ Maajabu Gospel

Mike Kalambay (born April 21, 1980)[ citation needed ] is a Congolese gospel singer-songwriter whose origin is from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mike Kalambay also founded Mike Kalambay & Shekinah Music. [1]

Contents

Early life

Mike Kalambay was born in Kinshasa. His parents are Joseph Kabamuanishi and Monique Ngola. He spent his early childhood in Mbuji-Mayi with his maternal grandmother and moved to Kinshasa at age 9. He has 2 siblings from his parent’s union and 22 half siblings. His father is a polygamist and his mother is the fourth wife. Mike spent his early years singing in the youth choir and was eventually discovered by singing at a competition hosted by Charles Mombaya.

Career

In 1994, Mike was baptized at the Cité Béthel Church of the Apostle Emmanuel Mbiye, Moise Mbiye's father at the age of 16. He started his musical career by singing in a youth church choir "Les étoiles de Louange" which literally means "The stars of Praise" where he met many future Congolese gospel singers including Moise Mbiye, Sandra Mbuyi and others too. [1] The Congolese people noticed Mike's young talent for the first time next to Thomas Lokofe when he released two albums, "Nzambe na Eliya" and "Je lève mes yeux" in 2000. He was also featured in Marie Misamu's hit album, "Mystére du Voile - 100% Adoration" in the song "Eh Yahweh".

Mike launched his debut album, Jésus "mon tout" in 2005 with Jimmy's Productions, after singing for Thomas Lofoke. It was well welcomed both locally in Kinshasa and internationally, with a particular hit, Ngolu. The record was a commercial success for him, and he was nominated for Ndule Awards for his work. From this album, the group Shekina Music was born. With Shekina Music, Mike released his 2nd album, "1 jour..." which literally means "One day...", in 2007, being produced by Kin-Express Productions. This album also featured the future singer Sandra Mbuyi and was the lead singer for the track "Kumama Yahwe". In 2008, Shekina Music, with Mike Kalambay, toured for the first time in France at the LSC hall on 144 Av. du Président Wilson, Saint-Denis, Île-de-France.

In 2009, Mike Kalambay and Shekina Music released another album with Kin-Express Productions, "Dans Ta Présence - Vol. 1". The album was another success with other hits including Bonganga, Nsenda, and Mokonzi Na Nga. A few months later on December 5, Mike Kalambay and Shekina Music toured in Lubumbashi to perform live with their greatest hits. Three years later, Volume 2 of Dans Ta Présence was released with songs such as Mal a L'aise and Ma Louange where released.

In 2014, Mike left Kin-Express Productions and made his own, MK Productions. With this new company he released a new album with Shekina Music, "Je suis une Étoile" the same year. In 2017, Mike Kalambay hosted the Mike Kalambay Concert Boat Ride on July 14. [2] In 2019, Mike Kalambay released "Mon avocat" and was nominated for the Ndule Awards and the 50th anniversary of The Churches of Revival. In 2020, he released his top single, "C'est ton jour" in July. He soon after became an ambassador at the Maajabu Gospel record label.

Personal life

In 2013, Mike Kalambay married his ex wife, Penielle Nsamba Kalambay (née Tshibasu) when he was 33 and she was 18. The couple has two children, a boy born in 2015 and a second boy born in 2019. After six years of marriage, the couple separated in 2019 due to multiple public bouts of infidelity. His ex wife moved the children back to Texas and in 2020, returned the bride price and began the process of divorce. In 2022, the divorce was legally finalized after a 3 year custody battle. Mike kalambay shares joint physical custody of the children with his ex wife. [3]

Awards and nominations

YearEventPrizeResultRef
2008Ndule AwardsBest African Gospel ArtistNominated [4] [5]
2019The Churches of RevivalBest Gospel ArtistNominated [4]

Discography

Albums


Live albums

2009: Mega Celebration 2013: Live Acoustics Dans Ta Presence

Singles and Eps

 2024: "Posa ya Yesu (ft. NK Divine)"

Live tours

References

  1. 1 2 Mboke, Nabiso (June 1, 2018). "Mike KALAMBAYI". Maboke Nabiso (in Lingala). Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Tickets | Mike Kalambay Concert Boat Ride | CincyTicket". www.cincyticket.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ aaubernard (March 23, 2019). "Penielle kalambay via Instagram parle de son divorce avec le chantre Mike kalambay". Rcongonews (in French). Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Luvundisakio, Jolga Fayrouz (December 14, 2019). "Portrait : Mike Kalambay, une jeunesse consacrée au service de Dieu". Congo Profond (in French). Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ "NDULE AWARDS 6TH EDITION". Voila! NIGHT. February 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
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