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Wenge Musica | |
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 Wenge Musica in 1985 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Celio Stars |
| Origin | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
| Genres | Soukous |
| Years active | 1979–1997 |
| Labels |
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| Spinoffs |
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| Past members |
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Wenge Musica (also known as Wenge Musica BCBG) were a Congolese soukous band formed by Didier Masela in 1981 and led by JB Mpiana from 1986 until their breakup, in 1997. [1] [2] [3]
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. [4] In 1981, they renamed themselves Wenge Musica. [5] 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, [6] 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.
Wenge Musica gave their first concerts at the Moto Na Moto and Olympia bars around 1984. [7] They recorded an album at Studio Veve in 1986, containing the songs "Kin É Bougé", "Bébé", "Laura", "Sylvie", and "Césarine", but it went unreleased [8] The band experienced lineup changes during this time, with the departure of Pandu, Koka, Zitu, Masolo, Buanga, and Mwanga. At the end of the year, Wenge Musica consisted of Mpiana, Werrason, Bula, Makaba, Masela, Maradona, and Nsiona, as well as new members Adolphe Dominguez (vocals), Ricoco Bulambemba (vocals), Alain Mpela (vocals), Djolina (guitar), and Blaise Kombo (guitar). They also added their first atalaku, Full King. Aimé Buanga and Alain Mwanga moved to Paris, France, to study, and there they formed an offshoot of the group, called Wenge Musica Aile Paris.[ citation needed ]
The group's first official album, Bouger Bouger Makinzu, recorded in 1987, was released on the Bisel label the following year. It was reissued in 1994 on the English label Natari, with two additional tracks. [9] Bouger Bouger Makinzu includes the band's first hit, "Mulolo", composed by JB Mpiana. [10]
In 1989, Wenge Musica appeared in the "Zaire" episode of the BBC documentary series Under African Skies, about African music. [11] [12]
In 1991, Wenge Musica released their second album, Kin É Bougé. Several members of the band, including Ricoco, joined Wenge Musica Aile Paris, and a rift occurred between the sister groups. [13]
In 1993, Wenge Musica published the album Kala-Yi-Boeing, which spawned the hits "Danico", "Voyage Mboso", and "Kala-Yi-Boeing". At this point, the group included new members Aimelia Biakondile on vocals, Tutu Callugi as atalaku, and Burkina Faso as soloist.[ citation needed ]
In 1997, after JB Mpiana issued his solo album Feux De L'Amour, the band split into two separate factions: Wenge BCBG, led by Mpiana, and Wenge Musica Maison Mère, led by Werrason.[ citation needed ]
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