Nathalie Makoma is a Dutch singer of Congolese origin. Her parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was the lead singer for the group Makoma and she later embarked on a solo musical career on her own.
Nathalie Makoma was born on February 24, 1982 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). She started singing with her family group in 1993 when the band was known as "Nouveau Testament". The group was renamed Makoma and was made up of seven members (three brothers and three sisters with one non-family member, boy friend of one of the sisters).
Awilo Longomba is a Congolese musician who was a drummer in
Viva La Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation and Loketo. In 1995, he finally
quit drumming for singing and released his first album Moto Pamba with help
from Shimita, Ballou Canta, Dindo Yogo, Dally Kimoko, Sam Mangwana, Syran
Mbenza and Ringo star.
Awilo Longomba released his second album, Coupe Bibamba in
1998 which made him known throughout Africa, Europe and America. He also
released his third album Kafou Kafou in 2001 and fourth album Mondongo 2004.
Awilo Longomba's relatives in the music industry include
his father Victor Longomba a founding member of T.P OK Jazz as well as his late
elder brother, Lovy the father to the Longombas who are a popular afro-fusion
group based in Kenya. Lovy was a member of Super Mazembe led by the late
Longwa Didos.
Awilo Longomba now lives in France and is engaged to
musician Barbara Kanam.
Awilo Longomba
Awilo Longomba
Awilo Longomba and his fiancee Barbara Kanam
Awilo Longomba and his fiancee Barbara Kanam
Awilo Longomba and his fiancee Barbara Kanam
Awilo Longomba and Nigerian singer D'Banj
Awilo Longomba and Michael Essien
Awilo Longomba with Ghanaian Actress Juliet Ibrahim (right) and her siblings
Mbilia Mboyo Marie - Claire popularly known as M'Bilia Bel is a rumba singer from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). She is known as the Queen of Congolese rumba. She rose to fame after being discovered by Tabu Ley Rochereau.
M'Bilia Bel was born in Kinshasa in August 14, 1959, and brought up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She became successful in the early 1980s when she recorded and toured with Tabu Ley Rochereau, and made her own solo albums.
She began her performing career at the age of seventeen singing backup for Abeti Masikini and later with Sam Mangwana. She burst into the music scene when she joined Tabu Ley's Afrisa International in 1981. Her first song with Africa International was "Mpeve Ya Longo" released in early 1982.
Her ever first album, released in 1983, was the extremely popular Eswi yo wapi, which roughly translates to "where did it hurt you?" composed by both Tabu Ley and M'Bilia Bel. The song won the award for the best song of 1983 in Zaire (now DRC) , and M'Bilia Bel won the award for best new performer.
By the mid - eighties M'Bilia Bel had officially married Tabu Ley and was a refined and mature performer. Her songs continued to dominate the scene. In 1987 Tabu Ley recruited another female artiste to accompany M'Bilia Bel. Kishila Ngoyi was her real name, but she was known by her artistic name, Faya Tess.
M'Bilia Bel quit the band late in 1987 to embark on a solo career. She briefly joined with a Gabonese producer in Libreville before leaving for Paris where she joined with guitarist Rigo Starr Bamundele. Her first album with Rigo Starr was entitled "Phenomene" and was a huge success in Kinshasa as well as abroad. Subsequent releases such as Yalowa, Desole and Exploration have met with limited success.
Mbilia Bel and Tabu Ley have a daughter together, named Melody.
Fally Ipupa is a singer - songwriter from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was part of the band of Koffi Olomide Quartier Latin International, from 1999 to 2006 before starting a solo career. He released his first solo album Droit Chemin in 2006, and his second album Arsenal de Belles Melodies (A2BM) in 2009.
Fally Ipupa has won several awards including Kora Awards for Best Artist or Group from Central Africa in 2007 and the MTV Africa Music Awards 2010 for Best Video and Best Francophone in 2010.
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa
Fally Ipupa (left) and Nigerian singer J - Martins (right)
Fally Ipupa and Ghanaian Actress Nadia Buari
Fally Ipupa and Ghanaian Actress Nadia Buari
Fally Ipupa (left) Ghanaian actor John Dumelo (center) and Togolese footballer Emmanuel Adebayo (right)
Antoine Christope Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide, is a DR Congolese soukos singer, dancer, producer and composer. He is also known by a multitude of other names and aliases. He was born on July 13, 1956 in Kisangani, in the the Democratic Republic of Congo. His father is Congolese and his mother was born from a Sierra - Leone father and a Congolese mother. Koffi Olomide grew up in the city of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a middle - class family, where education was valued.
Koffi Olomide earned an academic scholarship and went to study in Bordeaux, France where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Economics. Koffi Olomide also had a Masters Degree in Mathematics from the University of Paris.
Koffi Olomide joined Papa Wemba's band, Viva la Musica in the 1970s, as a composer and songwriter and later as a vocalist and lead singer. In 1986, Koffi Olomide formed his band known as Quartier latin. Since then, he has performed and recorded both with the group and by himself.
Koffi Olomide popularized the slower style of Soukous, which he dubbed Tcha Tchao.
Koffi Olomide has received numerous awards including four Kora Awards on a single night at the annual Kora Awards in South Africa for 2002 and 2003, including the award for Best African Artist, which he had earlier won in 1998. More recently, he has won the Kora Award for "Best African Artist of the Decade".
Koffi Olomide is married and is the father of seven children; Nzau Twengi Aristotle, Elvis, Minou, Didi Stone Nike, Rocky, Del pilo Mourhino, and Saint James Rolls. Koffi Olomide has an elder brother, John Ko who lives in Paris and a younger brother Tutu Roba, who lives in London, England.
Koffi Olomide
Koffi Olomide
Koffi Olomide
Koffi Olomide
Koffi Olomide
Koffi Olomide and his wife Aliane Olomide
Koffi Olomide and his wife Aliane with their children
