Afropop is pleased to unveil a new series of guest posts, offering coverage of music scenes by writers who know them best. Our latest installment comes from Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tonesse Eguba, a devout fan and follower of the complex popular music scene in D.R.C. He breaks it down for us band by band, album by album:
The music news in the D.R.C. mostly focuses on musicians that have albums released, or those that are in studio working on their next albums.
Among music lovers in Kinshasa, Ferré Gola’s album Boite Noire is listened to the most in bars and in almost all corners of the city, despite the fact that three of his best musicians recently left his band to join Werrason, who is a serious rival.
For the time being, Werrason is in the studio, preparing his next album, entitled Flêche Inget.
Fally Ipupa, on the other hand, is still going head to head with Ferré Gola, with his hit album Power Kosa Leka, which held the spot of most popular album for almost a year. Ipupa just finished shooting the remaining music videos for that album, and he is now in Europe, shooting videos for his next album, which will be geared toward the international market. That new album will have the same title as his current album. He also just released a single entitled “Original:”
Many other musicians are currently in the studio, preparing their next albums, including Koffi Olomide, who just finished the videos for his most recent album, Treizième Apôtre, which will be released in December of this year.
Despite currently having an album on the market, entitled Adamu Na Eva, Felix Wazekwa is preparing a new album that will be entitled I Love You, and also a song for Primus, the beer brand (and a major music sponsor).
Papa Wemba is also in studio, preparing his new album Maître d’École, which will be released in August of this year.
J.B. Mpiana, leader of the very famous band Wenge Musica, is also preparing an album that will be entitled Balle de Match and will be touring in the towns of Goma (Eastern Congo) and Lubumbashi (Southern Congo) at the end of this month.
At the end of June 2014, the band of the late musician King Kester Emeneya will posthumously release an album recorded with the deceased master, entitled This Is Me.