Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Empire Bakuba & Pepe Kalle

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Empire Bakuba & Pépé Kallé
(Congo-Kinshasa)

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Empire Bakuba has been the band that was brought to fame by the late singer Pépé Kallé. This giant singer (he was 2m10 tall and about 150kgs) has been, together with Dilu Dilumona and Matolu Dode Papy Tex, the pivotal leading figure within this band. Kallé started to sing in a church choir as so many other Congolese singers. Soon, his talent was recognised and and after having sung in various school bands, he started to compose songs for other artists who were then successful. In 1966, he joined Papa Noel's "Le Bamboula", and he also worked with Madilu System and Bozi Boziana. Around 1968, he and Papy Tex created l'Orchestre African Choc. They later joined other bands, Orchestre le Mysotis and Bella Bella, until Seskain Molenga, drummer of Afrisa, asked them to participate in a new outfit, Bakuba. This was actually the starting point of a winning team «Kadima» (Kalle, Dilu and Matolu), remaining the core of band over years. The band was soon renamed into Empire Bakuba, in reminiscence of an old empire in present West Kasai Province.

Since then, Empire Bakuba remained successful for years, without really changing its style in music. Their live shows were full of energy, both the giant Kallé and the dwarf Emoro danced to enchant the public. Guitarists like Diblo Dibala and Kinanga "Boeing 737" were part of the band, and there were many occasional co-productions, for instance with Tabu Ley, Nyboma, Simaro.
Pépé Kallé died in 1998 of a heart attack. Soon after, Papy Tex was seriously injured in a traffic accident in Brussels. These two events lead to popular belief that Empire Bakuba was no more. But after having spend more than a year in a hospital, Papy Tex slowly recovered. In October 1999, he was inaugurated by the traditional chief of the Bakuba tribe in the Kasaï province as the new leader of Empire Bakuba. Since then, only a few albums were released. Kinanga left to create Empire Fondation, Godé Lofombo left to continue with Delta Force and Dilu Dilumona left in 2003. Papy Tex is now the sole band leader of Empire Bakuba.

Pépé Kallé is born: 30 November 1951, as Jean Kabasele Yamanya wa ba Mulanga, in Kinshasa. He died 28 November 1998, also in Kinshasa
Empire Bakuba has been formed: in the mid 1970s by Kallé, Dilu Dilumona, and Papy Tex.
Style: soukous

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Papy Tex & Likinga:
Mon bébé	2002?	Clarys Music
Fondation Empire Bakuba:
Sauvetage	2001	JPS Production CDJPS 154
Empire Bakuba / Papy Tex:
Flash	2004	Solfège Universel Production	2CD
Empire Bakuba / Pepe Kalle:
Gardez votre souffle	2007		CD reissue with bonus DVD
Johnny Bitoto	2004	Ngoyarto NG087
Sango Ya Mawa	2003	Ngoyarto NG086
La naissance de l'Orchestre: Nazoki	2003	Ngoyarto NG085
Young Africa	1999	EXW 0002122
Souvenirs	1999	Syllart
The Best of Pepe Kalle	1999	BMG-Milan	tracks from CD 70051-2/CD 65054/CD 65050
Les plus grands succès: "Zabolo"	1998	Ngoyarto NG052	Early recordings
Cocktail	1998	Ets. Ndiaye/ Sonodisc CD79815
Best of...	1998	Syllart	Most tracks from SYL 8324/ 38752/ 38113
Full Option	1997	Babi Production	With Papy Tex
Souci ya Likinga	1997	Flash FDB 300238 (EPP10)	Reissue of LP Kagi Production 086 (1986)
Merci Maman	1997	B-Mass BMP 970095
Loin des yeux, Dieu seul sait	1997	Flash Distribution FDB 300035
Wasiwa	1996	Sonodisc CDS 7006	With Papy Tex
Welcome in Africa	1996	Babi/Jimmy's BOP015	With Papy Tex
Savoir vivre	1995	B-Mass BMP 950063	Also 50474-2
Gardez votre souffle	1995	SUN Records
Atinze Muana Popi	1993	Sonodisc CD 65054	Reissue of LP BB 002 (1989)
Divisé par deux	1993	Sonodisc CD 65050	Reissue of LP BB 012 (around 1990)
Poto Malili: Kinshasa Moto! Moto!	1993	Musicanova MUS1003
Mamie (music clarification)	1993	Gefraco/Kaluila KL067	(CD 70070-2)
Feux d'artifice	1992	Sonodisc CDS 5505	With Tabu Ley
Hommage à Emoro	1992	Syllart 38117-2	With Nyboma and Bopol Mansiamina
- Compilation CD of Pepe Kalle Zouke Zouke (SYL 8324) and Bakuba Show (SYL 8338) and a 1986 album of Bopol Mansiamina
Larger than Life	1992	Stern's STCD 1038	Reissue of Gerant
Gerant	1991	Syllart 38113-2
Liya Liya Faina	1991	Sonodisc CD 49908
Gigantafrique	1990	Globestyle CDORB 062
L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur	1990	Gefraco/Kaluila KLCD032	LP from 1988
Mavuela Somo & Pepe Kalle	1990	MDL 301	With Mavuela Somo
Stop feu rouge - voisin	1990	Bleu Cara�bes 82804	With Nyboma, Madilu & Simaro
- Compilation CD of Nyboma & Madilu Stop feu rouge-voisin and Pepe Kalle chante le poète Simaro (JM Production 91080)
Show times	1989	MA 4034
Cé Chalé Carnaval	1989	Afrorythmes 31001-1/ AR1012	LP
Pepe Kalle chante le poète Simaro	1989	JM Production 91080
Atinze Mwana Popi	1989	BB 002	LP
Pon Moun Paka Bougé	1988	Afrorythmes 45309-1	LP
Moyibi	1988	Syllart 38752-2	With Nyboma
Ya Moseka de l'Empire Bakuba	1988	SIC 002
Bakuba Show	1987	Syllart SYL 8338	LP also showing ref. number 8743
Sombokila	1987	Syllart SYL 8334
Blanche neige	1987	Rythmes et Musique REM 670	With Grand Zaiko Wa Wa
Nzoto ya chance/ 8 000 km	1987	Leader Records Repro 01	Sometimes refered to as Kwassa Kwassa
Joe Dikando	1987	LS 70
Livre d'or	1986	DV 001	Papy Tex with Empire Bakuba
Dans Masassi calculé à Abidjan	1986	LP ACMP 1001
Adieu Dr. Nico	1986	Sonodisc CD8040
Obosini Kisomele	1986	Syllart SYL 8322 (8730)	LP
Allah	1986	Rythmes et Musique REM 550
Chérie Ondi	198?	Editions Veve EVVI 45	LP
Tête africaine	1985	DK 006
Bombe atomique	1985	Mélodie 79512-2	Also Afro Rythmes 0999
Muana Bangui	1985	Rythmes et Musique REM 490	LP
Trop c'est trop	1985	Rythmes et Musique REM 410	LP
La Belle Etoile	1985	Rythmes et Musique REM 360	LP, also Patience (Veve EVVI 41, 1985)
Bonana 85	1985	PF 770	LP
Kabambare	1985	GM 1935
Amour propre	1984	Editions Veve EVVI 19	Also: Rythmes et Musique REM 260
Zabolo	1982	Rythmes et Musique REM 220	LP
Empire Bakuba & Nyboma:
Bakuba (Zouke Zouke)	1986	Syllart SYL 8324 (8724)