Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Bopol Mansiamina

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Bopol Mansiamina
(Congo-Kinshasa)

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Bopol Mansiamina is an accomplished rhythm guitar player, bass player, singer and composer. Since the age of 20 years old, he has played with numerous band, and recorded with various solo artists. In the early years, he has been associated with Orchestre Bamboula (of Papa Noel), Rock A Mambo, Dr. Nico's African Fiesta Sukisa (1970) and Orchestre Continental, of which he was one of the co-founders. From 1973-76, he was part of Tabu Ley's Afrisa, before he founded Ya Toupas together with Ray Lema and Manuaku. In 1978, he joined Sam Mangwana's African All Stars in West Africa (Abidjan and Lomé).

In 1979, Bopol decided to go solo and as of 1980, he recorded several albums. In 1982, he settled in Paris, and formed the 1980s super group Les Quatre Etoiles with solo guitar player Syran Mbenza and vocalists Wuta Mayi and Nyboma.
Bopol is respected and loved as a rhythm guitar player but he is equally an excellent bass player, and he sometimes plays on solo guitar. His interplay with solist Syran is legendary and they played frequently together, not only within Les Quatre Etoiles but also on Bopol's solo albums. On his solo albums he was accompanied by several vocalists, such as Assaka Baba Ley, Nyboma, Asi Kapela, Theo Blaise Kounkou, Wuta Mayi, Ballou Canta and Sam Mangwana. Moreover, Bopol features on numerous albums by other artists, such as Samba Mapangala, Déesse Mukangi, Ricardo Lemvo to mention but a few.

Sources:
www.africanmusiciansprofiles.com/bopol.htm;
Bopol Discography on Vibes d'Afrique.

Born: 1949, in Kinshasa
Style: Modern Congolese music / soukous.

Discography (not including the Quatres Etoiles albums):

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
The Very Best of Bopol	1998	H & R ENTS. HR2561
Akuna Matata	1997	H & R ENTS. HR2243
Innovation	1991	B.M. Productions BM 005	LP
Belinda	1989	Syllart 38776
Bopol Mansiamina - Syran Mbenza	1987	Production Guerry Alain/Distribution Sonodisc	LP
Serrez ceinture	1987	Syllart	LP
Ça c'est quoi?	1985	Celluloid CEL 6749	LP
Afric'Ambiance	1984	Syllart 8305	LP
Manuela	1983	Syllart 8301	LP
Mariage forcé	1983	Sacodis LDS 21/001	LP
Besisimou (maillot jaune)	1981?	MAR 100	LP
Déception Motema	1981?	Star Musique SMP 6011	LP
Innovation vol.4	1980	Innovation INLP004	LP, by Baba Ley & Bopol
Innovation vol.3	1980	Innovation INLP003	LP, by Baba Ley & Bopol
Innovation vol.1	1980	Innovation INLP001	LP, by Baba Ley & Bopol