Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Papa Wemba

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Papa Wemba
(Congo-Kinshasa)

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Papa Wemba's career started early 1970s when he was one of the singers of Zaiko Langa Langa, a young band with a radical new style. Ambitious as he is, he left the band and created first Isifi Lokole, and in 1977 a new line-up, Viva La Musica. By 1986, he was ready to enter the European music market, for which he recorded separate solo albums, parallel to the Viva la Musica albums. His distinct voice and his exceptional musicality have certainly helped him to gain international acclaim.
At the end of the 1990s, he created a new band Nouvelle Ecriture (later Nouvelle Ecrita) with young musicians. The band Viva la Musica (renamed in Viva la Musica-Cour des Grands) remained.
In 2003, Papa Wemba comes in serious conflict with the French authorities, for alledged organising illegal immigration into France of young Congolese by claiming them being part of Viva la Musica. He spent some time in prison in France, for what is popularly referred to as affaire Ngulu. Since his provisional release, he has set up a new band (Nouvelle Tendance) in France, and the Viva la Musica and Nouvelle Ecrita band members are left behind in Kinshasa, as Papa Wemba is not allowed to leave France.

Born: as Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in Lubefu, Kasaï Oriental Province
Style: soukous.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Solo albums Papa Wemba:
New Morning	2006	Synchronies Music PW001	CD & DVD of live performance at the New Morning
Best of Papa Wemba	2003	Sonodisc CDS 9116	2 CD (Compilation)
Molokai	1998	Real World CDRW 70
Emotion	1995	Real World CDRW 52
Le Voyageur	1992	Real World CDRW 20
Papa Wemba	1988	Stern's STCD 1026
Albums with Viva la Musica/Cour des Grands/Nouvelle Ecrita (Ecriture):
Kaka Yo	2008	Diego Music	CD & DVD, with Viva la Musica
Nkunzi Nlele	2006	Sonima SMCD 1692	With Viva Tendances
Liste des Bavards	2005	R.I. Bolelo production	Rodgens & Cour des Grands
Bazonkion	2005	WBE Productions / AM	CD (6 tracks) & DVD, with Nouvelle Ecrita
Mwana Molokai: First 20 Years	2004	Stern's STCD3019-20	2CD, compliation of Viva la Musica songs 1977-1997
Somo Trop	2003	Sono CDS 9147	With Nouvelle Ecrita
Nkila Mogroso-Sans Frontières Live	2003	Gillette d'Or GO 1011	Live, with Nouvelle Ecrita
Bakala Dia Kuba	2001	Sonodisc CDS 8916	With Nouvelle Ecrita (although presented as a solo album)
Hiroshima	2001	Afrisong Records	With Nouvelle Ecriture and Cour des Grands
A la une	2001	Clarys Music/Rigo Makengo RMP307600	With Nouvelle Ecriture
Ya Biso Moko	1999	KIAMI/G.A. Productions KSI12942	With Nouvelle Ecriture Also Ngoyarto NG074 (2002)
Mwana Matebu	1999	Kaluila KL0190	With Viva Cour des Grands
M'zee Fula-Ngenge	1999	Sonodisc CDS 8836
Dans L'	1998	Sonodisc CDS 8833
Nouvelle Ecriture	1997	Sonodisc CDX 8828
Papa Wemba/Koffi/Viva la Musica: 1978/79	1997	Ngoyarto NG 027	With Viva la Musica
La naissance de l'orchestre 1977/78	1997	Ngoyarto NG 026	With Viva la Musica
Pole Position	1995	Sonodisc CDS 8815
Foridoles	1994	Sonodisc CD 72424
Mokili Ngele	1991	Dario Production DSK 1 M
Biloko ya Moto	1990	NM 46302
Nouvelle Génération à Paris	1988	Esperance CD 8459
Au Japon	1988	Esperance ESP 8450
Destin Ya Moto	1988	Esperance ESP 8449
Love Kilawu	1987	Sonodisc ESP 8438
Ma bijou	1986	Rythmes et Musique REM 560
L'esclave	1986	Gitta Production GIP 004
8ième Anniversaire	1985	EPP/FDB EPP02	Released on CD in 1990
Evolution	1985	1312	With Angolan singers Rive Kono and Pacha
Mwana Molokai	1983	IADS 006
Together with Koffi Olomide:
Wake Up - Album de légende	1996	Sonodisc CDS 8817