Wenge Musica

Wenge Musica (also known as Wenge Musica BCBG) were a Congolese soukous band formed by Didier Masela in 1981 and led by JB Mpiana from 1986 until their breakup, in 1997.

Wenge Musica
Wenge Musica in 1985
Background information
Also known as	Celio Stars
Origin	Kinshasa, DR Congo
Genres	Soukous
Years active	1979–1997
Labels	Bisel Sans Frontières W.I.B.E SonoDisc SIPE Simon Music
Spinoffs	Wenge Musica Aile Paris Wenge BCBG Wenge Musica Maison Mère
Past members	Aimé Buanga Werrason Didier Masela Machiro Kifaya Papy Sanji Kija Brown Dede Masolo Wes Koka Anicet Pandu Alain Mwanga Alain Makaba Christian Zitu Ladins Montana Maradona Evo Nsiona JB Mpiana Blaise Bula Adolphe Dominguez Ricoco Bulambemba Alain Mpela Djolina Mandudila Blaise Kombo Full King Marie-Paul Kambulu Aimelia Biakondile Tutu Callugi Burkina Faso

History

Early years: 1979–1982

In 1979, a number of school friends that included Aimé Buanga (guitar), Werrason (vocals), Didier Masela (guitar), Machiro Kifaya (vocals), Papy Sanji (vocals), and Kija Brown formed a group called Celio Stars. In 1981, they renamed themselves Wenge Musica. Their lineup initially remained the same, but they were later joined by Dede Masolo, Wes Koka, and Anicet Pandu on vocals, Alain "Docteur Zing" Mwanga, Alain Makaba, and Christian Zitu on guitars, and Ladins Montana, Maradona, and Evo Nsiona on drums. In late 1982, singer JB Mpiana joined the band and brought another vocalist, Blaise Bula, along with him.

First performances and lineup change: 1984–1986

Wenge Musica gave their first concerts at the Moto Na Moto and Olympia bars around 1984. They recorded an album at Studio Veve in 1986, containing the songs "Kin É Bougé", "Bébé", "Laura", "Sylvie", and "Césarine", but it went unreleased The band experienced lineup changes during this time, with the departure of Pandu, Koka, Zitu, Masolo, Buanga, and Mwanga. At the end of the year, Wenge Musica consisted of Mpiana, Werrason, Bula, Makaba, Masela, Maradona, and Nsiona, as well as new members Adolphe Dominguez (vocals), Ricoco Bulambemba (vocals), Alain Mpela (vocals), Djolina (guitar), and Blaise Kombo (guitar). They also added their first atalaku, Full King. Aimé Buanga and Alain Mwanga moved to Paris, France, to study, and there they formed an offshoot of the group, called Wenge Musica Aile Paris.

Peak: 1987–1989

The group's first official album, Bouger Bouger Makinzu, recorded in 1987, was released on the Bisel label the following year. It was reissued in 1994 on the English label Natari, with two additional tracks. Bouger Bouger Makinzu includes the band's first hit, "Mulolo", composed by JB Mpiana.

In 1989, Wenge Musica appeared in the "Zaire" episode of the BBC documentary series Under African Skies, about African music.

Later years and split: 1991–1997

A sample of the band's 1991 song "Kin É Bougé"

In 1991, Wenge Musica released their second album, Kin É Bougé. Several members of the band, including Ricoco, joined Wenge Musica Aile Paris, and a rift occurred between the sister groups.

In 1993, Wenge Musica published the album Kala-Yi-Boeing, which spawned the hits "Danico", "Voyage Mboso", and "Kala-Yi-Boeing". At this point, the group included new members Aimelia Biakondile on vocals, Tutu Callugi as atalaku, and Burkina Faso as soloist.

In 1997, after JB Mpiana issued his solo album Feux De L'Amour, the band split into two separate factions: Wenge BCBG, led by Mpiana, and Wenge Musica Maison Mère, led by Werrason.

Band members

• Werrason – vocals (1981–1997)
• Dede Masolo – vocals (1981–1986)
• Anibo Panzu – vocals (1981–1986)
• Bienvenu Wes Koka – vocals (1981–1985)
• Machiro Kifaya – vocals (1981–1984)
• Alain Makaba – guitar, bass, synthesizer (1981–1997)
• Alain "Zing-Zong" Mwanga – guitar (1981–1986)
• Aimé Buanga – bass (1981–1986)
• Didier Masela – bass (1981–1997)
• Christian Zitu – guitar (1981-1985)
• Ladins Montana – drums (1981–1982)
• Maradona Lontomba – drums (1981–1990)
• Evo Nsiona – congas (1981–1988)
• JB Mpiana – vocals (1983–1997)
• Blaise Bula – vocals (1984–1997)
• Djolina Mandudila – guitar (1984–1993)
• Aridjana – guitar (1984–1990)
• Adolphe Dominguez – vocals (1985–1997)
• Ricoco Bulambemba – vocals (1986–1991)
• Alain Mpela – vocals (1986–1997)
• Full King – atalaku (1986–1993)
• Eddy Kandimbo – guitar (1986–1989)
• Blaise Kombo – guitar (1986–1990, died 1990)
• Marie-Paul Kambulu – vocals (1987–1991)
• Pipo La Musica – drums (1987–1989)
• Alain Mwepu – guitar (1988–1993)
• Delo Vundu – bass (1988–1991)
• Roberto Ekokota – atalaku (1988–1997)
• Kennedy Mbala – atalaku (1988–1989)
• Collégien Zola – guitar (1988–1991)
• Don Pierrot Mbonda – congas (1988–1993)
• Manda Chante – vocals (1989–1993)
• Patient Kusangila – guitar (1989–1997)
• Titina Alcapone – drums (1989–1997)
• Christian Mabanga – bass (1990–1997)
• Ficarré Mwamba – guitar (1990–1997)
• Désiré Kalala – synthesizer (1991–1993)
• Aimelia Lias – vocals (1993–1997)
• Tutu Callugi – atalaku (1993–1997)
• Burkina Faso Mboka Liya – guitar (1993–1997)
• Ali Mbonda – drums (1993–1997)
• Christian Nzenze – synthesizer (1993-1996)
• Ferre Gola – vocals (1995–1997)
• Fiston Zamuangana – guitar (1995-1997)
• Théo Bidens – synthesizer (1995–1997)
• Seguin Mignon – drums (1995–1997)
• Japonais Maladi – guitar (1995–1997)
• Michael Tshendu – vocals (1996–1997)

Discography

• Bouger Bouger Makinzu (1988)
• Kin É Bougé (1991)
• Kala-Yi-Boeing (1993)
• Les Anges Adorables (volumes 1 and 2) (1994)
• Pleins Feux (recorded in 1992) (1996)
• Pentagone (1996)