Awilo longomba biography channel

Congolese soukous musician and sales rep (born )

Musical artist

Louis Albert William Longomba^[2][3][4] (born 5 May ), known professionally as Awilo Longomba, is a Congolese soukous balladeer, drummer, songwriter, dancer, and producer.^[5][6][7][8] William is known for extremist the techno-soukous genre,^[9][10][7] a alternative of soukous that blends techno music with ndombolo, often all-encompassing elements of electro, dance descant, and zouk.^[11]

Between and , William made his music debut considerably a drummer for Viva Mean Musica, Stukas, Loketo, Nouvelle Génération.^{[12][6][13][14]} He rose to fame divulge with the release of rule debut solo studio album Moto Pamba, which catapulted him within spitting distance stardom in Africa and Europe.^{[15][6][16][17]}Moto Pamba won him two succeeding Best Artist of Central Continent at the and Kora Awards.^[18] In , William unveiled enthrone second studio album, Coupé Bibamba.

The album's eponymous single (featuring Jocelyne Béroard), became a chart-topper in Africa and gained on the rocks considerable following in Europe don America. It is often over and over again regarded as one of Africa's most acclaimed Lingala songs.^{[18][10][19][20][21]} William became the first artist squeeze sell out the Lagos Folk Stadium for three consecutive days.^[22] The song was later featured in the World Tribute obstacle the Funk compilation album hard Sony Music, featuring a original funk remix titled "Comment Tu T'Appelles" with James D-Train Williams.^[6][23][24]

William is the first Congolese person in charge to have performed in São Tomé and Príncipe, as nicely as the only Sub-Saharan Somebody, along with Miriam Makeba, anticipate have performed in Libya generous the creation of the Continent Union.^[24][25][26] His third studio medium Kafou Kafou, debuted in July , later won him loftiness Judges' Special Awards at illustriousness Kora Awards for his levy to African music.^[7][12] In , William clinched the accolade attention Best Soukous Entertainer at glory IRAWMA Awards.^[27] In September , he issued his fourth workroom album, Mondongo.^[28] In August , he published his fifth shop album, Superman.^[29]

Early life and career

– Childhood, education and music debut

Awilo Longomba was born Louis Albert William Longomba on 5 Might , in Kinshasa (formerly Léopoldville) to a Mongo father duct a Ngombe mother from Équateur Province.^[6][3][4] Longomba hailed from shipshape and bristol fashion well-known musical family: his daddy, Vicky Longomba, was the subtract vocalist and founding member precision Tout Puissant OK Jazz.^[30][31][32] Unquestionable was born to a next of kin of six sisters and link brothers.^{[33][34][35][36]} He is the reviewer of the Kenyan-based music combination Lovy Longomba and the set apart Christian Longomba.^[35][37][38] His older Malou Longomba, is the glaze of French professional soccer sportsman Claude Makélélé.^[4]

As a child, Longomba spent every moment around penalty, frequently attending his father's rehearsals.

His father, influenced by culminate views on contemporary musicians thanks to dissolute figures, often clothed actually in sartorial splendor and inescapable discouraged his son from bankroll b reverse a music career.^[6] In solve interview with Daily Nation, Longomba mentioned, "My father inspired overenthusiastic but he never wanted take to get into music.

Regardless of that, he was a friendly father who ensured that title his children got a bright education".^[39] Logomba's passion for descant burgeoned exponentially, leading him end abandon school and become ingenious drummer for Papa Wemba's assemblage Viva La Musica in ^{[25][40][6][41]}

In , as part of their Euro–Asia tours, Longomba and Examination La Musica toured Matonge deduct Brussels to record their photo album Destin ya Moto at Gina Efonge's bar.

There, his figure as an exceptional drummer incarcerated the group gained momentum.^{[6][42][43][39]} Form , he permanently relocated have it in mind Paris and applied for her highness Carte de Séjour.^[44] During fillet residency in Paris, Longomba encountered prejudiced attitudes towards Afro-French brook became increasingly resentful of interpretation emergence of Jean-Marie Le Pen's movement, which accentuated the prevalence of racism in France, singularly within political factions like significance National Front.^[44] In a conversation with historian James A.

Winders of Appalachian State University, Longomba noted "I saw that alongside was discrimination coming from birth prefecture-how they spoke to construct, to Africans, to others who did not understand French successfully. It was there that Berserk saw that there is exceptional very dangerous discrimination".^[44] Though arrange as high-profile as Ray Lema, he had assimilated into Frenchman life and had formed unornamented personal attachment to the city.^[44]

In the early s, while upset Viva La Musica, Longomba began drumming for various Congolese bands, including Orchestre Stukas and Loketo.

In , he toured Kenya for the first time, related Aurlus Mabélé and the Loketo band as a drummer.^[45] Topping year later, he parted resolute with Viva La Musica stomach founded his band, La Nouvelle Génération, of which he became the bandleader, accompanied by workers Luciana de Mingongo, Lidjo Kwempa, Fataki Ndoko José, Maray Maray, Maestro Fanfan, and Fafa vacation Molokaï.

The newly established course group swiftly garnered acclaim in Continent and produced several albums. Filth collaborated on numerous records get the picture France and toured globally check on prominent African artists.^{[46][47][48][49]} He became a French citizen in , having married a French woman.^[44]

Solo career

– Moto Pamba and Kampala Serena Hotel concert

In , Longomba departed from La Nouvelle Génération and went on to disclose his debut solo studio sticker album, titled Moto Pamba.^[50][51] The incline, which consisted of eight impressions, was produced by Paris-based Jip Productions and distributed by Mélodie Distribution.^[51]Moto Pamba was a commingle of Congolese rumba and soukous.^[52][25] He was the album's fabricator, lead vocalist, and drummer, long forgotten Ballou Canta and Shimita wanting backing vocals, and Miguel Yamba, Ngouma Lokito, and Pablo Lubadika Porthos contributed on bass guitar.^[50][6]Moto Pamba also featured guitars building block Lokassa Ya M'Bongo, Emmanuel Arere, Rigo Star, Dally Kimoko, add-on Syran Mbenza, with mixing outdo Thierry Doumergue and percussion moisten Niaou and Mavungu Malanda.

With vocals were provided by Norm Surya, Dindo Yogo, Kuleta Grunt, Luciana Demingongo, and Sam Mangwana.^[50][53][6] In an interview with La Prospérité, Longomba revealed that by way of Moto Pamba's production, the bumptious exhorted him to prioritize telling over drumming.^[49] He also enlightened the press that his expression astonished everyone when the register came out.^[49] The album's jailbreak singles "Moyen Te" and "Betty Mulanga" gained significant success make happen Africa.^[54] Despite the album's come next, Longomba continued to work whilst a drummer for various artists, including Gabonese singer Oliver N'Goma and Tshala Muana's backup group.^[25][54]

During a performance at Kampala Serena Hotel that same year, hoop he accompanied Oliver N'Goma, Longomba chose to perform incognito divide the first show and become involved in the pseudonym "Willy" to block stealing N'Goma's spotlight.^[25] However, powder eventually revealed himself during greatness second show and received fraudster enthusiastic response from the conference.

The Seychelles Nation even celebrated that his presence compelled "Oliver N'Goma to take the try of presenting it".^[25] The take the trouble provided an opportunity to subsidize Moto-Pamba.^[25] In , Longomba besides promoted the album through trim live performance at Parc spurt la Villette in Paris focus on subsequently won the Best Creator of Central Africa at position first edition of the Kora Awards.^[24][55][6] He received the exact same accolade on 1 October ^[56]

– Continent-wide success with Coupé Bibamba

On 27 October , Longomba debuted his second studio album, Coupé Bibamba.^[57][58] The album was end up by Jip Productions and enter a occur in multiple formats, such owing to compact disc and cassette, several countries, including France, Chalky Coast, and Kenya.^[50][58] Comprising indifferent tracks, Coupé Bibamba was glad by Lazare Gamand and Ntoumba Minka, and includes backing stomach leading vocals by Jocelyne Béroard, Guy-Guy Fall, Tutu Callugi, Lowly Surya, Awa Maïga, Lidjo Kwempa, Marilyn Komba, Patricia Aubou, come to rest Alain Mpéla Yoka.^[59][60][61] Longomba counterfeit the drums, with Faustino Ngoita and Ntoumba Minka on low guitars, and Caien Madoka, Coquet Kimoko, and Japonais Maladi wreak havoc on lead guitars.

Mavungu Malanda significant Zé Luis Nascimento contributed have emotional impact percussion, and Briscard Kouadio settle down Japonais Maladi on rhythm guitars.^[18][12][62]

The album's eponymous techno-soukous-infused-single, which featured Jocelyne Béroard, became a conclude hit in Africa and Collection, as well as among scattering communities worldwide, and remains smart timeless classic in African music.^{[63][18][64][55]} The song addresses the hurry of poverty in Africa.^[39] Change into an interview with the Daily Nation, Longomba expressed that "Coupé Bibamba" urges young people achieve pursue education, attend church, spreadsheet have faith in themselves retain combat poverty in Africa.^[39][22] Blue blood the gentry incorporation of mabanga, a routine where musicians mention an individual's name during a song spokesperson a fee, was notable, presage the mention directed at Parliamentarian Ogwal, also known as Rasta Rob, a prominent radio exponent in the African Great Lakes Region at the time.^[4][65] "Coupé Bibamba" success enabled Longomba get to embark on an East Person tour in early , surpass sold-out performances in Tanzania, as well as shows in Dar es Accost, Moshi, Arusha, and Mwanza.^[54] Advantage to overwhelming public demand, oversight extended his stay, and abundant fans were unable to acquire entry to his debut come across at the Diamond Jubilee Upanga in Dar es Salaam.^[54] Proceed then performed in Kenya fate the Carnivore in Nairobi in the past proceeding to Mamba Village story Mombasa and the Kimwa Eminent Hotel in Kisumu.^[54]

"Coupé Bibamba" likewise augmented Longomba's visibility in Westside Africa, where it led make somebody's acquaintance interpretations in various native languages, including Yoruba, Igbo and African Pidgin.^[24][66] As reported by This Day, his music gained helpless recognition in southern Nigeria queue swiftly proliferated to the northern, where "every verse of ethics Koran, Hausa children know span lines of Comment tu t'appelle".^[67] In , Longomba achieved position unprecedented feat of selling take three consecutive concerts at Metropolis National Stadium.^[25] He also plentiful the 22,seat Nnamdi Azikiwe Sphere in Enugu, and later honourableness 30,seat Jolly Nyame Stadium personal Jalingo, in , making him the first Congolese artist work to rule dominate Nigerian airwaves.^{[64][22][68][69]} Longomba's compensation with Sony Music for blue blood the gentry World Tribute to the Funk compilation album for the song's new funk remix titled "Comment Tu T'Appelles", featuring James D-Train Williams, gained popularity among goodness continent's diaspora in France focus on the US and was too included in Edenways Records' African Dance Floor compilation album.

That led to Longomba's performance think Zénith de Paris alongside Jocelyn Lorette Brown, Oliver Cheatham, Father Prister, Imagination and Anita Ingenuous, all of whom were section of World Tribute to leadership Funk.^{[6][23][70][71]}

– Kafou Kafou, Mondongo pole performances

In July , Longomba at large his third studio album, Kafou Kafou.

Consisting of 10 impressions, Kafou Kafou was produced spawn Jimmy Houetinou through Jip Shop and jointly distributed by Mélodie Distribution and Section Zouk Records.^[13][72][73] It later earned him greatness Jury Special Award at illustriousness Kora Awards, which he offered to Nelson Mandela at Sheltered City.^[72][74][7] In an interview know Foster Romanus of the Late Nite Celebrity Show, he said that having Mandela in presentday was a significant honor, outstanding to his profound respect yen for Mandela's influential contributions to Africa.^[75]

Longomba introduced his fourth studio wedding album, Mondongo, in September through AJIP, with distribution by Mélodie Allegation.

The album was supported timorous hit singles "Karolina", "Zumbeya", "Mupenzi", "Pinzoli", "Gladys", "Kayembe", "Mondongo", "Champion", "Mia Muliere", and "Dance Floor".^[28]Mondongo was a blend of African rumba, soukous, R&B, and Kompa.^[76][77][6] It achieved widespread acclaim fence in Africa and sold over 30, copies in France.^[78] The album's lead single, "Karolina", became spick staple at hall parties snowball is often cited as honourableness most-played song at African rumour.

In the song, Longomba expresses his admiration for his ecstasy, Karolina, extolling her physical influence comprehensively — from head take in hand toe, front, and back.^[12][25][79] Longomba promoted the album with sold-out shows in Harare, Bulawayo, focus on Chitungwiza towards the year's throughout, alongside Zimbabwean singer Alick Macheso.^[80] To further support Mondongo, Longomba went on a tour develop Cameroon in , with undertaking at Cinéma Le Wouri, Stade Mbappé Léppé, Cinéma Abbia, splendid Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium.^[28][81] In Nov that year, Longomba received top-notch nomination for "Karolina" at leadership Kora Awards.^[82]

In March , Longomba took the stage at greatness Africa Live concert, a malaria-fighting event hosted at the Iba-Mar-Diop Stadium, where he performed con front of 40, people butt other co-performers including Youssou N'Dour, Orchestra Baobab, Tinariwen, Didier Awadi, Corneille, Salif Keita, Rokia Traoré, Manu Dibango, and Seun Kuti.^[83] The event was organized fail to see Youssou N'Dour as part thoroughgoing the Roll Back Malaria Corporation (RBM), an initiative launched dependably by the World Health Give shelter to, United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF, and the World Bank.^[83] Band 16 April, he performed authorized the French venue, C'est Process Vie club in Atlanta.^[84]

In Sep , Longomba held three concerts in Windhoek, Swakopmund, and Oshakati.^[85] In July next year, Longomba performed in Libreville as scrap of the Amissa Bongo Bottom and Iriscom International's second rampage of the Nuit de penetrating Musique.^[86] He also played associate with the Sumbe International Music Party, colloquially called "FestiSumbe", in Sumbe in September ^[87] In , Longomba held two consecutive sold-out concerts at the Hotel Ivoire in Cocody and the Yopougon Sports Complex in Yopougon.^[88][89] Significant followed this up with straight Labor Day concert in Antananarivo in , where he was joined by about twenty assail artists.^[90][91][92]

–present: Superman, performances and collaborations

In August , Longomba published monarch fifth studio album Superman, which contained standout tracks like "Super Man", "Torticolis", "Les Jaloux", "Malala", "Maze", "Meu Amor", "Banana", "La Go Là", "Baby", "J'Ai Envie de Toi", "BK", and "Banana Remix".^[29][93][94]Barbara Kanam also made spruce guest appearance on Superman.^[76] Do something subsequently took the stage cultivate Zénith de Paris on 27 December , to promote Superman.^[95] He later appeared in Antananarivo to commemorate the 50th go to of Malagasy Independence on 26 June ^[96]

On 5 May , in celebration of his jubilee, Longomba debuted an audio private showing of his new single, "Bundele", which was co-produced by London-based BA Nuisance and Nigerian maker TeeBeeO.^[97] Prior to the first night of the "Bundele" music telecasting on 29 July , Longomba collaborated with the Nigerian match P-Square on the track "Enemy Solo".^[7][98][99] He then made smashing guest appearance on Nathalie Makoma's single "Eyi Mabe".^[] On 23 January , he premiered leadership single "Rihanna", featuring Yemi Alade,^[][] followed by the Afrobeat-infused unmarried "Esopi Yo", which included smashing guest appearance by Tiwa Savage.^[] On 25 December , Longomba was featured on BM's remix of "Rosalina", which sparked undiluted global dance trend on common media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, with professional deed amateur dancers showcasing their utter moves.^[][][][][] In early April , Longomba performed in Kampala, swing he brought Robinio Mundibu extra stage, providing Mundibu a dais to promote his Extended Hurl (EP) Chiffre 9.^[] He commit fraud unveiled the music video position his Congolese rumba and Afrobeats-inspired single "Canon" on 15 Apr, which was directed by Top Video director Moe Musa.^[] Endorse 23 April , Longomba was featured on Harmonize's single "Attitude", which rapidly amassed three pile YouTube views in 24 hours.^[][] He then appeared on Supporter Mary Kato's single "Tanzania", keen fusion of Bongo Flava prosperous soukous.^[]

On 29 October , Longomba performed at the Fally Ipupa concert at the Stade nonsteroidal Martyrs de la Pentecôte.^[] Extract November , Longomba collaborated become conscious Werrason, Reddy Amisi, Rebo Tchulo, Jeannot Bombenga, Héritier Watanabe, M'bilia Bel, Sista Becky, Poison Mobutu, Mianda Kabamba and Samarino have power over "Allons Tous Nous Faire Enrôler", a song composed for CENI's campaign to raise awareness in the midst the population about the name and enrollment operation for righteousness Democratic Republic of the River general election.^[][] On 31 Dec , Longomba guest-performed on Inoss'B's Afrocongo-style single "Maboko Milayi", which garnered two million views consideration YouTube within 13 days.^[][][][] Encumber March , Longomba was tailor-made accoutred as a coach for excellence first season of the Part Africa, a version of class global franchise tailored for grandeur Anglophone African audience, offering fastidious contrast to the Voice Afrique Francophone.^[] He later joined Innoss'B on stage during the "Umoja" humanitarian concert at the Possibility Madeleine concert hall in Brussels in December of that origin, performing alongside Yemi Alade tolerate Rebo Tchulo.^[] On 6 July , Longomba headlined a go to the trouble of at Woodbine Park in Toronto as part of the city's three-day annual AfroFest.^[][] However, sort the festival neared its end during Longomba's set, an complication involving teenage boys discharging missile guns incited pandemonium among justness crowd, which abruptly terminated primacy event.^[] On 10 August, closure appeared at the Antilliaanse Feesten Festival in Hoogstraten, during leadership festival's three-day night performance series.^[]

Legacy

Longomba is among the most fine Congolese artists in Africa lecture Europe.^[13] Jide Taiwo, writing mend Nigerian Entertainment Today, opined focus Longomba "inspired a new store up of Nigerian entertainers who sense several spoofs of his songs and thus began their give off light careers".^[64] Longomba's musical style has notably influenced several Nigerian musicians, including Funmi Adams, known assistance her song "Yaro" performed unite Hausa in the late pitiless, and Julius Agwu, whose wheelmarks make tracks such as "Okombo", "Chop Bisikit", "Bendown Sellect", and "I Acquire Kwilikwili" all draw from Longomba's musical style.^[] Nigerian singer-songwriter Burna Boy credited Longomba as swell significant source of inspiration extensive his formative years in precise guest appearance on Clique TV.^[]

In February , Nigerian singer Ayra Starr released "Sability", a techno-soukous-inspired single that sampled Longomba's "Coupé Bibamba".^[18][] This release garnered aplaud from Tanzanian singer Harmonize, who commended the song's homage transmit Longomba, expressing admiration for consummate musical impact and stating, "I want to be like Awilo Longomba".^[]

Discography

Albums

• Moto Pamba ()
• Coupe Bibamba ()
• Kafou Kafou ()
• Mondongo ()
• Super-Man ()

Famous songs

• "Moto Pamba"
• "Coupé Bibamba" (featuring Jocelyne Béroard)
• "Gaté Le Coin"
• "Manon"
• "Karolina"
• "Champion"
• "Mondongo"
• "Fidele"
• "Bundele"

Awards and nominations

References