Papa Wemba first surfaced with the group 'Zaiko Langa Langa', one of the early leaders of Congolese Soukous, which he left to form his current band 'Viva la Musica'. His early role in the film "La Vie Est Belle", features him as an mbira playing kid from the country trying to make it with...
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Papa Wemba first surfaced with the group 'Zaiko Langa Langa', one of the early leaders of Congolese Soukous, which he left to form his current band 'Viva la Musica'. His early role in the film "La Vie Est Belle", features him as an mbira playing kid from the country trying to make it with Pepe Kalle's band in the big city.
Wemba also has formed a Parisian-based ensemble which draws from his early American influences including soul singers Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett. His Parisian band toured with the African Fete '98 Festival. He swings so easily and naturally that his voice has captivated millions.
Papa Wemba is one of the great singers, songwriters, bandleaders and characters of Congolese pop music.
Born Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in 1949, Wemba was influenced by Cuban mambo, French chanson, British rock and American soul (especially Otis Redding), but most of all by the Congolese pop of Wendo, Grand Kalle, Dr Nico, Tabu Ley Rochereau and, of course, Franco.
Known at the time as Jules Presley, Wemba joined his first band, Orchestre Belguid, in 1969. They were soon relaunched with a new name: Zaiko Langa Langa. They had a new youthful sound, too, and a new era in Congolese music had begun.
In 1974, after five years as one of Zaiko’s lead singers and songwriters, he and some other members left to form Isifi Lokole, whose raison d’etre was to reinvigorate traditional Congolese musical forms with the aggressiveness of the new generation of “youth bands”. A couple of years later, after a brief spell with offshoot band Yoka Lokole, Papa Wemba formed his own outfit. Named after a Johnny Pacheco LP, Viva La Musica was born.
Viva La Musica's stage debut was at Tabu Ley Rochereau's club, Type K (pronounced tipica), on 26th February 1977. The band made an immediate impact both musically and sartorially - each of the four singers wore a different coloured beret, a nice and effective gimmick - and Papa Wemba soon ascended to stardom not only as a pop singer and bandleader but also as a fashion trendsetter.
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