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Congolese musician (born 1956) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba (born 13 July 1956),[3] known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, and founder of Quartier Latin International.[4][5] Often referred to as the "King of Ndombolo",[6][7] he is noted for his explosive high notes, deep baritone, and offbeat voice.[8][9] Agbepa is considered one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Congolese and African popular music.[10][11] His lyrics often explore themes of love, politics, technology, success, infidelity, religion, chicanery, and disillusionment.[12][13][8] Through his music and stage performances, he introduced the slower style of soukous known as tcha tcho[14][15] and popularized a flamboyant fashion subculture called La Sape, alongside Papa Wemba.[16][17]
Koffi Olomidé | |
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 Olomidé performing in 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba |
| Born | 13 July 1956 Stanleyville, Belgian Congo (now Kisangani, DRC) |
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| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1977–present |
| Labels | |
| Spouse |
Aliane Olomide
(m. 1994; div. 2022) |
Emerging as a ghostwriter for various artists in the Zairean music industry, he gained prominence in 1977 with the song "Princesse ya Synza", which featured Papa Wemba and King Kester Emeneya.[13][18][19] In 1986, he established the group Quartier Latin International, which accompanied him onstage and on his albums since 1992, serving as a launching pad for emerging artists, including Fally Ipupa, Jipson Butukondolo, Deo Brondo, Montana Kamenga, Bouro Mpela, Ferré Gola, Marie-Paul Kambulu, Eldorado Claude, Djuna Fa Makengele, Soleil Wanga, Laudy Demingongo Plus-Plus, Éric Tutsi, among others. His career experienced a resurgence in 1990, when he signed a record deal with SonoDisc.[20][21][22]
With a nearly five-decade-long career, he is the first African artist to sell out the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, and one of twelve African artists whose work has been featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[23][24] Throughout his forty-year career, Agbepa has recorded 32 studio albums, including seven under the Latin Quarter banner, one in collaboration with Papa Wemba, as well as 18 live albums, amounting to a repertoire of over 300 songs.[25][26]
He has won six Kora Awards, four of which in the 2002 edition, for his album Effrakata.[20] Forbes has named him among Africa's 40 most influential celebrities.[27] In 2013, he founded his own recording label, Koffi Central.[28] On 13 October 2015, he released 13ième apôtre, a quadruple album comprising 39 songs, which he proclaimed to be his last, before later resurfacing with Nyataquance (2017),[29][30] Légende Éd. Diamond (2022),[31] and Platinum (2024).[32]
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba was born on 13 July 1956, in Stanleyville (present-day Kisangani), in the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), to Aminata Angélique Muyonge and Charles Agbepa.[33][34][4] His father is Congolese, while his mother is of Sierra Leonean and Congolese descent.[35][36] During his infancy, Aminata Angélique Muyonge endured severe health afflictions induced by depression and feelings of abandonment.[37][35] Charles Agbepa's departure had plunged her into a state of despondency that rendered her unable to breastfeed their newborn son, who was also fragile due to his own health complications.[35][36][37] In gratitude to a neighbor's support during this trying period, Angélique named her son "Koffi" after the neighbor's husband, Antoine.[37][35][36] "Koffi" means Friday in Akan, a nod to the custom of naming children based on the day of their birth.[35] Due to his health issues, he was also called Antoine Makila Mabe, meaning "Antoine bad blood".[35][36] "Olomide" was borrowed from his maternal uncle as a nickname.[38] At the age of seven, Koffi became known for the song "Soso ameli Ngando" ("the chicken has swallowed a crocodile"), which subsequently became his epithet.[35][37] He grew up in Kinshasa's Lemba commune until his family relocated to Lingwala in 1973.[39][40][41] In his youth, he aspired to become a professional footballer but later pivoted towards music, drawing inspiration from Zaïko Langa Langa, Franco Luambo, Le Grand Kallé, Vicky Longomba, and Tabu Ley Rochereau.[42][4][15] In an interview with Afropop Worldwide, Koffi stated, "My father told me that I couldn't be a musician, a singer, if I didn't get a degree, a license."[15] In 1974, at 18 years old, he obtained a high school scientific baccalaureate and pursued business studies in southwestern France at the University of Bordeaux.[31][4][43] While on campus, he procured a six-string guitar, taught himself to play, and began composing.[15]
During school holidays in the mid-1970s, Koffi returned to Kinshasa and began composing lyrics for various artists in the Zairean music scene, earning the sobriquet "the most famous student in Zaire" and seizing the attention of Papa Wemba, who had recently departed from Yoka Lokole and was actively engaged as a lyricist.[13][16] Koffi recorded his debut single, "Onia", while on leave in Kinshasa.[44] Following the establishment of Viva La Musica, he contributed songs such as "Mère Supérieure", "Ebalé Mbongé", and "Aissa Na Zoé".[45][19][46] In mid-1977, alongside Wemba and King Kester Emeneya, he composed "Asso" and "Princesse ya Synza".[4][47] In subsequent years, he released songs like "Samba Samba", "Ekoti ya Nzube", "Elengi ya Mbonda", and "Bien Aimée Aniba"[48][49] While making music during off-peak hours and mainly during holidays, straddling Zaire and France, Koffi earned a bachelor's degree in business economics in 1981 from the University of Bordeaux.[15][50]
Following his graduation, Koffi went to Kinshasa but could not find employment.[51] He then returned to Europe in search of work. After coming back to Zaire in 1982, Debaba, an acquaintance from years earlier, proposed they collaborate to form the orchestra Historia Musica, alternatively recognized as Historia Esthétique.[51][4][52][53] The orchestra was established in 1983, with Debaba as its founder, Koffi as the president and backup vocalist, and Lélé Nsundi as the artistic director.[52][54] It included other members like Cele Le Roi, Desouza Santu, Koko Anana Efoloko, Muzola Ngunga (formerly of Orchestre Kiam), Laza le Chestre, Coco Coluche, Djoe Mile, Derval, Adamo Leovis, Moreno, Athos, Autri, Commando, and Lokombe Bola Bolite.[54] However, Koffi's tenure with Historia Musica was truncated due to internal disputes with Debaba.[4][52] Koffi subsequently commenced work on his debut solo studio album, Ngounda, recording it at Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta's Veve studio in Kinshasa, before heading to Brussels to finish production. The album premiered the same year. It was produced by Roland Leclerc through Production Tchika and included a guest appearance by Josky Kiambukuta.[55][56][57][58] Koffi described this as his "first experience in a professional studio".[57]
Ngounda received mixed reviews, and Koffi began working on his second studio album, Lady Bo, which was released in 1984 and featured King Kester Emeneya as a guest artist.[51][48] Lady Bo was recorded at the Brussels-based Studio Swan and produced by Goal Productions.[59] Koffi composed and wrote all the tracks, while Raf Verlinden managed the engineering, and Popolipo provided guitar and bass.[59]
Koffi's third studio album, Diva, arranged by Rigo Bamundélé, was released in 1985.[51][60][61] It was recorded at the La Madeleine studio in Brussels and produced by the Belgian record label Espera.[62][63][64] Initially released as an LP record, it subsequently became accessible in additional formats such as cassette and CD.[62] Koffi wrote and composed all tracks and collaborated with other musicians, including Popolipo on bass and electric guitars, Meridjo Belobi on drums, and Manzeku Djerba on percussion, along with vocalists Carlyto Lassa, Debaba, and Général Defao.[62]
Diva introduced Koffi's tcha tcho (also known as "Soukous Love") style of music—a slower, sensuous variant of soukous that focused on opulence and flamboyance.[51][65][48] The style was widely emulated by many artists and was notably appealing to young women.[66][67] The West Africa Publishing Company described Koffi's style as "an irresistible concoction"[68] while American music journalist Robert Christgau referred to it as floating light synthesizers on the most subtle Kinshasa–Paris rhythms.[69]
While working on his forthcoming album, Ngobila, Koffi made appearances on the records Olomidé et Yakini Kiese (with Yakini Kiese) and Olomidé et Fafa de Molokaï (with Fafa de Molokaï).[51] Ngobila was released in 1986 but did not garner considerable success. The album's eponymous lead single narrates the tale of a man standing on a port quay, witnessing the departure of his beloved, uncertain if fate would reunite them. Later that year, Koffi established the group Quartier Latin International.[51][35] His solo records and Quartier Latin albums were then released alternately, with the same musical personnel.[16]
At the start of 1987, rumors spread that Koffi had succumbed to AIDS in Europe.[51][70] This enormously affected Koffi, rousing him to compose the song "Ngulupa", in which he responds to his critics with the lyrics: "Bomoni té, boyoki yango, tika kotuba koloba, tuba tuba eza mabé" (you haven't seen anything, only heard; stop talking about things you don't know; verbal diarrhea is a bad thing).[51][37][50] He also addresses illness in "Dieu Voit Tout", singing, "Kuna na mboka lola ata bato oyo ya sida, bazuaka pe kimia oyo ya seko" (at least in heaven, there is eternal peace even for those who suffer from AIDS).[70][50]
In mid-1987, Koffi released his fifth studio album, Rue D'Amour, which was later reissued in CD format in 1992 by Sonodisc under the title Golden Star dans Stéphie.[51][48] The record featured backing vocals by Nyboma, bass guitar by Rigo Bamundélé, drum programming by Gérard Weiss, drums by Ringo Moya, and synthesizer work by Manu Lima.[51][71] Songs on the album explored themes of love, such as "Stéphie", and jealousy towards Koffi, in "Petit frères ya Yesus" and "Droits de l'homme".[51] The track "Mosika na Miso" was a tribute to Claudien Likulia, son of General Norbert Likulia Bolongo.
In mid-1988, he released the six-track album Henriquet, an eponymous homage to that year's Miss Zaire.[16] Produced by Louis Simon Kaluila through Editions Kaluila, Henriquet included a guest appearance by Manu Lima and propelled Koffi to stardom across several countries, including the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Kenya. Lukunku Sampu of the Office Zaïrois de Radio Télévision, extolled him as "the biggest current star of Zairean music".[48][35]
In August 1989, Koffi released his seventh studio album, Elle et Moi, produced by Edition Kaluila and co-distributed through SonoDisc and Gefraco.[72] Its eponymous lead single was dedicated to his daughter Minou.[48][35] Elle et Moi features Koffi's guitar and bass performances, arranged by Manu Lima. His distinct tcha tcho cadence underwent a contemporary transformation on the album, featuring a more modern sound.[48][35] While in Paris, rumors surfaced of his alleged arrest with drugs, but they were swiftly quelled.[48][35]
In 1990, Koffi released his eighth studio album, Les prisonniers dorment... Released on SonoDisc, it sold over 100,000 copies worldwide.[73] Gilles Obringer acclaimed the album on his Radio France Internationale show Canal Tropical. The record won two consecutive awards at the 1991 Trophées de la musique Zaïroise, for "Best Songwriter" and "Best Album of the Year".[73][74] Around this period, Stern's Africa compiled several of Koffi's widely acclaimed hit songs into Tcha Tcho, a style-blending album.[75][76] Robert Christgau praised the work, dubbing Koffi the "rhythm king".[76]
In February 1992, he released his ninth studio album, Haut De Gamme, again through SonoDisc.[77][78] It blended Tcha Tcho, Kwassa kwassa, and Congolese rumba.[79][80] The album's lead singles, "Désespoir" and "Koweit Rive Gauches", are devoted to romantic relationships. The chart-topping single "Papa Bonheur", with its animated kwassa kwassa intro segments, catapulted him to stardom in African and European markets.[81][82][83] Notably, "Papa Bonheur" was listed among the "100 Greatest African Songs of All Time" by the Kenyan weekly magazine Daily Nation.[84] In 2005, Haut De Gamme was featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, the only Congolese album to achieve this milestone.[83][85]
On 1 June 1992, Koffi released Quartier Latin's debut studio album, Pas de faux pas, through SonoDisc. To support the record, Koffi embarked on a continent-wide tour and was subsequently invited to perform at Gabon's Palais du bord de mer by President Omar Bongo Ondimba. He also performed during Denis Sassou Nguesso's presidential campaign in Congo.[86][73] Later that year, Koffi and Jossart N'Yoka Longo were arrested due to perceived lascivious animations within their songs; they were later released.[73][48]
On 14 August 1993, Koffi performed at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles to present his forthcoming album, Noblesse Oblige, which was officially released in September 1993 by SonoDisc. It sold over 100,000 copies and was certified Gold.[35][48][87][88] French pan-African weekly Jeune Afrique praised Koffi as the "most eclectic of Central African musicians" and a provocative man with startling sincerity.[88] That year, Koffi toured Kenya and performed at Safari Park Hotel.[89] The album's triumph gave rise to Koffi's fandom dubbing themselves "koffiettes" and "koffiphiles".[90][91]
On 22 November 1994, Koffi released Quartier Latin's second studio album through SonoDisc, Magie, accompanied by music videos shot in the United States and Paris.[35] He subsequently performed at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and at FNAC Forum. Magie debuted at No. 6 in the top 30 of FNAC Forum, surpassing American rock band Nirvana and French rapper MC Solaar.[35][8] In December 1994, Koffi won two consecutive African Music Awards at the Palais des Congrès at the Hotel Ivoire in Ivory Coast, for "Best Male Singer" and "Best Video Clip".[35] Brazzaville's weekly newspaper La Semaine Africaine noted that during this period, his mounting success "put the great figures of Zairian music to shame" and earned him the moniker "Rambo".[92]
Koffi commenced work on his thirteenth album, V12, in early 1995, at Studio Plus XXX in Paris.[93] He engaged sound engineers such as Maïka Munan and Yves Delaunay, with Quartier Latin contributing backing vocals and some animation sessions.[93] Sonodisc subsequently released V12 in CD, vinyl, and audio cassette formats on 9 October 1995.[93] V12 achieved commercial success, earning a gold record, with sales exceeding 100,000 copies. The album's breakout single, "Fouta Djallon", debuted among the top 20 Congolese rumba songs that year. In December, Koffi presented the album during a concert at Ivoire InterContinental in Ivory Coast.[93][73][48]
In 1996, he released an anthology album titled Wake Up, featuring Papa Wemba, to quash rumors of a feud between them.[94][95][96][97] That same year, Koffi embarked on his first tour to Zimbabwe.[98]
On 21 May 1997, he published Ultimatum, Quartier Latin's third studio album, followed by his own release, Loi, in December.[73][99][100] Produced by SonoDisc, Loi reached a gold record, with over 25,000 copies in France and 105,000 internationally. The album's eponymous lead single became the hallmark of the ndombolo dance, making waves across Africa.[73][100] After over three months since its debut, the CNCCS (Commission Nationale de Censure des Chansons et des Spectacles) proscribed Loi and the ndombolo dance, deeming it excessively lascivious, in accordance with an edict issued by president Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who perceived the dance as a parody of his own "physical disabilities".[101] As reported by New African, Kabila was enraged when a crowd chanted the word "ndombolo" (meaning "ape") in his presence and expressed a desire to stop tolerating ndombolo music.[101] Driven by producer Ngoyarto's suggestion, Koffi released his first compilation album, N'Djoli, featuring his early songs with Papa Wemba, King Kester Emeneya, and Félix Manuaku Waku.[91][73]
On 29 August, Koffi sold out the Olympia Hall in Paris, becoming the first Congolese artist to do so since Tabu Ley Rochereau in 1970 and Abeti Masikini in 1973.[91][102] François Bensignor, writing for the French digital library Persée, lauded the event as a "historic musical date for the Congolese community" and commended Koffi as the "undisputed current leader of Congolese music".[16] Patrick Labesse of Le Monde praised Koffi as the "king of rumba and soukous" and noted that he maintained his dominance over all rivals in the "field of Congo-Zairean music".[91]
On 7 November, Koffi sold out the Zénith de Paris, becoming the first solo ndombolo artist to achieve this feat.[103][104] He performed a few tracks from his previous albums and engaged in a dance-off with the Haitian band Tabou Combo.[35][105] To further bolster the album's promotion, he took the stage at the Brixton Academy in London and earned a nomination for Best Central African Artist at the Kora Awards later that year.[35] On 6 June, Koffi headlined a sold-out show at Stade Municipal in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, as part of the cultural festivities for the 34th Organisation of African Unity summit.[106][107] He performed alongside Ami Koita, Youssou N'Dour, Aicha Koné, and Georges Ouédraogo.[106][107] In August 1998, he played at Mamba International Club in Mombasa, Kenya.[108] He also appeared at the Harare International Conference Center in Zimbabwe that month.[109] In September 1998, Koffi was awarded Best Male Artist of Central Africa at the Kora Awards.[110]
In December 1998, Koffi released Quartier Latin's fourth record, Droit de Veto, through Sono Africa, a branch of SonoDisc, and it was distributed by Musisoft Distribution, part of the French record label Musisoft.[111][16][112] This was the last album to feature a few members who left the following year to form their own ensemble, Quartier Latin Académia, in Paris.[113][114][115] The album's eponymous single became a chart-topping hit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and gained widespread acclaim across Africa, earning the band their first gold record.[116][111]
In February 1999, Koffi held a concert in Tanzania and later went on a tour in Kenya in August.[117] Following the 1998 attacks on American embassies in East Africa, Koffi extended his condolences to the victims in August 1999 during an interview with the Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation, where he also revealed plans to release an album in tribute to the victims.[118] He additionally voiced his concern about the violence of the Second Congo War impacting eastern DRC and his hope that Kenyans would not endure similar strife.[118] Attentat, which featured guest appearances by Senegalese singer Coumba Gawlo and Congolese-French rapper Passi, came out on 8 December 1999 under SonoDisc, with distribution handled by Musisoft. It attained a gold record within two months, selling over 100,000 copies.[119][120][121]
On 19 February 2000, Koffi became the first African solo artist to perform at a sold-out Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy (now Accor Arena), with 17,000 tickets sold solely through word-of-mouth promotion.[122][123][124] Libération reported that over 5,000 people were left outside due to lack of seats.[123]
On 26 December 2000, Koffi released Quartier Latin's fifth studio album, Force de Frappe. Comprising 12 tracks, the record was released by Sonodisc and distributed by Musisoft Distribution. Its eponymous lead single was co-written by Koffi and Quartier Latin. "Eternellement" was written by Fally Ipupa, "Au Secours" by Binda Bass, "Dulcinée" by Ezenge Sendanyoye and Koffi, "Kompressor" by Mamale Manzenza Zola, "Number Two" by Champion Esthétique Muanza, "Pragmatisme" by Lola Muana, "Aquarelle" by Jordan Kusa, "Arche De Noé" by Felly Tyson, "Cotisation" by Nseka Kudifelela, "Mea Culpa" by Ridens Makosso, and "Moprete Lendila" by Gibson Butukondolo. Force de Frappe swiftly secured a prominent position on the music charts of major radio and TV channels and was followed by a tour in West Africa, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Paris.[125][126][127][128]
Koffi began recording his album Effrakata while on tour in France and the US.[125] During this time, he performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City as part of his American tour.[129] On 7 December, Koffi released the 16-track double album Effrakata, which earned a gold record, with sales eclipsing 180,000 copies.[130][48][131] Co-produced by SonoDisc and Next Music, Effrakata won Koffi four Kora Awards in 2002, for Best Male Artist of Central Africa, Best Video of Africa, Best Arrangement of Africa, as well as the Jury Special Award, earning him the moniker "Quadra Koraman".[132][133] On 16 November, he presented his trophies to Kinshasa's governor, Marthe Ngalula Wafuana, the Congolese minister of culture and the arts, and President Joseph Kabila.[133] Koffi and Quartier Latin later won seven Association des Chroniqueurs de Musique du Congo awards, including Best Album of the Year, Best Presenter for Kérozène, Best Author/Composer, Best Artist-Musician for Koffi, Best Singer for Fally Ipupa, Best Orchestra for Quartier Latin, and Best Song of the Year, for their track "Effervescent".[134][48]
Quartier Latin's sixth album, Affaire d'Etat, was released in France on 28 March 2003 and Congo on 5 April.[135][136] It contains 16 tracks and features Fally Ipupa's compositions "Ko-Ko-Ko-Ko", Fofo le Collégien's "Inch'Allah", Bouro Mpela's "Calvaire", Soleil Wanga's "Drapeau Blanc", Jipson Butukondolo's "Biblia", Lola Muana's "Tendrement", Deo Brondo's "Tous Pepele", and Montana Kamenga's "Love Story", among others.[135][137] Co-produced by David Monsoh and Nathalie Geslin through Next Music, the album won the Kora Award for Best African Group, shared with Ivorian ensemble Anti Palu. On 12 April, the group supported the album with a concert at the Zénith de Paris.[138] To further advance the album's promotion, Koffi and Quartier Latin embarked on a tour of the US and Canada.[139] The band also toured the Republic of Congo in late July 2003 to prepare for their participation in the Pan-African Music Festival, held jointly in Brazzaville and Kinshasa from 2 to 8 August. Koffi was awarded the "Kouyate Souri Kanta" for his performance.[139][140][141]
Following his North American tour, Koffi introduced his forthcoming album, Monde Arabe, during a concert in Kinshasa.[142] Many critics perceived the album as a direct commentary on the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the subsequent execution of Saddam Hussein. In an interview with the Beninese daily newspaper Fraternité, Koffi explained that the title Monde Arabe is a "Koffian" expression, meaning "eel under rock", and clarified that it "has nothing to do with Saddam Hussein or Bin Laden. It is in the spirit of the times to talk about the Arab World".[143] Initially slated for a December 2003 release, the record came out a year later. In the wake of SonoDisc's closure, Koffi self-produced the 18-track double album, which was distributed by Sonima.[144][143] It predominantly melded Congolese rumba with ndombolo.[143] Monde Arabe sparked a fashion trend called "Sabot Monde Arabe", which was a pair of round-toed slippers decorated with pearls, covering the phalanges and metatarsals of the foot.[145][146] However, one month after the album's debut, the Congolese Censorship Commission prohibited its three singles, "Alya", "Silivi", and "Esili", from airing on television due to perceived obscenities within the tracks.[147]
On 12 February 2005, Koffi took part in a Valentine's Day celebration with Quartier Latin at Maïsha Park in Kinshasa, also inviting musicians Tshala Muana and Madilu System onstage.[148] On 30 March, he performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London,[149] followed by performances at the Music Ebène Festival in Dakar, Senegal, in April, and at the fifth edition of Festival Panafricain de Musique in July.[150][151] On 4 December, Koffi won the Kora Lifetime Achievement Award in South Africa.[48]
On 5 December 2005, he released a two-track maxi single titled "Boma Nga N'Elengi" under Sonima Music.[44]
In September 2006, Koffi began recording Quartier Latin's seventh studio album, Danger de Mort, at Ndiaye studio in Kinshasa, while also producing an advertising single titled "Swi" for Bracongo.[152] Danger de Mort premiered on 13 October 2006 through Musicanova and was distributed by Sonima. It became Quartier Latin's final record, due to the consecutive departure of several members.[153][154][155] Koffi supported the album with a live show at Radio Television Groupe Avenir on 27 May 2007,[156] followed by a performance at the Zénith de Paris on 13 October 2007.[157]
In early 2008, Koffi announced that his forthcoming, yet-unnamed album was nearing completion and scheduled for release in May.[158] In an interview with Le Potentiel, he stated, "My album comes out around mid-May... It has no title. I simply signed it 'the priest's album'."[158] The record included several collaborations with Cindy Le Coeur. Koffi later teamed up with Youssou N'Dour on the single "Festival" and then toured Paris with various artists who had contributed to the album, such as Lokua Kanza, Olivier Tshimanga, Guillain Tamba, Mbetenge Claude Francois, Philippe Guez, Flavien Makabi, Binda Bass Simbu, and others.[158][159] In March, he began recording several music videos in Atlanta.[158] The record, finally titled Bord Ezanga Kombo, came out on 7 August 2008 under Diego Music and contained 17 tracks.[160][161] It heavily blended tcha tcho and Congolese rumba, including on songs like "Ikea", "Sixième Chantier", "BB Goût", "l'amour n'existe pas", "Plat Favori", "Soupou", "Ninelle", "Grand Prêtre Mère", "Lovemycine", and "Katagourouma".[160] Bord Ezanga Kombo sold 60,000 copies within four months and achieved a gold record.[162][163] To promote it, Koffi sold out the Palais de la Culture d'Abidjan and Complexe Sportif de Yopougon in Ivory Coast[164] and Centre Wallonie Bruxelles in Paris.[165][166] Bord Ezanga Kombo faced censorship by the DRC's Commission Nationale de Censure (national censorship commission) on 23 January 2009, who cited obscenities within certain tracks and music videos.[167][168][169] The ban was revoked on 23 February 2009.[170] Out of the album's 14 tracks, only six received the commission's approval for television broadcast, including "Grand Prêtre Mère", dedicated to Koffi's wife, along with "BB Goût", "Ikea", "Sixième Chantier", "Salopette", and "Festival".[170] In March 2009, Koffi participated in the World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar, Senegal, alongside Manu Dibango, Issa Hayatou, Aïcha Koné, Salif Keita, Akon, Pape Diouf, and Sepp Blatter.[171]
In September 2009, he was scheduled to perform at the opening of the 29th SADC summit but was excluded due to his non-participation in the summit's opening song, which was recorded in Kinshasa together with other Congolese artists.[172][173][174]
On 17 October 2009, Koffi performed at the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel,[175] in tribute to Franco Luambo, with a lineup of former OK Jazz members and contemporary rumba artists, including Malage de Lugendo, Papa Noël Nedule, Wuta Mayi, Edo Nganga, Michel Boyibanda, Jossart N'Yoka Longo, Bozi Boziana, Manda Chante, Papa Wemba, Tshala Muana, M'bilia Bel, Simaro Lutumba, and Bana Ok.[175] Later that same year, Koffi released the Sonima-produced seven-track extended play La Chicotte à Papa, which was distributed by Bana Music.[160]
In June 2011, Koffi's album Abracadabra was pirated before its planned release on 23 December 2011.[176][177][178] The music video for the album's lead single, "Double Mbonda", was broadcast clandestinely in certain bars, local channels, and on Trace Africa.[177][176] Koffi directly accused Les Combattants, a group of demonstrators against artists supporting president Joseph Kabila, of being behind the piracy. He alleged that they aimed to tarnish his musical career by disseminating all the songs across the internet.[179][180] His producer, Diego Music Lubaki, ultimately decided to release the album on 10 January 2012, as a countermeasure against piracy; Koffi also distributed his album for free in Kinshasa.[181][182] The record again faced accusations of indecency by the Kinshasa censorship commission.[182]
In May 2013, he commenced recording his upcoming album, 13ème Apôtre, at Studio Ndiaye in Gombe, shortly after establishing his record label, Koffi Central. He declared that 13ème Apôtre would be his career's 20th and final album.[183][184] He told Radio Okapi and La Prospérité that he sees himself as Jesus' thirteenth apostle and named the album accordingly.[185][186] He also expressed his belief that Black apostles are needed and referred to Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Léopold Sédar Senghor, Desmond Tutu, Bob Marley, and Muhammad Ali as people who could have been apostles of Jesus.[185][186] In October, Koffi guest-performed on Lady Ponce's single "Devine", which earned them the Best Collaboration at Kundé d'Or.[187][188][189] In mid-2014, he commenced filming music videos for select tracks and invited collaborators to partake.[190][191]
In October 2014, Congolese singer JB Mpiana publicly called Koffi "Old Ebola" after a financial dispute between the two. Koffi subsequently reclaimed the slur and displayed it on banners advertising his scheduled concert on 2 November, meant to promote 13ème Apôtre, without obtaining authorization from municipal authorities.[192][193] On 21 October, Kinshasa police arrested Koffi for mocking the international community's efforts to combat the hemorrhagic fever.[194][195]
Following his release by the police, Koffi issued the five-track EP Bana Zebola in June 2015.[196][35][185] 13ème Apôtre was officially published on 13 October 2015 through Koffi Central and contained 39 previously unreleased songs, with guest vocals by Evoloko Jocker, Ferré Gola, Fabregas Le Métis Noir, and Claudia Bakisa, as well as backing vocals by Arca Dinero, Cindy Le Coeur, DVD Musica, and Omba Lipasa.[197][186][198] Koffi also signed a copy of the album for President Joseph Kabila, per the latter's request.[186] 13ème Apôtre sold over 22,000 copies in one day and 46,000 copies within a week.[198][185] It topped the charts, debuting at No. 1 on the French iTunes and peaking at No. 15 in the iTunes World ranking. The lead single, "Selfie" (alternately known as "Ekoti té"), became a viral sensation, with over a million views on YouTube in just three weeks.[199][200] The hashtag #OpérationSelfie gained traction across various social media platforms and was embraced by celebrities such as French singer Matt Pokora, Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba, and French-Congolese footballer Blaise Matuidi.[201][200][199] In recognition of his triumphs, Trace Africa dedicated the month of October to Koffi.[202] Several programs were aired, retracing his lifetime journey. The French channels TV5Monde and France 24, along with media outlets in Canada, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Senegal, the UK, and the US also covered the "Selfie" phenomenon.[202]
Following a one-year hiatus from music, Koffi resurfaced and announced to La Prospérité that a new album, Nyataquance, was nearing completion. He also told the press that he was actively working on an eponymous lead single.[203] He issued the single on 8 March 2017, on International Women's Day.[204] After the album's publication via Koffi Central, Leo Pajon reviewed it for Jeune Afrique and described it as Koffi's plea for "forgiveness" from women.[204] In an interview with Cameroon Radio Television, Koffi stated, "Many women are angry with me; I wanted to ask them for forgiveness". The album includes the single "Pardon", a paean to women, which also pays homage to his father, daughter, mother, and wife.[204] To further support the album, Koffi organized a Women's Day concert at Hôtel Invest in Kinshasa, a joint performance with Fally Ipupa.[205]
Koffi's live album Le Live, produced by Koffi Central and distributed by Cantos Music, was headlined with a concert in Kinshasa on 22 March 2018 and featured a teaser performance of his upcoming single "Papa Mobimba".[206] The performance quickly went viral across social media, sparking the "Papa Mobimba" dance challenge, where numerous online personalities emulated the dance and challenged others to join.[207][208] The song premiered at number two on Music in Africa's list of "Top 10 hits that made people dance in 2018".[209] In June 2018, he premiered the single "Ba-esclaves", in which he castigates his critics.[210] The song swiftly gained nationwide popularity and was also recognized among Music in Africa's "Top 5 Best Rumba Songs in 2018".[210]
Koffi was scheduled to perform in Johannesburg on 28 June 2019, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, and in Cape Town on 30 June, at the Shimmy Beach Club.[211][212] However, the concerts were called off in light of accusations levied against him for "violence against women and gender-related violence".[211] He subsequently visited the European Parliament in Brussels in January 2020 to present his foundation, Frères de Terre, which assists disadvantaged populations in the DRC.[213]
In March 2020, he released the single "Coronavirus Assassin" to urge people to stay indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.[214] Sung in Lingala and French,[214] the song attributed the pandemic to the "anger of God".[215]
On 30 November, Koffi guest-performed on Diamond Platnumz's ndombolo-inspired single "Waah", which rapidly garnered unprecedented acclaim by becoming the first Sub-Saharan African song to amass two million views on YouTube within 24 hours.[216][217][218][219] "Waah" went viral on social media platforms, attaining continent-wide success, and was endorsed by various celebrities and politicians, including a performance by Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and his spouse, Margaret Kenyatta.[220][221]
Koffi was slated to perform at Paris La Défense Arena on 13 February 2021,[222][223] but the event was postponed to 27 November 2021.[223][224] One month before the rescheduled date, the event was canceled due to the ongoing global pandemic.[223][225] Earlier that February, he appeared on Nandy's Bongo Flava- and ndombolo-influenced single "Leo Leo".[226] On 17 April, Koffi premiered "Mon Amour", a rumba-infused single featuring Cameroonian singer Charlotte Dipanda.[227] On 21 November 2021, Koffi was the recipient of the Legend Award at the All Africa Music Awards.[228] He then held two concerts in Goma, DRC, to commemorate Quartier Latin's 35th anniversary, with proceeds going to "victims of rebel attacks and natural disasters".[229] On 17 March 2022, he collaborated with Félix Wazekwa, Flaety W. Manuke, Lokua Kanza, Kadiyoyo, JB Mpiana, Barbara Kanam, Cindy Le Cœur, Héritier Watanabe, Laetitia Lokua, Adolphe Dominguez, Werrason, Lemiran LEM, Kristy Diamond, Ferré Gola, and Innoss'B on "Leopards Fimbu International", a song supporting the DR Congo national football team, "Les Léopards", during the 2022 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers play-off phase.[230][231]
On 25 November 2022, Koffi released the first volume of his album Légende Ed. Diamond, which consists of 14 tracks blending traditional Congolese rumba, ndombolo, and hip hop.[232][233][234] A review on Akum Radio FM described it as a "cultural broth that brings together all age groups".[235] Légende Ed. Diamond debuted at number one on the French iTunes charts in the World Music category, only one day after its release.[236] To promote the album, Koffi convened a "Release Party" at the Fleuve Congo Hotel in Kinshasa, where he invited journalists and YouTube influencers for a live broadcast.[237]
On 3 February 2023, Koffi reconciled with his erstwhile rival Félix Wazekwa, collaborating on the Congolese rumba-infused single "Eau Pure", marking the end of a protracted feud that had characterized the Congolese music scene.[238] On 16 August, Koffi appeared on Diamond Platnumz's single "Achii", tinged with Bongo Flava and soukous, and performed in Lingala, Swahili, and English.[239] The song rapidly amassed one million YouTube views in 24 hours and peaked at number four among Congo's most-viewed YouTube videos, with 813,000 views by September of that year.[240][241][242]
Koffi began working on Légende Ed. Diamond's second volume, Légende Millénium, in early 2020.[243] However, the record was withheld by the German label Goldman Music and instead clandestinely distributed on various music platforms on 17 December 2021.[244][245][246] It was to feature guest artists such as Tiwa Savage, Fally Ipupa, Gally Garvey, Ninho, Damso, Gaz Mawete, Hiro Le Coq, Davido, and Innoss'B.[247][248][227] During his guest appearance on the political forum Bosolo Na Politiki on YouTube in October 2023, Koffi revealed that he had encountered difficulties in procuring a producer for Légende Millénium in Paris due to adverse publicity from another Congolese artist regarding his criminal past, which precipitated his contractual engagement with Goldman Music in exchange for financial backing.[244] Nonetheless, the label clandestinely distributed Légende Millénium on various music platforms.[244] Seven months later, on 21 June 2024, Koffi finally released the second volume of Légende Ed. Diamond, renamed Platinum.[32] It featured 43 tracks and included guest appearances by Soolking, Innoss'B, Kaaris, Davido, Gradur, Gally Garvey, and Gaz Mawete.[32][249]
In 2003, Koffi's album Affaire d'Etat flaunted his previous Kora Awards and taunted JB Mpiana for being less successful.[137] Meanwhile, some fans of Wenge Musica Maison Mère contended that Quartier Latin plagiarized Werrason's allegorical tale of mboloko (hare) and mbwa (dog).[137] There were also further allegations that the album's cover and introductory segment bore resemblances to Werrason's 2002 Zenith de Paris performance.[137]
In May 2005, Koffi stirred up controversy while marketing his album Monde Arabe by adopting the sobriquet "Benedict XVI". Despite the latter's recent appointment as head of the Catholic Church, the move was "strongly" censured by the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which deemed it discourteous towards the pontiff.[250][251]
In early March 2009, a feud erupted between Koffi and his former bandleader and mentor Papa Wemba when the latter verbally assaulted Koffi during a YouTube interview on the show Chez Francis.[252] Papa Wemba alleged that Koffi pirated the album Wake Up.[252] Koffi filed a complaint against Papa Wemba at the Ngaliema Peace Court in Kinshasa for "damaging his reputation". Following the second hearing on 19 March, Papa Wemba faced a potential sentence of eight days to six months in prison for slander under the DRC law.[252][253] The prosecution sought an estimated one million dollars.[252] However, Koffi withdrew his complaint on 25 March.[254]
In early November 2017, Koffi was verbally attacked by Ferré Gola during a YouTube interview.[255][256] Koffi filed a complaint against Ferré Gola for insult and defamation. On 21 November, Ferré Gola was held in custody for 24 hours in Gombe, Kinshasa.[256] However, on 22 November, the judicial court found no evidence for Koffi's complaint, and Ferré Gola was released.[256][257]
On 6 July 2024, during an appearance on the program Le Panier, the Morning Show, hosted by journalist Jessy Kabasele Mbuyi at Radio-Télévision nationale congolaise (RTNC), Koffi made contentious statements regarding the ongoing Kivu conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, between Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and Congolese government forces.[258][259] He expressed his perspective, stating,
"There is no war. We are beaten. We are slapped. They impose their will upon us. I witnessed the trucks of these people arriving unchallenged. I observed our soldiers engaging in combat on motorcycles. It brought me to tears. There is no war. We are infantilized. War is when they shoot, and we retaliate".[258]
His remarks were deemed "denigrating and demobilizing" towards the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication (CSAC), as per the directive of the president of the CSAC, Christian Bosembe Lokando.[258][260] Consequently, the program was suspended by RTNC's general director Sylvie Elenge Nyembo.[261][262][260] Mbuyi disavowed Koffi's statements through a public statement on Twitter, emphasizing that they did not align with his views on the conflict.[263] Both Koffi and Mbuyi were summoned to CSAC headquarters in Kinshasa on 11 July.[264][265]
During the hearing, Koffi elucidated his controversial statements and conceded to having made hyperbolic remarks by questioning the existence of the conflict in the eastern DRC.[266] No criminal proceedings were instituted against him in connection with his appearance on the television program.[267][268]
In February 2012, Koffi fled Paris, where he had been indicted for the rape and kidnapping of three ex-dancers from his Quartier Latin International.[269]
In August 2012, he was arrested at the Ndiaye music studio in Kinshasa, following a fracas with his producer, Diego Music Lubaki, over charges of assault and battery stemming from an altercation at the Venus Hotel.[270][271] He was tried at the Tribunal de Paix de Gombe. At issue was a debt of €3,000 that Diego Music owed to Koffi. The latter instead claimed €6,000 during the legal proceedings.[270] All parties agreed that Koffi did go to the hotel to claim his debt from Lubaki. Each party, in turn, levied accusations of aggression against the other during their testimonies before the magistrates.[270] The physical encounter damaged Lubaki's room door, and some hotel property was broken. Three witnesses, all hotel employees, gave their statements against Koffi, but their testimonies lacked consistency.[270]
Ultimately, the judge adjudicated the charge of assault and battery against Koffi, doling out a sentence of three months, which was suspended after the court found the accusation of "malicious destruction" unproven, particularly regarding the alleged destruction of the door lock to the room where Lubaki was staying. The latter, opting for reconciliation, withdrew his complaint, thus preferring to settle the matter amicably.[270]
In July 2016, while on a concert trip in Kenya,[272] Koffi was caught on camera kicking one of his female dancers. The action was widely condemned and led to the suspension of his performance after the video went viral.[273] Koffi was arrested five days later at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, allegedly for the same unpunished action.[274][275] He was subsequently jailed for five days without judgement and released with no explanation. However, it was later revealed that the former Congolese First Lady, Olive Lembe di Sita, was behind the arrest, as she was an advocate for women's protection against violence and rape.[276][277][278]
On 28 December 2012, Koffi reportedly assaulted Rwandan photojournalist Jean Nepomuscene Ndayisenga at a gig held at the Taj Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka, Zambia.[279][280] Koffi was alleged to have kicked Ndayisenga in the face as he tried to take photographs of the singer after a performance at the venue.[281][279] Ndayisenga further asserted that his left middle finger was fractured, and his camera lens was damaged.[279] Despite Koffi's subsequent apology, Ndayisenga pursued legal recourse.[280] On 27 December 2017, Ndayisenga petitioned the Director of Public Prosecutions, seeking authorization to initiate a private prosecution against Koffi for assault and unlawful bodily harm, which was granted in correspondence dated 12 January 2018.[282]
The issue resurfaced in July 2018, when it was publicized that Koffi was slated to perform in Lusaka and Kitwe.[282] Consequently, Ndayisenga sought an adjournment from the court to facilitate the service of a summons on Koffi upon his arrival in Zambia on 26 July, with a court appearance scheduled for 27 July.[282] However, on 20 July, the Zambia Police Service, through the Department of Public Relations, issued a statement confirming that Koffi was permitted to perform in Zambia, as there was no international arrest warrant against him.[283][282] The case was subsequently dismissed due to insufficient evidence.[282]
On 21 September 2018, Koffi was expected to appear before a judge, but he failed to attend the court session.[279] As a result, magistrate Mwandu Sakala issued a warrant for his arrest, yet Koffi departed Zambia without impediment.[279][284]
In 2019, he was found guilty by a French court of statutory rape of one of his former dancers, when she was 15 years old. He was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence in absentia, as he did not attend court in France.[285][284]
Two of his concerts in South Africa were canceled due to the offense.[211] In September, the DRC's censorship commission banned his songs and performances, claiming that he had shown disregard for the commission's mandate, which requires "prior written authorization" for the broadcast of artistic works, as stipulated by a 1996 statute aimed at preventing the incitement of "racial or tribal hatred" and safeguarding societal norms. As a result, many television stations refrained from airing his eight singles from the Nyataquance album.[286][287]
On 25 October 2021, Koffi appeared at the Versailles Court of Appeal in Paris.[288][289] During the hearing, the prosecutor requested an eight-year sentence, while Koffi's lawyers pleaded for release.[290] The court adjourned the proceedings and scheduled deliberation on 13 December.[288] Koffi was subsequently acquitted of the sexual assault charges but was sentenced to 18 months in jail with a three-year probationary suspension for the sequestration charges.[291][292] The acquittal was given "with the benefit of the doubt", as there were "evolving, sometimes contradictory statements" from the complainants.[293]
On 3 May 2003, sixteen people were reported dead at the Stade de l'Amitié in Cotonou, Benin, during Koffi's performance, caused by crowd crush.[294] Le Phare's reported that the concert was poorly coordinated, lacking adequate security and proper podium setup.[295] Critically, only one out of fifteen stadium entrances was accessible, as the venue was undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2005 African Youth Championship, making it unsuitable for Koffi's concert.[295][296] Koffi later paid tribute to the victims with his single "Les Martyrs du Tchatcho".[297]
Koffi has been married three times and has several children with different women. His first spouse was Marianne Makosso, with whom he had two children.[298][299][300] He subsequently had three children with his second wife, Stephanie Godee.[301][298]
Koffi began dating his third wife, Aliane, a former French model, in the early 1990s, in Paris. They got married on 15 April 1994, in a small Congolese community in Paris, and have three children together.[298][302] He has dedicated several songs to Aliane, including "Miss des Miss", from the album Noblesse Oblige (1993), "12ème Dan" from Abracadabra (2012), and "Alidor", from Nyataquance (2017).[303] Their daughter, Didi-Stone Naïke, is a fashion model and social media personality.[298][304] She has been featured on numerous fashion and lifestyle magazine covers, including Vogue, Grazia, and Vanity Fair. She was named L'Oréal Paris Ambassador for France in 2020 and a national ambassador for UNICEF on International Women's Day in 2022.[298]
After 27 years of marriage, Aliane filed for divorce in 2021 in Paris, after months of rumors in the Congolese press about their marital conflicts.[305] Their divorce was finalized in 2022, after a year of legal proceedings in Bobigny.[305]
Koffi was alleged to have had an extramarital relationship with a soprano vocalist in his band, Cindy Le Coeur, since 2013, while still married to Aliane.[306][307] Rumors began circulating in 2017 that Le Coeur had a child with Koffi.[306]
In 2020, Koffi expressed his interest in becoming the chief of staff for Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi after Vital Kamerhe's legal issues.[308] In July 2021, he became an executive member of the Alliance des Forces Démocratiques du Congo (AFDC), a political party led by the president of the Senate, Modeste Bahati Lukwebo.[309][308][310]
On 9 February 2022, Tshisekedi appointed Koffi as a cultural ambassador of the nation with a diplomatic passport, making him the third Congolese solo musical artist to receive this honor, after Maître Gim and Dadju.[311][312][313] Koffi was tasked with representing Congolese culture beyond its borders.[314][315] On 24 February, Catherine Kathungu Furaha, the Minister of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, met with Koffi to discuss the ministry's plan and strategy to promote Congolese culture through his ambassadorship title.[316][317]
In March 2024, Koffi announced his candidacy in the senatorial elections in the Sud-Ubangi constituency, which were scheduled to take place on 21 April 2024.[318][319] However, on 29 April, he withdrew from the race, citing fraudulent processes and not wanting to participate in what he called a "sham vote".[320][321][322][323]
Koffi is one of the most popular African musicians of all time.[324][325] He has helped boost the careers of numerous up-and-coming artists, some of whom originally played in his Quartier Latin ensemble and later went solo, such as Fele Mudogo, Sam Tshintu, Suzuki Luzubu 4x4, Soleil Wanga, Bouro Mpela, Fally Ipupa, Montana Kamenga, and Ferré Gola.[326][327][328]
Koffi is one of the best-selling artists in Africa. He has won six Kora Awards, four of them in a single evening, for his album Effrakata, making him the only African artist to achieve this milestone.[329][330][331] He is also the only Congolese solo artist whose work is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[83][85]
| Year | Event | Prize | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Africar Music Awards | Best Male Singer | Himself | Won | [35][332] |
| 1994 | Africar Music Awards | Best Music Video | "V12" | Won | [35][333][44] |
| 1998 | Kora Awards | Best Male of Central Africa | Himself | Won | [334][335] |
| 2002 | Kora Awards | Best Male of Central Africa | Himself | Won | [135][136] |
| 2002 | Kora Awards | Best Video of Africa | "Effrakata" | Won | [135][136] |
| 2002 | Kora Awards | Best Arrangement of Africa | Quartier Latin International | Won | [135][136] |
| 2002 | Kora Awards | Jury Special Award | Himself | Won | [135][136] |
| 2005 | Kora Awards | LifeTime Achievement Award | Himself | Won | [336][337] |
| 2007 | IRAWMA Awards | Best Soukous Entertainer | Himself | Won | [338] |
| 2009 | IRAWMA Awards | Best Soukous Entertainer | Himself | Nominated | [339] |
| 2014 | Kundé d'Or | Best Collaboration | "Devine" (with Lady Ponce) | Nominated | [188][189] |
| 2017 | Canal 2'Or | Best African Artist | Himself | Nominated | [340] |
| 2021 | Prix Lokumu | Best Collaboration | "Ndoto" (with Majoos) | Won | [341][342] |
| 2021 | AFRIMA | Best Duo in African Contemporary music | "Ndoto" (with Majoos) | Won | [228] |
| 2021 | AFRIMA | Best Male in Central Africa | Himself | Nominated | [228] |
| 2021 | AFRIMA | Best African Collaboration | "Waah" (with Diamond Platnumz) | Nominated | [228] |
| 2021 | AFRIMA | Best Duo in African Dance or Choreography | "Waah" (with Diamond Platnumz) | Nominated | [228] |
| 2021 | AFRIMA | Song of the Year | "Waah" (with Diamond Platnumz) | Nominated | [228] |
| 2021 | AFRIMA | Legend Award | Himself | Won | [228] |
| 2021 | HAPA Awards | Legendary Award | Himself | Won | [343][344] |
| 2023 | Les Congolais de Lille | Prix d'honneur | Himself | Won | [345] |
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