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Papa Wemba's show
The congolese singer in france for a special New Year's Eve concert
Paris
31/12/2001 -
Papa Wemba recently resurfaced on the international music scene on the Spirit of Africa AIDs fund-raising compilation (Real World). But now he's turned his attention to his own solo career once again, recording a new album entitled Bakala Dia Kuba (released on Next Music). And on New Year's Eve he's set to kick up a storm at Bercy with songs from his new album, a host of special guest stars and – as if that were not enough - the election of "Miss Africa Europe"!
On Tuesday December 11th, twenty days before Bercy D-Day, Papa Wemba left his home in Paris and flew out to Kinshasa to present a preview of his New Year's Eve show to the Congolese media. Needless to say, his arrival at the flight check-in counter at Roissy caused a furore, as hundreds of music fans crowded round to snap up one of the souvenir scarves Papa handed out as pre-Christmas gifts. Emblazoned with colourful effigies of Papa, the scarves were printed with inscriptions in French, Lingala, Swahili, Kimongo, Bokul and Kilari, proclaiming "Papa Wemba à Bercy", "Kolo histoire" (History's Creator), "Mwalimu"(The Master), Fulangenge (Star Shooter), Mzee (The Old One), Bokulaka (The Elder) and Ekumani (The Great One) - as Papa Wemba is variously known to fans in Kinshasa!
Papa's bags were also packed with stacks of souvenir plates to give to fans back home. For, make no mistake about it, the singer's trip back to Kinshasa was masterminded as a veritable comeback campaign. OK, so the Congolese music scene might currently be dominated by the likes of Werrason, J.B. Mpiana, Adolphe Dominguez, Wazekwa and Koffi Olomidé, but Papa was about to prove he was still a name to be reckoned with too! And, what's more, he had his new album and mega-show at Bercy to prove it! 
Papa Wemba recently resurfaced on the international music scene on the Spirit of Africa AIDs fund-raising compilation (Real World). But now he's turned his attention to his own solo career once again, recording a new album entitled Bakala Dia Kuba (released on Next Music). And on New Year's Eve he's set to kick up a storm at Bercy with songs from his new album, a host of special guest stars and – as if that were not enough - the election of "Miss Africa Europe"!
On Tuesday December 11th, twenty days before Bercy D-Day, Papa Wemba left his home in Paris and flew out to Kinshasa to present a preview of his New Year's Eve show to the Congolese media. Needless to say, his arrival at the flight check-in counter at Roissy caused a furore, as hundreds of music fans crowded round to snap up one of the souvenir scarves Papa handed out as pre-Christmas gifts. Emblazoned with colourful effigies of Papa, the scarves were printed with inscriptions in French, Lingala, Swahili, Kimongo, Bokul and Kilari, proclaiming "Papa Wemba à Bercy", "Kolo histoire" (History's Creator), "Mwalimu"(The Master), Fulangenge (Star Shooter), Mzee (The Old One), Bokulaka (The Elder) and Ekumani (The Great One) - as Papa Wemba is variously known to fans in Kinshasa!
Papa's bags were also packed with stacks of souvenir plates to give to fans back home. For, make no mistake about it, the singer's trip back to Kinshasa was masterminded as a veritable comeback campaign. OK, so the Congolese music scene might currently be dominated by the likes of Werrason, J.B. Mpiana, Adolphe Dominguez, Wazekwa and Koffi Olomidé, but Papa was about to prove he was still a name to be reckoned with too! And, what's more, he had his new album and mega-show at Bercy to prove it!
Meanwhile, crowds of fans had assembled in the courtyard outside Papa's house and, despite the insistent African rain, were dancing away to the band's compelling drum beats. As the concert progressed and the raindrops slowed from torrential downpour to drizzle to clear skies, Papa's dance troupe joined the crowd outside, throwing themselves into their sexy choreographed routine.
Papa's concert went on until the sun came down, after which he and his entourage were whisked off to a press conference at the Grand Hotel downtown. The conference proved to be a lively affair, journalists batting back and forth between 16 controversial questions - after all, this is a country where everyone enjoys a spot of polemic and heated debate! (And it was certainly no coincidence that that night's edition of Ndule, the national cultural news was dominated by a feud between Ferre de Wenge and Felix Wazekwa!)
Papa's press conference at the Grand Hotel certainly lived up to the Congolese love of debate. When one journalist asked why a special peace concert in Kinshasa was being organised by the United Nations, rather than a local Congolese star, Papa promptly retorted, "Look, it's about time you changed the language you use in your TV programmes and press articles, you know. Our country's going through a difficult period of transition right now and we need to stick together and present a united front!"
However, polemic and controversial Wemba rhetoric aside, Papa's return to his homeland gave everyone an excuse to get together over a celebratory PRIMUS beer (known locally as the beer of the "Popular Revolutionaries Involved in the Drunkards' Union"). After all, as the old Kinshasa saying goes: Zua yango na esprit ya bien - always look on the bright side of life!" We couldn't agree more!
Patrick Labesse
Translation: Julie Street
24/10/2003 -
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