Dream Quartet: Papa Wemba, Madilu, Lenga Lenga and Kester Emeneya

ZAIKO GENERATION: 
Imagine at the time when Zaiko Langa Langa that you would be building a dynasty of many groups and musicians that you see. Whether they are big stars or not, they made a huge mark on Congolese music. It is where you had the best nzonzing records and collaboration records. 

I selected four singers that would sing perfectly together. I don't know why no one was able to get these four men together during 1989 to 1991 period. Whom did I choose.

Papa Wemba Le Nkuru

Madilu System Le Grand Ninja

Lenga Lenga Ya Lengos

Kester Emeneya King Kester 

These four men would have been perfect for a nzonzing project. But why? I am speaking of 1989. First of all, most of them were in Europe during that time. Also, they did not seem so occupied and were enjoying life in Europe. Lenga Lenga was also free from Zaiko Langa Langa. He had his own version called Zaiko Familia Dei. Papa Wemba did a tour around America but he did not have a overwhelming demanding schedule. Kester Emeneya already was enjoying of his successes with songs like Nzinzi. He was in Paris. Madilu himself had left OKJ and was just having fun in Europe after his work with Josky as well as Zaiko animator Adoula with Carlyto and Malage. 

Musically, these men would be perfect together. I will give three reasons.

1) Three of them came from Tabu Ley singing school. Tabu Ley had a major influence on Madilu, Kester Emeneya and Papa Wemba. Lenga Lenga sounded very similar to Nyoka Longo. 

2) None of them sound similar. Their voices are so distinct from one another that you can always alternate vocals with absolute ease. 

3)Zaiko influence is all over of them even they make their own marks on their own songs. Whether Vocally or Musically. 

These men should have done an album together with 6 songs with 2 songs of Rumba (one from Papa Wemba and one from Madilu) and 4 songs of Soukous or Rumba/Sebene. These songs would have been successful because I know Clan Zaiko fans would have been dancing. You would have many journalists and fans alike making buzz about this great project. 

There is one song that would have been great for these four men. 

KIMPIATU by Kester Emeneya and his band Victoria Elesien 

Several Versions 

Original Version

Second Version 

Live Versions 

This song would have been the best record for the four men to remix because the harmonies between Lenga Lenga, Madilu and Papa Wemba would have had a great harmony with Papa Wemba singing high while Madilu singing in the middle and Lenga Lenga singing low. Kester Emeneya would have done well with his solo vocals. Before the beautiful harmonies of the trio in the song, Kester and Papa Wemba do their harmony at the beginning of the song. 

Dream Trio: Kester Emeneya, Madilu and Papy Tex

Hello everyone. I got a Papy Tex special for everyone's heart. I will do a dream trio. I have found two singers that should have sung with Papy Tex on a nzonzing record if you were asking me. 

They are late second voice singers King Kester Emeneya and Grand Ninja Madilu System. These men would have been perfect candidates for a Papy Tex nzonzing record. Think of how much control that Papy would have with these two men at his side. Since he is tenor, he would able to get these men straight to his ears on how he wants them to sing. Kester and Madilu were second voice singers. I am sure that they would have worked hard to please Papy Tex. 

Papy Tex is actually a good composer as a singer. He knows how to make good melody as a composer. Kester and Madilu would have enjoyed Papy's ability of making great melody with his artistic skills.

Kester Emeneya apparently took some influence from Papy Tex and he used some of his emotional gimmicks for his singing.  

Madilu definitively fitted well with Papy's voice much more than anyone else including Pepe Kalle though Papy and Pepe were a great duo. Hear the song Plus Jamais, you will get my point from there. Madilu and Papy Tex were a better musical match than Madilu was with Nyboma. 

One song that would have been perfect for them would have been Phono where Kester would give a more different take on his anger towards Jimmy Mukelenge who was the main subject of the original song Phono. Kester would do the co-vocals while Madilu and Papy Tex would harmonize perfectly. 

Do you think Kester-Madilu-Papy Tex would have been a perfect trio or not? I say yes. 

Dream Duet: Kester Emeneya and Tabu Ley

This should have been a duo years ago. To this day, I don't why no one got these men from bandundu to sing together. Mr. Tipo Tipo was an idiot for not getting this men to do a song together whether singing solos or singing a choir together. I don't how that it did not go in his album. 

I am speaking of Kester Emeneya and Tabu Ley. I know they performed together live but I am super shocked that they never did a song together. This would have been the great duo to do a song together. 

These two artists are both from bandundu but they are different singers but they were into Soukous music and appreciated Rumba music. 

People will think that Tabu Ley and Kester Emeneya would have never sounded good together. I disagree and I got a video to prove my point. 

Look here

Tell me again that these two would have never been good together. Please watch that video and tell me again that they would have never been good together. 

It enrages me so much that we never got a proper duet of these men together. It would have been a great song of these two men together. 

But then again these men did perform together in 2002. Their performance will remain as one of the best performances to come in Congolese music. 

Dream Quartet: Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba, Kester Emeneya, Reddy Amisi

Great quartet that should have came long time ago when these four stars were at their peak. 

Viva La Musica leader Papa Wemba with his former singers Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide and Reddy Amisi. 

I am surprised that during the Wake Up period, no producer attempted to get Papa Wemba with Koffi Olomide, Reddy Amisi and King Kester Emeneya to do a song together or songs together. Why do I say this?

Because it was at the time when these four people were at their great success and Clan Wenge was not quite big just yet. Papa Wemba had a classic period and since he was doing work with Koffi, it should have made sense to put Kester and Reddy to tag along with them. 

I know these four singers would have fitted together very well in a given song. They could have done some remix songs of their classics during the days of Viva La Musica. 

I am sure that some of Koffi's classic songs would have fitted well with Reddy, Kester and Wemba. Think of Tokosuka wapi, Papa Bonheur, Synza, Lady Bo or Ngoliba. 

Or better, it could be with Reddy Amisi with his solo albums where he could do a song or songs with Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba singing alongside him or he could do solo vocals with choirs of Emeneya, Mzee Fula Ngenge and Mopao Mokonzi. They actually sounded beautiful together as a choir group. Listen to Synza, you will see the beautiful choir of these three singers. That would have been a great choice as a choir group alongside with soothing vocals of Reddy Amisi. 

That is my feeling about what never happened of this dream quartet. 

Dream Duet: Kester Emeneya, Youlou Mabiala

Hello people. I am ready for another dream duet that should have been in Congolese Music that never happened. 

This is the edition of King Kester Emeneya the leader of Victoria Elesien and Youlou Mabiala the leader of Kamikaze Loningisa. These two should have been duet partners in my eyes. 

This is part of tribute to King Kester Emeneya. 

Part of the reason is that Kester Emeneya's singing with Malage de Lugendo is pretty impressive. Their chemistry is so strong and people can notice the incredible power of Malage and Kester's voices together. 

Actually Malage de Lugendo sounds somewhat similar to Youlou Mabiala. Only unfortunately, his voice is bit lighter and softer than Youlou's kind of voice. 

Youlou Mabiala would be a good partner to Kester Emeneya for another reason, I got three reasons:
1) Youlou has appreciated some good baritone voice 
2) Kester loves complex high sounding singers. Listen to him singing with Papa Wemba 
3) Kester and Youlou would be able to not miss bit as they sing together 

Youlou has sang with someone who kind of has the sound of Kester Emeneya but sounds more like Josky Kiambukuta. His name is Toupi Toukal. When I hear him sometimes, I think of Josky Kiambukuta but I also think a little about Kester Emeneya. 

The voices of Malage de Lugendo and Toupi Toukal convinces me that I believe that Kester Emeneya and Youlou Mabiala would be a perfect duo. 

I know that fans would be so happy if these two had done a song or songs together. 

Dream Trio: Defao, Kester Emeneya, Werrason

Hello friends, I am ready to do a dream trio that some people will hate with passion. Deep passion but I will do it. 

I am going to do a dream trio that should have happened with the Generation Zaiko with Generation Wenge. I am talking about Le Grand General Defao, King Kester Emeneya, and Roi de forêt Werrason. These three would have been the great trio in the age of Wenge and Zaiko. Why? 

I will give some reasons
1) Werrason is not a great singer but he can sing well in a structured choir 
2) Kester Emeneya is so diverse with his voice that it can move in any direction that you see fit
3) Kester Emeneya and Werrason sound similar but you can put them in different roles regarding choirs.
4) Defao can add the energy with choir alongside Kester Emeneya and Werrason
5) Defao sounds like Pepe Kalle 
6) It can act like Empire Bakuba 

If this trio existed, you would see Empire Bakuba like voices in a given song. But there is a twist. Usually Pepe Kalle and Dilu Dilumona are the low range singers but this case the "Pepe Kalle" and "Dilu Dilumona" are a bit different. Defao would play the Dilu Dilumona role and Werrason would play the Pepe Kalle role while Kester Emeneya would play the Papy Tex. Kester is able to sing high notes better than the other two, so he would be the "high range" singer. 

I am not saying that Werrason sounds like Pepe Kalle nor Defao sounds like Dilu Dilumona or Kester Emeneya sounds like Papy Tex. But I am only speaking how they would likely sing if they sang together in a song or songs. However as I said before, Defao sounds similar to Pepe Kalle. Dilu Dilumona did sing on a Defao song which he sang alongside Likinga Redo. 

Now Defao did work with Werrason on his Bana Congo album and Werrason also worked with Kester Emeneya on a song from the album "Toujours Humble". Though Werrason did not sing alongside with them, I do think if they did sing all together, it would be a well arranged choir. That is my opinion. 

My take on Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide, and Papa Wemba together

Hello my followers. I am back a little bit. Just got back in the mood of school and it will take more time for some while. I am going to cover the trio edition of three stars that did sing together during their earlier careers and one was clearly the star of the trio. 

I am speaking the trio-ship of Kester Emeneya "King Kester", Koffi Olomide "Mopao Mokonzi" and Papa Wemba "Vieux Bokul". These three stars of DRC Congo "Zaire" are very known in the Congolese Community of today in Congo and Diaspora alike. However some have no idea that actually they were all together at one point. 

Papa Wemba has had his group Viva La Musica since 1977. When Papa Wemba was 28 years old. He was a member of Zaiko Langa Langa before doing Yokele and eventually doing his home base of Viva La Musica which is Spanish for Music Lives or Long Live Music or Live Music. Two of the many members of this band are known legends today. 

Kester Emeneya and Koffi Olomide. Both came to the band in 1977. Well Kester came from University of Lubumbashi and Koffi was a struggling songwriter who was not accepted by his idol Tabu Ley and Franco. Once they came to Viva La Musica, they were big in the group. In fact they contributed the most compare to other important members like Djuna Djanana, Dindo Yogo, Esperent Kisangani, Fafa de Molaki and Debaba. Kester Emeneya went on to form his band Victoria Elesien. Koffi Olomide and Debaba would come to form Historia Musica before Koffi found his base with Quartier Latin. But unfortunately these three stars's relationship was never the same and they would enter into big conflicts. Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba all had a fallout with each-other. But Kester and Koffi had strong hatred for Papa Wemba. 

KOFFI OLOMIDE VS PAPA WEMBA
Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba, it is known that they are not good friends anymore and have not since 1996. Their feud started when Koffi claimed that Wemba took all the money of the success of their album Wake Up. Of course Wemba was rightfully mad. Also Koffi was spreading rumors that Wemba envied him and wanted to be him. Papa Wemba had enough and harshly attacked him on his album "Fula Ngenge" where he got the name "Mzee Fula Ngenge". Koffi responded on the album Attenant which the generique mocked him and others as well. Their feud never and has not ended at all. In fact recently in 2009, A Koffi Olomide person sued Papa Wemba over "defamation" and money issues. Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba were fighting in court several times. They resolved in late 2009. But clearly as far as having friendships, it is pretty much over and they will stay as enemies. 

KESTER EMENEYA VS PAPA WEMBA
Kester Emeneya and Papa Wemba were beefing primarily because Papa Wemba was becoming adventurous and Wemba was not focused on being the leader. I mean that must have been the feeling of Kester Emeneya. After all, Djuna Djanana and Dindo Yogo left to join Langa Langa Stars of the overrated star Evoloko Jocker. When Wemba did his adventure with Franco and Wendo Kolosoy, Kester Emeneya decided to make his group with other unhappy Viva La Musica musicians to form Victoria Elesien. But for Wemba, Kester's departure was little to none as he got other singers that would be more useful in Wemba's eyes. They were Luciana, Stino Mubi, and Remmy Amisi. In fact Stino Mubi and Reddy Amisi would become the important faces of the Viva La Musica when Papa Wemba would not be around. However their relation never improved. In fact I personally believe that Kester Emeneya's song Okosi Ngai Mfumu is a reference to Wemba. It is the idea that Wemba deceived him into believing that everything would be great when it turned out to be total mess. Kester Emeneya must have held a big grudge for Papa Wemba. He had some good reasons. As it turns out that one of the ex wives of Kester slept with Wemba. Oh boy. For years, Kester would throw some jabs at Papa Wemba. But Papa Wemba never responded. In fact Wemba tried to reconcile several times. But it had no success. Kester never wanted to reconcile with Wemba since he felt that Wemba hurted him so bad. They ended in pretty bad terms. When Kester died, Papa Wemba made a tribute song for him called Blessure. It must have hurted Wemba since he could never reconcile truly with his singer Kester Emeneya. 

KESTER EMENEYA VS KOFFI OLOMIDE
Although this one is minor, there was a definite fallout between Kester Emeneya and Koffi Olomide. After Koffi began to get fame around 1988 period, it seemed that their relation slowly but surely began to take a wrong turn. Koffi Olomide attacked many artists in general in his song Attenant. Though Kester was never mentioned, it did not help that Koffi became more arrogant. He accused all Congolese Artists of envying him. Kester Emeneya clearly saw Koffi as an enemy as well. Some years before his death, he diced both Wemba and Koffi. As he said that their music is rubbish and they have evilness in their heart. 

FPK'S OPINION 
My opinion is this: I am not surprised to see this story. As we know, many artists have big egos and they allow their egos to take over them. Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba had big egos and believed that they were superior to one another. As result, they entered into a big conflict. It is sad because I could have imagined that they had better control of their egos, I could have seen more songs of them together. All together. 

Regardless, I loved the fact that Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba sang a few songs together. 

Kester Emeneya gone

I was working on my college work and trying to finish up a post when I found the news that I did not want to hear and want to be so true. This news just completely disgusts me dearly. 

It is the day that we can announce that Congolese singer Kester Emeneya has died. He was one great moment for the band Viva La Musica which is owned by Papa Wemba. When Kester Emeneya and Papa Wemba were together, they were able to produce some great songs together and their choir together was great and you could not deny their greatness together. 

Kester Emeneya started his own group around 1982 when he formed the group Victoria Elesien. This band is where Kester Emeneya as we know became known to everyone. He managed to make memorable songs and make some great grounds with his songs. 

What is sad is that part of the reason of Kester's death was because the death of Tabu Ley when he was already deeply sick. Clearly Rochereau's death had a major impact on King Kester and it was said that he did not take the news well. This was a major part of that further made Kester's health much worse. 

Kester Emeneya lived a great life as a singer and he was actually planning to build a house that he could make so he could have a better opportunity to make music in the near future. Some people of course were not happy at all hearing but I found to be a good thing. He was planning to get help from people from Washington DC. 

Regardless, it is terrible that we are beginning in 2014 with some terrible tragedy in African music. It is so unofrtunate that we lost one great Congolese artist and African artist. It is so sad. My hearts goes to his family and friends. RIP Kester Emeneya.