Formed from the split of the memorable group Wenge Musica BCBG 4×4 Tout Terrain, the Wenge Musica Maison Mère orchestra, founded on December 20, 1997 by Noël Ngiama Makanda (aka Werrason), Didier Masela, and Elongo Lodi (aka Adolphe Dominguez), will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Supported at its inception by the late King Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide, and Marie Paul Kambulu, this musical group has established itself as one of the most influential orchestras of Rumba and Ndombolo music. In a press interview, Werrason, currently in Paris working on his album Morote, expressed his hope that the 30th anniversary celebration of Wenge Musica Maison Mère will take place at the Stade de France at the end of 2027. If this ambitious project comes to fruition, it will become one of the landmark events in the recent history of Congolese music on the European stage.
Musicians recruited who contributed to its development:
Ferré Gola, Baby Ndombe, JDT Mulopwe, Adjani Sesele, Serge Mabiala, Didier Lacoste, Aimelia Lias… (vocals)
Instrumentalists include Flamme Kapaya, Japonais Matadi, Christian Mabanga, Papy Kakol, Ali Mbonda…
Three albums have made an impact on the public: Force d’intervention rapide, Solola bien, and Terrain eza miné. Maison Mère made its first television appearance on RTNC’s Variétés Samedi Soir program, performed in Villejuif in 1999, and then at Bercy on September 16, 2000, the second African concert after Koffi.
Adolphe Dominguez, described as one of the strategic and historical pillars of Congolese rumba, left Maison Mère and made a triumphant return to Kinshasa via Beach Ngobila, establishing his own group, Wenge TONYA TONYA. Since then, the creator of the song “Voyage,” remixed four times, he has championed authentic rumba and presented himself as a leading figure in the Sapeur movement.
Over the years, the Wenge Musica orchestra has launched the careers of many artists who have become famous on the Congolese music scene. Among them are Héritier Watanabe, Robinio Mundibu, Deplick Pomba, Eboa Lottin, Cappuccino, Bonbon Kojak, and Jitrois Galliano.
FRANCK AMBANGITO
