Koffi Olomide facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Koffi Olomidé
Olomidé performing in 2024
Background information
Birth name	Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba
Born	(1956-07-13) 13 July 1956 (age 68) Stanleyville, Belgian Congo (now Kisangani, DRC)
Genres	Congolese rumba soukous Tcha Tcho kwassa kwassa ndombolo
Occupation(s)	Singer dancer songwriter record producer lyricist composer media personality bandleader
Instruments	Vocals guitar percussion
Years active	1977–present
Labels	SonoDisc Sonima Obouo Diego Music Koffi Central Cantos Music

Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba (born 13 July 1956), known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, and founder of Quartier Latin International. Often referred to as the "King of Ndombolo", he is noted for his explosive high notes, deep, throaty baritone, and offbeat voice. Agbepa is considered one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Congolese and African popular music. His lyrics often explore themes of love, politics, technology, success, religion, and disillusionment. Through his music and stage performances, he introduced the slower style of soukous known as tcha tcho and popularized a flamboyant fashion subculture called La Sape, alongside Papa Wemba.

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. 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.

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. 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.

He has won six Kora Awards, four of which in the 2002 edition, for his album Effrakata. Forbes has named him among Africa's 40 most influential celebrities. In 2013, he founded his own recording label, Koffi Central. 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), Légende Éd. Diamond (2022), and Platinium (alternatively titled Platinum) in 2024.

Early life and career

Childhood, education, music debut

Koffi Olomide and his mother, Aminata Angélique Muyonge, photographed at a Viva La Musica concert in Kinshasa, ca. 1978.

Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba was born on July 13, 1956, in Stanleyville (present-day Kisangani), in the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), to Aminata Angélique Muyonge and Charles Agbepa. His mother named him Koffi in homage to his Friday birth. He grew up in Kinshasa's Lemba commune until his family relocated to Lingwala in 1973. In his youth, he aspired to become a professional footballer but later pivoted towards music, drawing inspiration from artists such as Franco Luambo, Le Grand Kallé, Vicky Longomba, and Tabu Ley Rochereau. In an interview with Afropop Worldwide, Agbepa shared that "My father told me that I couldn't be a musician, a singer if I didn't get a degree, a license." 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. While on campus, he procured a six-string guitar, self-taught himself to play, and began composing.

During school breaks in the mid-1970s, Agbepa returned to Kinshasa and began composing lyrics for various artists in the Zairean music scene, earning him the sobriquet "the most famous student in Zaire" and seizing the attention of Papa Wemba, who had recently departed from Zaïko Langa Langa and was actively engaged as a lyricist. Agbepa recorded his debut single, "Onia," while on leave in Kinshasa. Following the establishment of Viva La Musica, he contributed songs such as "Mère Supérieure," "Ebalé Mbongé," and "Aissa Na Zoé". In 1977, alongside Wemba and King Kester Emeneya, he composed "Asso" and "Princesse ya Synza," which garnered him the "Best Singer-songwriter" in Zaire. In subsequent years, he released songs like "Samba Samba," "Ekoti ya Nzube," "Elengi ya Mbonda," and "Bien Aimée Aniba," with the latter clinching him the "Best Star of Zairian Song". As he made music during off-peak hours and principally during the holidays, straddling Zaire and France, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business economics in 1980 with his thesis "La commercialisation des richesses minérales du Zaïre"

1983–1984: Ngounda and Lady Bo

Following his graduation, Agbepa returned to Kinshasa but was unable to find employment. He then returned to Europe in search of work. After coming back to Zaire in 1982, he established the Historia Musica ensemble alongside Debaba, though their collaboration was ephemeral due to disputes. Agbepa subsequently toured Brussels to record his debut solo studio album, Ngounda, released in 1983. Ngounda was produced by Roland Leclerc and included a guest appearance by Josky Kiambukuta. Agbepa fondly described this experience as his "first experience in a professional studio."

Ngounda received ambivalent critiques, and Agbepa began working on his second studio album, Lady Bo, which was released in 1984 and featured King Kester Emeneya as a guest artist.

1985–1986: Diva, Ngobila and Quartier Latin International

His third studio album Diva, arranged by Rigo Bamundélé, was released in 1985 and gained popularity in East Africa, West Africa, and internationally. Diva introduced Agbepa's Tcha Tcho (also known as Soukous Love) style of music, a slower, sensuous variant of soukous. The style was widely emulated by many artists and was notably appealing to young women. The West Africa Publishing Company described Agbepa's style as "an irresistible concoction".

While working on his forthcoming album Ngobila, he made appearances in the duo albums Olomidé et Yakini Kiese (Olomide and Yakini Kiese) and Olomidé et Fafa de Molokaï (Olomide and Fafa de Molokaï). Ngobila was released in 1986 but did not garner considerable success. The album's eponymous lead single narrates the poignant tale of a man standing on a port quay, witnessing the departure of his beloved, uncertain if fate would reunite them. Later that year, he established the Quartier Latin International.

1987–1989: Rue D'Amour, Henriquet and Elle et Moi

At the start of 1987, rumors disseminated that Agbepa had succumbed to AIDS in Europe. This episode of sagas enormously affected Agbepa, 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). 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).

In mid-1987, he released his fifth studio album, Rue D'Amour, which includes six partially unreleased tracks and showcases Agbepa singing for VIPs for the first time. The lead single, "Mosika na Miso" (Far from the Eyes), was a tribute to Claudien Likulia, the son of General Norbert Likulia Bolongo, while "Miriam Moleka" was a tribute to Miriam Moleka, a wealthy heiress of the Moleka family who had passed away. Other tracks delve into themes of love such as "Stéphie", as well as covetousness towards him in "Petit frères ya Yesus" and "Droits de l’homme." Agbepa was recognized for his work and a house was constructed for him in Kinshasa's Bandalungwa commune.

During the summer of 1988, he released the six-track album Henriquet, an eponymous homage to Miss Zaire of that year. The album included a guest appearance by Manu Lima and propelled Agbepa 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 (OZRT), extolled him as "the biggest current star of Zairian music".

In August 1989, Agbepa released his seventh studio album, Elle et Moi. The album's eponymous lead single is dedicated to his daughter, Minou. Elle et Moi features Agbepa's guitar and bass performances, arranged by Manu Lima. His distinct Tcha Tcho cadence underwent a contemporary transformation in the album. It features a modern sonic palette and a more assertive embodiment of the animating spirit inherent to Congolese music.

1990–1994: Les prisonniers dorment, Haut De Gamme, Pas de faux pas, Noblesse oblige, and Magie

In 1990, Agbepa released his eighth studio album, "Les prisonniers dorment…". The album was produced by SonoDisc and sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. Gilles Obringer acclaimed the album on his show "Canal Tropical" on Radio France Internationale (RFI). The album won two consecutive awards at the 1991 Trophées de la musique Zaïroise for "Best Songwriter" and "Best Album of The Year".

In February 1992, he released his ninth studio album, Haut De Gamme. The album was produced by SonoDisc and blended his Tcha Tcho, Kwassa Kwassa, and Congolese rumba. 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 into stardom in African and European markets. In 2005, Haut De Gamme was featured in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, the only Congolese album to achieve this milestone.

On June 1, 1992, the Agbepa released the band's debut studio album Pas de faux pas, which was produced by SonoDisc. Pas de faux pas was a great success and earned them numerous African tours. To support the album, he embarked on a continent-wide tour. He was subsequently invited to perform at the Palais du bord de mer by President Omar Bongo Ondimba, as well as during the Congolese presidential campaign by President Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

On August 14, 1993, Agbepa staged a performance at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles to introduce his forthcoming album, Noblesse Oblige, which was officially released in September 1993. The album sold over 100,000 copies and attained a gold record. That same year, Agbepa toured Kenya and performed at Safari Park Hotel.

On November 22, 1994, Agbepa released the band's second album, Magie, accompanied by music videos shot in the United States and Paris. He celebrated triumphs in Paris, including a successful show at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and a performance at FNAC Forum. Magie won two consecutive African Music Awards in December 1994 held at the Palais des Congrès at the Hotel Ivoire, including awards for Best Male Singer and Best Video Clip.

1995–1998: V12, Wake Up, Ultimatum, Loi, and Droit de Veto

Koffi Olomide and Papa Wemba, 1988

V12, his thirteenth studio album, released on October 9, 1995, earned him a gold record, with sales exceeding 100,000 copies. The album's lead single, "Fouta Djallon," debuted among the top 20 Congolese rumba songs that year. In December, he presented the album during a concert performance at Ivoire InterContinental in Abidjan.

In 1996, he released the album Wake Up, featuring Papa Wemba, to quash rumors of a feud between them. On May 21, 1997, he released Ultimatum, the band's 3rd album, followed by the release of Loi in December 1997. The album's eponymous lead single became the hallmark of ndombolo dance that vacuumed across Africa. Loi secured a gold record with 25,000 copies in France and 105,000 internationally. In 1997, driven by producer Ngoyarto's suggestion, Agbepa released his debut compilation "N'Djoli," featuring his early songs with the participation of Papa Wemba, King Kester Emeneya, and Félix Manuaku Waku.

On December 31, 1998, he released his seventeenth studio album, Droit de Veto, with stage productions on August 29 at the Olympia Hall. A week after his sold-out concert at the Paris Olympia, he secured the Kora Award for "Best Central African Artist". To further support the album, he embarked on his "European Tour," with performances at the Zénith de Paris (where Quartier Latin engaged in a dance-off with the Haitian band Tabou Combo) and subsequently at the Brixton Academy.

1999–2002: Attentat, Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Force de Frappe, and Effrakata

Koffi Olomidé during his concert at Bercy Arena in front of 18,000 people, ca. February, 2000

In November 1999, Agbepa released Attentat, an album titled in homage to the 1998 attacks on American embassies in Africa. Attentat attained a gold record within 2 months, selling over 100,000 copies. Recorded across Paris and South Africa, it stands as a significant achievement across Africa. Breaking records on February 19, 2000, Agbepa became the first African solo artist to perform at and sold-out Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy (now Accor Arena), with 17,000 attendees solely through word-of-mouth promotion. The concert was documented by journalists from France 2, Métropole Television, Canal Plus, and Ma Chaîne Musicale.

On December 26, 2000, Agbepa released the band's 5th album, Force de Frappe, featuring songs from various artists. The album swiftly secured a prominent position on music charts of major radio and TV channels, followed by a tour in West Africa, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Paris, where he performed at Zénith de Paris on July 14, 2001.

Agbepa began recording his album Effrakata while on tour in Paris and Charlotte. While working on his album's production, he delivered a concert at the Lincoln Center Festival on July 16 as a part of his major American tour. On December 7, Agbepa released Effrakata, a double album containing 16 tracks, which became ubiquitous, meriting him a gold record with sales eclipsing 180,000 copies. Several shows were credited to him, collectively known as the "Western tours." The first leg commenced on September 2 in Geneva and concluded in January 2003 in Paris, with concerts and showcases held in cities such as London and Brussels. The album won him four Kora Awards on November 2, 2002, in South Africa 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 epithet "Quadra Koraman." On November 16, he presented his trophies to Kinshasa's governor, Marthe Ngalula Wafuana, Minister of Culture and the Arts, and President Joseph Kabila. Agbepa and Quartier Latin later won seven awards, including Best Album of the Year, Best Presenter for Kérozène, Best Author/Composer, Best Artist-Musician for Koffi Olomidé, Best Singer for Fally Ipupa, Best Orchestra for Quartier Latin, and the prestigious Best Song of the Year for their track "Effervescent."

2003–2005: Affaire d'Etat and Monde Arabe

The band's sixth double album, Affaire d'Etat, was released in Paris markets on March 28, 2003, and later made available in the Kinshasa record markets on April 5 in various formats such as K7, CD, and DVD. 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 Brando's "Tous Pepele," Montana Kamenga's "Love Story," among others. Produced by David Monsoh, the album won the Kora Award for Best African Group, shared with Ivorian ensemble Anti Palu. On April 12, he support the album with a concert at the Zénith de Paris with his Quartier Latin. To further advance the album's promotion, Agbepa and Quartier Latin embarked on a tour of major U.S. cities and Canada. The band also toured the Republic of Congo in late July 2003 to prepare for their participation in the Pan-African Music Festival (Fespam) held jointly in Brazzaville and Kinshasa from August 2 to 8, 2003. Agbepa was awarded the "Kouyate Souri Kanta," an individual prize, for his outstanding performance.

Koffi Olomide concert in Lusaka at Woodlands stadium, June 2009

Following his North American tour, Agbepa introduced his forthcoming album, Monde Arabe, during a concert held in Kinshasa. Initially slated for December 2003, the album was released on December 7, 2004. In the wake of SonoDisc's closure, he self-produced the 18-track double album, distributed by Sonima, and it was a massive success. It even 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. However, one month after the album's debut, the Congolese Censorship Commission prohibited Agbepa from television airing due to album's three singles: "Alya", "Silivi", and "Esili". On February 12, 2005, he took part in a Valentine's Day celebration with Quartier Latin at Maïsha Park in Kinshasa, bringing Tshala Muana and Madilu System onto the stage. On March 30, he performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London, followed by performances at the Music Ebène Festival in Dakar in April and at the fifth edition of FESPAN (Festival Panafricain de Musique) in July.

On December 4, 2005, he won the 10th edition of the Kora Awards for Lifetime Achievement Award in South Africa. The following year, his previous album, Magie, was reissued by producer Suave, which included the best tracks from Agbepa's career. However, many fans were dissatisfied with the Suave label, as the 2-page booklet included with each CD was insufficient.

2006–2010: Danger de Mort, Bord Ezanga Kombo and "La Chicotte à Papa"

In September 2006, Agbepa began recording the band's seventh studio album, Danger de Mort, at Ndiaye studio in Kinshasa, while also producing an advertising single titled "Swi" for Bracongo. Danger de Mort was released on October 13, 2006, which became the band's last album due to consecutive departures of some musicians. He supported the album with a live show at Radio Television Groupe Avenir on May 27, 2007, followed by a performance at the Zénith de Paris on October 13, 2007.

In early 2008, Agbepa announced that his unnamed album was nearing completion and scheduled for release in May of that year. In an interview with Le Potentiel, Agbepa stated, "My album comes out around mid-May… It has no title. I simply signed it 'the priest's album.'" The album included collaborations with Cindy Le Coeur in at least nine songs. He later teamed up with Youssou N'Dour on the single "Festival" and then toured Paris to collaborate with various artists on the album, most notably Lokua Kanza in the song "Diabolos," Maïka Munan, Paty Moleso, Mbetenge Domingo, Guilain Tshimanga, Mavungu on the drum, Olivier Tamba, and others. In March, he began recording the album's music videos in Atlanta. The album was already selling to distributors and sold over thousands of copies in a time-lapse.

The album was officially released on August 7, 2008, with the title Bord Ezanga Kombo. It sold 60,000 copies within four months and achieved a gold record. To promote the album, he sold-out Palais de la Culture d'Abidjan, Complexe Sportif de Yopougon, and Centre Wallonie Bruxelles. Bord Ezanga Kombo faced censorship by the DRC's Commission Nationale de Censure (CNS) on January 23, 2009, but was de-censored on February 23, 2009. In March 2009, he participated in the World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar alongside Manu Dibango, Issa Hayatou, Aïcha Koné, Salif Keita, Akon, Pape Diouf, and Sepp Blatter.

In September 2009, Agbepa 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 with the participation of other Congolese artists. He subsequently expressed his umbrage during the summit's commencement: "I do not regret it, but I am against the person who contacted the musicians to make this song. We are all Congolese musicians, so why this discrimination?". On October 17, 2009, he partook in a major VIP concert at Grand Hôtel (Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel). The concert was organized by Christian Lusakueno, the head of Top Congo Radio, in tribute to Franco Luambo, bringing 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. Later that same year, he released "La Chicotte à Papa," a 7-track maxi-single.

2011–2016: Abracadabra, Bana Zebola and 13ème Apôtre

In June 2011, Agbepa's album Abracadabra was pirated before its planned release on December 23, 2011. The music video for the album's lead single, "Double Mbonda", had already been broadcast clandestinely in certain bars, local channels, and on Trace Africa. Agbepa 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. His producer ultimately decided to release the album on January 10, 2012, as a countermeasure against piracy. Agbepa also distributed his new album for free in Kinshasa. However, he faced accusations of impropriety due to certain lyrics in the track "Jeune Pato."

In May 2013, he began recording his upcoming album, 13ème Apôtre, announcing that it would be his career's 20th and final album. During an interview with Radio Okapi, he explained that he sees himself as the thirteenth Apostle of Jesus and named his album accordingly. He also expressed his belief that black apostles are needed and referred to Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Marley, and Muhammad Ali as people who could have been Apostles of Jesus. In mid-2014, Agbepa commenced filming the album's music videos for select tracks and invited collaborators to partake in the album. While working on his album, controversy arose over the involvement of Ferré Gola and Fally Ipupa—both prominent rivals from the 5th generation of Congolese music. He also quarrels with artist JB Mpiana, who denigrated him "Old Ebola"; Agbepa ingeniously reclaimed the slur used it in banners promoting his forthcoming album's presentations. On October 21, 2014, Kinshasa police apprehended Agbepa for his use of "Old Ebola," which Colonel Pierrot Mwana-Mputu, the director of information and communication for the police, deemed immoral and against the international community's efforts to combat the hemorrhagic fever.

Following his release from jail, he resumed working on the album and released the five-track Extended Play (EP) Bana Zebola in June 2015. 13ème Apôtre was officially released on October 13, 2015, and sold over 22,000 copies in one day and 46,000 copies in a week. It topped the charts, debuting at number one in the French iTunes and peaking at number 15th in the iTunes World ranking. The album's lead single, "Selfie" (alternatively known as "Ekoti té"), became a viral sensation with over a million views on YouTube in just three weeks. The hashtag #OpérationSelfie gained traction across various social media platforms and was embraced by renowned personalities like French singer Matt Pokora, Ivorian football player Didier Drogba, and French-Congolese football player Blaise Matuidi. In recognition of his triumphs, Trace Africa dedicated the month of October to Agbepa. Several programs were aired, retracing his journey, and a 25-minute documentary that offer insights into his daily life and career. The French channels TV5Monde and France 24, along with other media worldwide from Canada, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Senegal, the United Kingdom, and the United States, also extensively covered the "Selfie" phenomenon.

2017–2020: Nyataquance and "Coronavirus Assassin"

Following his one-year hiatus from music, Agbepa resurfaced and announced to La Prospérité that his forthcoming album, Nyataquance, was nearing completion. He also told the press that he was actively working on the album's eponymous lead single. To promote the album and "redeem himself among women", he officially released the album's lead single on March 8, 2017, synchronically coinciding with the commemoration of International Women's Day. Reviewing for Jeune Afrique, Leo Pajon, described the album as a plea for "forgiveness" regarding the charges against him in France, along with an incident at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where he allegedly booted one of his dancers. In an interview with the Cameroonian TV show, Agbepa stated, "Many women are angry with me; I wanted to ask them for forgiveness." The album includes the single "Pardon," a paean dedicated to women, and a homage to his father, daughter, mother, and wife.

To further support his album, he organized a Women's Day concert at Hôtel Invest in Kinshasa, featuring a joint performance with Fally Ipupa on stage. On July 13, 2018, he headlined a major "Koffi: Encore et Toujours" concert at Grand Hôtel.

Agbepa was scheduled to perform in Johannesburg on June 28, 2019, at the Gallagher Convention Centre and in Cape Town on June 29 at the Shimmy Beach Club. However, the concerts were called off due to allegations of "violence against women and gender-related violence". He subsequently promoted the album in Brussels in January 2020 and visited the European Parliament to defend his foundation, Frères de Terre, assisting disadvantaged populations in the DRC. He also deliberated on the insecurity concerns in Beni and outlined plans for a major concert in France.

In March 2020, he released the single "Coronavirus Assassin" to urge people to stay indoors due to the widespread outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The song was sung in Lingala and French and attributed the pandemic to the "anger of God", stating that the "assassin's name is Coronavirus" and that it "cannot be stopped by witchcraft". The music video accentuates the pandemic's effects worldwide, where hundreds of thousands of people have been infected. It shows several police vehicles and ambulances transporting patients to hospitals for medical treatment.

2021–2022: Légende Millénium and Légende Ed. Diamond

Agbepa was slated to perform at París La Défense Arena on February 13, 2021, to promote his forthcoming album, Légende Millénium, but the event was postponed to November 27, 2021. One month before the rescheduled date, the concert was canceled for health reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2021, Agbepa announced on his YouTube that his album Légende Millénium was almost complete. Légende Millénium was planned to feature guest artists such as Tiwa Savage, Fally Ipupa, Gally Garvey, Ninho, Damso, Gaz Mawete, Hiro Le Coq, Davido, and Inoss'B. To promote the album, he released "Mon Amour," a rumba-infused promotional single featuring Cameroonian singer Charlotte Dipanda. Légende Millénium was officially released on November 26, 2021, and Agbepa eulogized it as "the album of the century." He subsequently performed two concerts in Goma to commemorate his band's 35th anniversary, with proceeds from the shows going to "victims of rebel attacks and natural disasters".

In November 2022, Agbepa released Légende Ed. Diamond, a reissue of Légende Millénium with an additional 14 tracks added to the original list. It melds traditional Congolese rumba, ndombolo and urban music. Reviewing for Akum Radio FM, Donald described the album as a "cultural broth that brings together all age groups".

Artistry

Drawing from the dance-centric soukous genre, itself rooted in traditional Congolese rumba, Koffi developed his signature style known as tcha tcho (often spelled tchatcho), a slower variant of soukous, characterized by its languid tempos, intricate guitar arrangements, and emotive melodies. In an interview with Afropop Worldwide, Koffi revealed his creative intent, stating, "Music for me is not only to dance, to jump to. Music is also meant to make the heart vibrate". This stylistic evolution reinvigorated Congolese music, influencing his contemporaries and successive generations. In addition to Congolese rumba, Koffi incorporates elements of ndombolo, kwassa kwassa, R&B, Afrobeats, trap, salsa, and zouk into his music. Thematically, his lyrical address various topics, including love, politics, technology, success, religion, and disillusionment. Renowned for his avant-garde vocal delivery—an explosive, deep-throated baritone with an offbeat cadence—Koffi is equally celebrated for his flamboyant stage persona, often embodying the atalaku role, a dynamic hype man who energizes audiences during instrumental sebene segments.

Diva was the first album to introduce tchatcho, while Haut de Gamme/Koweït, Rive Gauche exemplified his genre-blending artistry, interweaving tchatcho, kwassa kwassa, and Congolese rumba. The album's hit singles, "Désespoir" and "Koweït Rive Gauche", delved into themes of romantic relationships. Loi leaned heavily on Congolese rumba while debuting ndombolo, a more dynamic and energetic soukous subgenre. Attentat showcased a foray into Afropop, particularly on the song "Si si si", which featured Senegalese singer Coumba Gawlo. Koffi's musical style has also extended beyond African sounds. His collaboration with Africando on the 2000 single "Mopao", from the album Betece, explored salsa, while his reinterpretation of Serge Gainsbourg's "Je t'aime... moi non plus" with Ivorian singer Nayanka Bell introduced zouk into his repertoire. On Monde Arabe, Koffi addressed political themes, dedicating several tracks to the Arab world, including "Héros National", "Musulman", and "Silivi". Meanwhile, albums such as Bord Ezanga Kombo reflected his signature blend of tchatcho and Congolese rumba, with the tracks like "Ikea", "Sixième Chantier", "BB Goût", "l'amour n'existe pas", "Plat Favori", "Soupou", "Ninelle", "Grand Prêtre Mère", "Lovemycine", and "Katagourouma". He experimented with a fusion of Congolese rumba and trap music on Légende Ed. Diamond such as on the track "Biberon", which narrates the struggles of Congolese ghettos and the resilience of those who reside in them.

2003 Stade de l'Amitié crowd crush

On 3 May 2003, sixteen people were reported dead at the Stade de l'Amitié in Cotonou, Benin, during Agbepa's performance, caused by crowd crush. Le Phare's reported that the concert was poorly coordinated, lacking adequate security and proper podium setup. 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 Agbepa's concert. Agbepa later paid tribute to the victims with his single "Les Martyrs du Tchatcho".

Personal life

Family and relationships

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. He subsequently had three children with his second wife, Stephanie Godee.

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. 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). Their daughter, Didi-Stone Naïke, is a fashion model and social media personality. 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.

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. Their divorce was finalized in 2022, after a year of legal proceedings in Bobigny.

Political activity

In 2020, Koffi expressed his interest in becoming the chief of staff for Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi after Vital Kamerhe's legal issues. 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.

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. Koffi was tasked with representing Congolese culture beyond its borders. 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.

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. However, on 29 April, he withdrew from the race, citing fraudulent processes and not wanting to participate in what he called a "sham vote".

Legacy

Koffi Olomide is among the greatest Congolese and African musical artists of all time. Many artists look up to him for inspiration. President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recently appointed him as one of the country's cultural ambassadors.

Awards and nominations

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. He is also the only Congolese solo artist whose work is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Discography