Draft:JB Mpiana

JB Mpiana
Background information
Birth name	Jean-Bedel Mpiana Tshituka
Also known as	Souverain 1er, Papa Chéri, Le Maréchal Mukulu wa Bakulu, Bin Adam, Moto Pamba, Salvatore de la Patria, Sulutani, Leader Charismatique
Born	(1967-06-02) 2 June 1967 Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo (now Kasai-Central Province)
Genres	Soukous
Occupations	Composer arranger producer singer
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitars.
Years active	1981 - Present

Jean-Bedel Mpiana wa Tshituka (born 2 June 1967), known professionally as JB Mpiana, is a singer, dancer-choreographer, and singer-composer-performer of Congolese rumba, ndombolo and soukous with some mix of Mutuashi a modern style of dance and music that originated from the traditional music of Luba-Kasai people.

In the early 1980s, he co-founded and later became the lead singer, and band leader of Wenge Musica which included Didier Masela, Werrason, Adolphe Dominguez, Alain Makaba, and Blaise Bula until the group split up on 26 December 1997. Following this dislocation, JB Mpiana went to create Wenge BCBG with practically the majority of the members of the original group leaving Werrason, Didier Masela, and Adolphe Dominguez on their side to create Wenge Musica Maison Mère.

JB Mpiana

He distinguished himself in 1997 with his first solo album, Feux de l'amour, notably with the main song Ndombolo.

Early life

Mpiana wa Tshituka was born on June 2, 1967, in Kananga in the current province of Kasai-Central Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo to a Luba family. He was named Jean-Bedel after the Central African Republic emperor Jean-Bedel Bokassa. Tshituka is a name from tshiluba which means "child born premature", he named so due to being born prematurely shortly after 6 months.

Two days after his birth, his family moved to Kinshasa, a city that would see him grow up and seal his destiny.

It was in 1977 at the age of ten when he started to learn singing. From the age of thirteen, he began singing at church and in various school groups with his friends Blaise Bula and Titina Mbwinga Kamboleta. He changed schools when in highschool from Athénée de la Gombe to ITC de Ngaliema where he played in the school group ITC Flash with singers like as Sam Tshintu and Modogo Abarambwa both future members of the Latin Quarter of Koffi Olomidé as well as with his future colleague Adolphe Ebondja alias Dominguez.

Debut with Wenge Musica (1984–1990)

Further information: Wenge Musica

Sometimes in 1981, he came across a group of young boys rehearsing in the street the song Ngabelo by King Kester Emeneya and Victoria Eleison. These young boys were Werrason, Didier Masela, Aimé Bwanga, Dede Masolo, Jean-Belis Luvutula, and Endjo Mbula, all members of Wenge Musica. During the rehearsal, Machiro Kifaya wasn't able to imitate the high notes of Debaba's vocals in this song, he was replaced by JB Mpiana initially a bystander who asked if he could sing with them. His interpretation impressed the members of the group. A few days later, Luvutula, one of his school friends, asked him if he would like to join the group. JB Mpiana accepted and became a member of the group, and a few months later he introduced his friend Blaise Bula to the band.

Apart from music, the members of the group are students. They therefore decide to allow themselves to exercise their passion only during school break.

Wenge Musica started by performing one or two songs before the arrival of the big bands on the scene like Victoria Eleison, Empire Bakuba, Zaïko Langa Langa, Choc Stars, Viva La Musica and Langa Langa Stars.

In 1985, JB Mpiana failed to pass his high school diploma examination and wanted to stop school but his friends, in particular Werrason encouraged him to resume and he ended up studying marketing alongside the latter.

In 1986, Wenge Musica played its first concert and each of the members presented their personal song. JB Mpiana presents Kin e move (version 1), Blaise Bula presents Laura, Werrason presents Cesarine.

In 1988 they released the very first album Bouger Bouger composed of six titles, JB Mpiana is the author of three songs Mulolo, La fille du roi and Bakolo Budget. It is with this album that Wenge Musica made a name for itself on the Congolese music scene among the third generation singers such as Papa Wemba, King Kester Emeneya, Koffi Olomide, etc. Mulolo was voted best song of the year, and the group was voted musical revelation of the year. “Mulolo” is sung in Lingala, French as well as Kimbala, Werrason's mother tongue used for the chorus which was brought by Werrason's uncle, Nico Buakongo. The group started to drain many fans for its concerts.

Success with Wenge Musica (1991-1996)

In 1991, the second album Kin É Bougé was released and confirmed the success of Wenge Musica. As one of the leading music band in Zaire, the group is acclaimed as the best in the country and JB Mpiana is voted the best singer. This album contains 5 songs including Kin É Bougé, the eponymous track of the album signed by JB Mpiana, Princesse Pathy by Alain Makaba (performed by JB Mpiana), Eve Sukali by Blaise Bula, Kaskin by Werrason, and Ngoma Maguy the opening song by animator Ekokota. Shortly before the recording of the album, in 1990, the band was supposed to travel to Brussels via Paris for the very first time but were arrested in Kinshasa because they were in possession of false visas.

In 1993, the band released Kala Yi Boeing their third album. Before it, there was the album "Pleins Feux", which was supposed to be released in 1992 but was finally released 4 years later. In Kala-Yi-Boeing, JB Mpiana signed 2 songs out of the 7 contained in the album namely Danico and Mon ami Coboss. He performed another song by Alain Makaba, C'est trop tard Djenga and was the lead singer in the remaining songs. This album was a remarkable success and allowed the band to play with Kassav as well as Zaïko Langa Langa.

In 1994, the band released their fifth and first double "album Les Anges Adorables" in which he teamed up with Alain Makaba to write Hi Oh Ah 'New Image' a song that combined the Mutuashi style and dance. He was also the author of another song 'Capitaine de Benelux' and lead singer on other songs.

In 1995, Wenge Musica accompanied guitarist Alain Makaba on his first solo album Pile ou Face. He is with drummer Titina Mbwinga and host Roberto Ekokota to participate in the latter's album. Subsequently, the following year 1996, the band released the album Pleins Feux, a reissue of songs recorded in 1992, composed of 8 tracks and he is the author of Nazareth. The same year 1996 saw the release of the seventh and last album of the band Pentagon, composed of 11 tracks with Tutu Callugi and Roberto Ekokota leading the animation. JB Mpiana, now nicknamed Marshal Mukulu wa Bakulu, the great charismatic leader, signed the song 'No Comment Schengen'.

First solo album and dislocation of the band (1997)

JB Mpiana recorded his first solo album called Feux de l'amour. The album features the participation of every member of the orchestra except newcomer Ferré Gola. He signed a contract with a Cameroonian producer named Simon Njonang who also produced the album Pentagon. He released his first solo album in May 1997, 'Feux de l'amour', containing 10 tracks with a very festive beat such as "Ndombolo", "I love you", "Recto verso", "Masuwa", "Bana Lunda" as well as a featuring with his long-time idol, Papa Wemba, on the song Cavalier solitaire. The album was awarded a gold record with more than 150,000 copies sold. The main track of the album, Ndombolo, was a success in Africa as well as in Europe among the African diaspora. This album gave its name to a danceable, festive, atmospheric, and similar Congolese music "Ndombolo". Thanks to this album, he received the award for best singer for the 2nd time, best song with 'Feux de l'amour', and best album. On December 7, 1997, during the presentation concert of the album Feux de l'amour at the Grand Hotel in Kinshasa, the band had a dispute on stage. This confrontation took place in front of the public as well as Papa Wemba, leading the group to split into 2 few weeks later. JB Miapna went on to create Wenge BCBG with more than 80% of the original band members: Alain Makaba, Blaise Bula, Alain Mpela, Aimélia, Ficarré, Kusangila, Titina, Fils Zamuangana, Théo Bidens, Burkina Mboka Liya, Ekokota and Tutu Caludji. The members with Werrason, Adolphe Dominguez, and Didier Masela went to create Wenge Musica Maison Mere. JB Mpiana is considered by music lovers to be Wenge's most beautiful voice.

JB Mpiana rivalry with Werrason (1998-2010)

After the split of the group in December 1997, JB Mpiana created with Alain Prince Makaba and Blaise a new band Wenge BCBG with singers Alain Mpela and Aimélia Lias, guitarists Ficarré Mwamba, Burkina Faso Mboka Liya, Patient Kusangila, Fiston Zamuangana, drummers Titina Mbwinga, Seguin Mignon and animators Tutu Caludji and Roberto Ekokota. He recruited Roger Ngandu and Blanchard Mosaka as spokesmen for the band. From the original group, seven members weren't included: Didier Masela, Werrason, Adolphe Dominguez, Christian Mwepu Mabanga, Ali Mbonda, Ferré Gola, and Japanese Maladi making way for new recruits.

In 1998, JB Mpiana, Alain Prince Makaba, Blaise Bula, and their new band headed to Europe for the recording of "Titanic" to symbolize this split. Congolese musicians and politicians banded together to weaken him, to which he replied in one of his songs: "Although you conspired with your brothers, you did not succeed".This album is composed of 10 tracks, JB Mpiana signed and distinguished himself through the songs "RDC" in which he highlights the cultural richness of his country just re-established as the Democratic Republic of Congo after having been the Republic of Zaire from 1971 to 1997, "Omba", a song that will be designated as the best song of the year on a par with Chantal Switzerland by Werrason following a public vote, and "Chapangala Champion".

Back in Kinshasa, the band had a big concert at the Palais du Peuple. JB Mpiana is now the sole leader of the group with the departure of Blaise Bula and Alain Makaba. Thanks to the "Titanic" album, JB Mpiana is the artist of the 4th generation of Congolese musicians to play at the Olympia in Paris and at the Zénith de Paris in 1999. The gold record of the album "Feux de l'amour" was awarded to him during the concert at the Olympia with more than 150,000 copies sold. In the same year, JB Mpiana became the first artist of his generation to win this award. He became at the time the youngest Congolese singer to receive this gold record.

After the big venues in Paris, JB Mpiana and Wenge BCBG filled the stadiums of Cotonou (Benin) and the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa where more than 85,000 people attended this concert. Before his second solo album, he released a single Y'a pas photo, y'a pas match composed of 2 tracks in 1999.

Discography

With Wenge Musica BCBG 4X4

• 1998: Bouger Bouger
• 1991: Kin E Bougé
• 1993: Kala-Yi-Boeing
• 1993: Le monde est méchant (Single)
• 1994: Les Anges Adorables Vol.1 & 2
• 1995: Pile ou Face (Alain Makaba's Solo Album)
• 1996: Pleins Feux (re-edition of songs recorded in 1992)
• 1996: Pentagone
• 1997: Feux de L'Amour (Solo Album by JB Mpiana

With Wenge BCBG

• 1998: Titanic (album)
• 2000: TH (Toujours Humble) Solo Album
• 2001: Internet
• 2004: Anti-Terro
• 2007: Kipe Ya Yo
• 2007: Quel est ton problème?
• 2011: Soyons Sérieux
• 2022: Balle de Match Vol. 1
• 2023: Balle de Match Vol. 2

Singles and featurings

• 1993: Le Monde est méchant (with Wenge Musica)
• 1995: Tchane, Fisol, Chance ( With Alain Makaba)
• 1999: Mboni feat Mimi Ciel
• 1999: Portugaise (feat Stino Mubi)
• 1999: Ndoto ya baba (feat Stino Mubi)
• 1999: Courage
• 1999: Reflexion (feat Pascal Poba)
• 1999: Y'a pas match, Y'a pas photo !
• 2002: Suka ya sekele
• 2003: Pelisa Ngwasuma
• 2005: Bongolowayi
• 2007: Bokeseni ezali
• 2010: Kiyunguzuna
• 2011: Primus feat. Werrason recorded 2008)
• 2011: Biloko
• 2012: Libala Bosembo
• 2013: Primus Kintingi Tingi
• 2013: Champagne
• 2013 : Zadio et Carole Kongolo
• 2014: Chasse à l'homme (feat Papa Wemba)
• 2014: Petite ya Quartier
• 2016: Échauffement avant match (Maxi-Single)
• 2021: "Irremplaçable" tribute to Papa Wemba
• 2023: "Rumba Forever"ft Artistes Multiples
• 2023: "Votez Fatshi"