Congolese crooner Ferre Gola promises great show in Nairobi
Congolese crooner Ferre Gola signing the performance contract last month in Kinshasa for the Congolese Cultural Night to be held in Nairobi on May 11. With him are FCA representative Nadine Angambe (lef) and her counterpart Tresor Bitujila. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The event, organised by the Congolese nationals living in Kenya and the Federation of Congolese Abroad, will be held over two nights.
- Besides the Ferre Gola show, revellers will also be treated to a beauty pageant, dubbed Miss FCA 2018, Congolese cuisine, ‘sapology’ and Congolese poetry
Singer Ferre Gola will highlight the Congolese Cultural Night to be held in Nairobi next month.
The event, organised by the Congolese nationals living in Kenya and the Federation of Congolese Abroad, will be held over two nights — on May 11, 2018 at Carnivore Restaurant, and on May 12 at Deep West Resort Club.
CELEBRATE CULTURE
Speaking to the Saturday Nation earlier this week, Jean Paul C. Illunga, the president of FCA, said arrangements for the concert were complete.
“Ours is to celebrate Congolese art, music and culture, while appreciating the popularity of our music in East Africa,” he said.
The regional FCA office is on Muhoho Avenue in Nairobi’s South C, while the head office is in Paris.
Besides the Ferre Gola show, revellers will also be treated to a beauty pageant, dubbed Miss FCA 2018, Congolese cuisine, ‘sapology’ and Congolese poetry.
There will also be speeches on cultural matters by various invited guests.
Several Kenya-based Congolese models will take part.
Entrance fee will be Sh1,500 (online) and Sh2,000 at the gate, Sh3,000 (VIP online) and Sh3,500 for VIPs at the gate.
ENTERTAINMENT
From the 1960s to mid-1980s, Kenya has been a music destination for many Congolese stars, especially from the Kiswahili-speaking eastern Congo region. The most notable groups include Les Noirs, Les Mangelepa, Orch Super Mazembe, and Bana Ngenge.
Last month, an FCA representative travelled to Kinshasa to sign up Ferre Gola for the show.
Ms Nadine Angembe, who travelled to Congo, confirmed that all was well as Ferre Gola had signed his performance contract. The signing was also witnessed by Ferre’s manager, Mpolo Makunda Blaise, and Tresor Bitujila.
“He will arrive in Nairobi on May 8 with his 16-member back-up group,” Nadine said.
The organisers are also not taking any chances with the sound system, which has in the past ruined performances by Ferre and other greats, and efforts are being made to get a perfect sound system.
FERRE GOLA
As for Ferre (Hereve Ngola Bataringe), who is no newcomer to Kenya, this will be an opportunity for him to introduce to his fans some of his latest compositions.
Some of Ferre’s classics, include “Vita Imana”, “100 Kilos”, “Maboko Pamba”, “Boite Noire”, “Panzi Likolo” and the ever-popular “Kamasutra”.
Ferre’s debut performance in Kenya was in 1997, when he was still a member of the original Wenge Musica band.
When the band split in late 1997, with the top members, Werra Son and JB Mpiana parting ways, Ferre Gola chose to remain with his mentor Werrason’s Wenge Musica Maison Mere until 2004, when he went solo.
In 2005, he had a brief stint with Koffi Olomide’s Quarter Latin International Band.
It was during this time that his biggest rival, fellow singer Fally Ipupa, was also considering leaving Quarter Latin International to also pursue a solo career.
The two singers (Ferre and Fally) have since excelled in the neo-generation rhumba style.
As Illunga, the organiser of the upcoming event put it: “We are determined to ensure that rhumba music fans get the very best of Ferre this time.”
A similar Congolese Cultural Night was held last year, also at the Carnivore Restaurant, which has for several decades remained the preferred venue for visiting Congolese bands and locals.
