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Wuta Mayi

October 26, 2023

Gaspard Wuta Mayi, commonly known as Wuta Mayi, is a Congolese rumba and soukous vocalist and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). From 1974 to 1982, he was a member of the band TPOK Jazz, led by Franco (François Luambo Makiadi), which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.[1] Since leaving TPOK Jazz he has recorded and performed as a solo artist, in addition to being one of the four members of the "supergroup" Les Quatre Etoiles (The Four Stars), and subsequently a member of Kékélé.

Wuta Mayi
Birth nameGaspard Wuta Mayi
Also known asGaspard Wuta, Paschal Gaspard Mayi, Blaise Pasco
Born (1949-08-09) 9 August 1949 (age 74)
Kinshasa, DR Congo
OriginCongolese
GenresRumba
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1968–2011

Background edit

Wuta Mayi was born on 9 August 1949 at Leopold General Hospital in then Leopoldville, now Kinshasa, the capital of, and largest city in, what was then the Belgian Congo, was later (among other names) Zaire, and is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2]

This singer has been known by a variety of names; one source notes that "Gaspard Wuta Mayi is also known as Gaspard Wuta, Paschal Gaspard Mayi, Wuta Mayandi Yundula and Blaise Pasco."[3] He was given the name Gaspard soon after birth.[2][note 1] Later as a child, the name "Pascal" was added, after his maternal grandfather Pascal Gaspard Mayandi.[2] During 1967-68, while he was with Orchestre Jamel National, a member of his family who had studied in Europe nicknamed him "Blaise" to make him "Blaise Pascal," and from then on he was known as "Blaise-Pasco."[2][4] Around 1974, at about the time he joined TPOK Jazz, under Zaire's "authenticité" campaign under President Mobutu, he changed his name to the more "authentic" Congolese name Wata Undula Mayanda (or Wuta Mayandi Yundula), known as Wuta Mayi.[5][2] In any event, he has recorded and performed since the 1970s under the name Wuta Mayi, although sometimes that name is hyphenated and some of his solo album covers spell it as "Wuta May."

He went to school in Kinshasa, studying at Josephine Charlotte School for his elementary education, continuing on to the Saint Andre commercial technical school in the city's Limete commune, and doing part of his high school education at the Athenaeum of Ngiri-Ngiri.[2]

In 1967, at the age of 18, while still a student, he joined the band Orchestre Jamel National, previously known as Jamel Jazz, based in the commune of Dendal. He became friends with another vocalist in the band, Aime Kiwakana, born Emmanuel Kiala, who would later join TPOK Jazz. Other musicians who made their start at Jamel included saxophonist Empompo Loway (also later with TPOK Jazz), guitarists Bavon "Marie-Marie" (the only brother of Franco Luambo), Makosso, and Dave Makondele, and vocalists Djo Mpoyi (later with TPOK Jazz), Marcel "Djeskain" Loko, Bumba Massa, and Jean-Papy Ramazani (the latter three of whom would join Wuta Mayi in Kékélé, decades later).

Musical career edit

Early professional career (1968–1974) edit

Wuta Mayi began his professional career in 1968, joining the band Orchestre Bamboula as a vocalist. The band was created in November of that year by guitarist Papa Noel (Antoine or Anthony Nedule).[6]: 146  Another member was guitarist Paul Mansiamina Mfoko, or Bopol. Bopol was the same age as Wuta Mayi, having been born in Leopoldville on July 26, 1949, and both were then beginning their professional musical careers after high school. This was the start of a decades-long collaborative musical relationship between the two. Other band members included other vocalists Aime Kiwakana, Pires, and Tino Mwinkwa, Jeff Lunam on saxophone, and Mangenza on drums, as well as Madilu System, Pepe Kalle and Bozi Boziana. Orchestre Bamboula made its official debut in February 1969 in the town of Limete. That same year, Orchestre Bamboula was chosen, by winning a competition among the country's top bands, to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the first Pan-African Festival of Culture in Algiers, Algeria. The band known as Bantous de la Capitale represented the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). Orchestre Bamboula broke up, however, shortly after its return from Algiers.[7]

He was later a member of several other bands, including Rock'a Mambo and Orchestre Continentale. He formed the latter band in 1971 with Bopol and Tino Mwinkwa from Bamboula, as well as other musicians including Josky Kiambukuta and "Serpent" Kabamba.[6]: 183, 270 

With TPOK Jazz (1974–1982) edit

In 1974, Wuta Mayi left Orcheste Continental to join TPOK Jazz, after an invitation relayed through Josky Kiambukuta. Wuta Mayi played with TPOK Jazz until 1982, leaving before Franco's death in 1989.[6]: 270 

Other vocalists in TPOK Jazz at that time included Josky Kiambukuta, Michel Boyibanda, Youlou Mabiala, Ndombe Opetum and Aime Kiwakana. Wuta Mayi is credited to have composed a number of songs for TPOK Jazz during his eight-year tenure there, including Melou (1975), Basala la vie (1978), Ayant Droit (1980), Moleka, Beyou (1980), and Tuti (1981).

As a solo artist, and with Les Quatre Etoiles and other groups (1982–present) edit

In 1982, Wuta Mayi needed to come to Paris for medical treatment. He decided to stay there after three friends from Kinshasa who had moved to Paris, Bopol, Nyboma, and Syran Mbenza, invited him to record with them. In 1982 they recorded, 4 Grandes Vedettes de la Musique Africaine, which was issued in 1983 and would later be seen as the first record of the group they formed, Les Quatre Etoiles (the Four Stars).[6]: 270 

Between then and 1993, in addition to recording and performing with Les Quatre Etoiles, he released six solo albums, as well as one credited to him and Congolese guitarist Dino Vangu (listed as "Dino Vangou"). He also contributed to many other records.

In the mid 1990s, with Papa Noel, Bopol and others,[8] he formed the band Odemba. However the band failed to fully launch due to lack of funds.[citation needed]

In the early 2000s, Wuta Mayi, Nyboma, Syran Mbenza, Djeskain Loko Massengo, Sammy Bumba Massa, Papa Noel, and Jean-Papy Ramazani formed a band called Kékélé that toured extensively in Europe and North America. Kékélé means "vines that are used in villages in Africa to make connections". The band plays entirely using acoustic guitars, drums and percussions.[9]

In 2019, more than 25 years after his previous solo release and more than 50 years after beginning his professional musical career, Wuta Mayi issued a new solo album, La Face Cachee, which received positive reviews.[5][3]

Discography edit

(his name is sometimes spelled "Wuta May", and sometimes hyphenated, on record and CD covers)

  • Le Beach (Eddy'Son 79419) (1982)
  • Dino Vangou et Wuta May – Cheque Sans Provision (or Kina-Rama Presente Dino Vangou a La Guitare et Wuta May Au Chant Dans Cheque sans Provision) (1982)
  • Wuta May (Kino-Rama KRLP 1003) (1983)
  • Zalaka Mayele (1983)
  • Ole La Vie (Eddy'Son 79427) (1983)
  • Tout Mal Se Paie Ici Bas (1984)
  • Blaise Pasco Chante Saka Mache (1993)
  • La Face Cachee (2019)

Notes edit

  1. ^ One source states, inconsistently with those cited, that his birth name was Blaise Pasco Mayanda, but it seems less authoritative than other sources including interviews. Eyre, Banning (27 September 2019). "La Face Cachée (review)". Afropop Worldwide. Retrieved 26 November 2020.

References edit

  1. ^ "Syran Mbenza & Ensemble Rumba Kongo – Immortal Franco: Africa's Unrivalled Guitar Legend – World Music Network – Store". World Music Network.
  2. ^ a b c d e f NZOLANI, José. . sergediantantu.com (in French). Archived from the original on 15 December 2009. English translation, originally posted on the Vibes d'Afrique board under the title "Wuta Mayi & Bopol Mansiamina," archived as of 26 March 2012, available .
  3. ^ a b "Wuta Mayi: La Face Cachée (review)". World Listening Post. 28 January 2020. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Orchestre Jamel". MBOKAMOSIKA (in French). Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  5. ^ a b Eyre, Banning (27 September 2019). "La Face Cachée (review)". Afropop Worldwide. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d Stewart, Gary (2000). Rumba on the river: a history of the popular music of the two Congos. London: Verso. ISBN 1-85984-744-7.
  7. ^ "L'orchestre Bamboula de Papa Noël". MBOKAMOSIKA (in French). Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Papa Noel, Cafe Noir (Tumi Music) – Feature article from The Beat". Rock Paper Scissors. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  9. ^ Recording of A Song By Kékélé In 2008 on YouTube

External links edit

  • Context of original French article, with audio link
  • Wuta Mayi discography at Discogs

October 26, 2023
wuta, mayi, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article, talk, . This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Wuta Mayi news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gaspard Wuta Mayi commonly known as Wuta Mayi is a Congolese rumba and soukous vocalist and composer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo DRC From 1974 to 1982 he was a member of the band TPOK Jazz led by Franco Francois Luambo Makiadi which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s 1 Since leaving TPOK Jazz he has recorded and performed as a solo artist in addition to being one of the four members of the supergroup Les Quatre Etoiles The Four Stars and subsequently a member of Kekele Wuta MayiBirth nameGaspard Wuta MayiAlso known asGaspard Wuta Paschal Gaspard Mayi Blaise PascoBorn 1949 08 09 9 August 1949 age 74 Kinshasa DR CongoOriginCongoleseGenresRumbaOccupation s Singer songwriterInstrument s VocalsYears active1968 2011 Contents 1 Background 2 Musical career 2 1 Early professional career 1968 1974 2 2 With TPOK Jazz 1974 1982 2 3 As a solo artist and with Les Quatre Etoiles and other groups 1982 present 3 Discography 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksBackground editWuta Mayi was born on 9 August 1949 at Leopold General Hospital in then Leopoldville now Kinshasa the capital of and largest city in what was then the Belgian Congo was later among other names Zaire and is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2 This singer has been known by a variety of names one source notes that Gaspard Wuta Mayi is also known as Gaspard Wuta Paschal Gaspard Mayi Wuta Mayandi Yundula and Blaise Pasco 3 He was given the name Gaspard soon after birth 2 note 1 Later as a child the name Pascal was added after his maternal grandfather Pascal Gaspard Mayandi 2 During 1967 68 while he was with Orchestre Jamel National a member of his family who had studied in Europe nicknamed him Blaise to make him Blaise Pascal and from then on he was known as Blaise Pasco 2 4 Around 1974 at about the time he joined TPOK Jazz under Zaire s authenticite campaign under President Mobutu he changed his name to the more authentic Congolese name Wata Undula Mayanda or Wuta Mayandi Yundula known as Wuta Mayi 5 2 In any event he has recorded and performed since the 1970s under the name Wuta Mayi although sometimes that name is hyphenated and some of his solo album covers spell it as Wuta May He went to school in Kinshasa studying at Josephine Charlotte School for his elementary education continuing on to the Saint Andre commercial technical school in the city s Limete commune and doing part of his high school education at the Athenaeum of Ngiri Ngiri 2 In 1967 at the age of 18 while still a student he joined the band Orchestre Jamel National previously known as Jamel Jazz based in the commune of Dendal He became friends with another vocalist in the band Aime Kiwakana born Emmanuel Kiala who would later join TPOK Jazz Other musicians who made their start at Jamel included saxophonist Empompo Loway also later with TPOK Jazz guitarists Bavon Marie Marie the only brother of Franco Luambo Makosso and Dave Makondele and vocalists Djo Mpoyi later with TPOK Jazz Marcel Djeskain Loko Bumba Massa and Jean Papy Ramazani the latter three of whom would join Wuta Mayi in Kekele decades later Musical career editEarly professional career 1968 1974 edit Wuta Mayi began his professional career in 1968 joining the band Orchestre Bamboula as a vocalist The band was created in November of that year by guitarist Papa Noel Antoine or Anthony Nedule 6 146 Another member was guitarist Paul Mansiamina Mfoko or Bopol Bopol was the same age as Wuta Mayi having been born in Leopoldville on July 26 1949 and both were then beginning their professional musical careers after high school This was the start of a decades long collaborative musical relationship between the two Other band members included other vocalists Aime Kiwakana Pires and Tino Mwinkwa Jeff Lunam on saxophone and Mangenza on drums as well as Madilu System Pepe Kalle and Bozi Boziana Orchestre Bamboula made its official debut in February 1969 in the town of Limete That same year Orchestre Bamboula was chosen by winning a competition among the country s top bands to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the first Pan African Festival of Culture in Algiers Algeria The band known as Bantous de la Capitale represented the Republic of the Congo Congo Brazzaville Orchestre Bamboula broke up however shortly after its return from Algiers 7 He was later a member of several other bands including Rock a Mambo and Orchestre Continentale He formed the latter band in 1971 with Bopol and Tino Mwinkwa from Bamboula as well as other musicians including Josky Kiambukuta and Serpent Kabamba 6 183 270 With TPOK Jazz 1974 1982 edit In 1974 Wuta Mayi left Orcheste Continental to join TPOK Jazz after an invitation relayed through Josky Kiambukuta Wuta Mayi played with TPOK Jazz until 1982 leaving before Franco s death in 1989 6 270 Other vocalists in TPOK Jazz at that time included Josky Kiambukuta Michel Boyibanda Youlou Mabiala Ndombe Opetum and Aime Kiwakana Wuta Mayi is credited to have composed a number of songs for TPOK Jazz during his eight year tenure there including Melou 1975 Basala la vie 1978 Ayant Droit 1980 Moleka Beyou 1980 and Tuti 1981 As a solo artist and with Les Quatre Etoiles and other groups 1982 present edit In 1982 Wuta Mayi needed to come to Paris for medical treatment He decided to stay there after three friends from Kinshasa who had moved to Paris Bopol Nyboma and Syran Mbenza invited him to record with them In 1982 they recorded 4 Grandes Vedettes de la Musique Africaine which was issued in 1983 and would later be seen as the first record of the group they formed Les Quatre Etoiles the Four Stars 6 270 Between then and 1993 in addition to recording and performing with Les Quatre Etoiles he released six solo albums as well as one credited to him and Congolese guitarist Dino Vangu listed as Dino Vangou He also contributed to many other records In the mid 1990s with Papa Noel Bopol and others 8 he formed the band Odemba However the band failed to fully launch due to lack of funds citation needed In the early 2000s Wuta Mayi Nyboma Syran Mbenza Djeskain Loko Massengo Sammy Bumba Massa Papa Noel and Jean Papy Ramazani formed a band called Kekele that toured extensively in Europe and North America Kekele means vines that are used in villages in Africa to make connections The band plays entirely using acoustic guitars drums and percussions 9 In 2019 more than 25 years after his previous solo release and more than 50 years after beginning his professional musical career Wuta Mayi issued a new solo album La Face Cachee which received positive reviews 5 3 Discography edit his name is sometimes spelled Wuta May and sometimes hyphenated on record and CD covers Le Beach Eddy Son 79419 1982 Dino Vangou et Wuta May Cheque Sans Provision or Kina Rama Presente Dino Vangou a La Guitare et Wuta May Au Chant Dans Cheque sans Provision 1982 Wuta May Kino Rama KRLP 1003 1983 Zalaka Mayele 1983 Ole La Vie Eddy Son 79427 1983 Tout Mal Se Paie Ici Bas 1984 Blaise Pasco Chante Saka Mache 1993 La Face Cachee 2019 Notes edit One source states inconsistently with those cited that his birth name was Blaise Pasco Mayanda but it seems less authoritative than other sources including interviews Eyre Banning 27 September 2019 La Face Cachee review Afropop Worldwide Retrieved 26 November 2020 References edit Syran Mbenza amp Ensemble Rumba Kongo Immortal Franco Africa s Unrivalled Guitar Legend World Music Network Store World Music Network a b c d e f NZOLANI Jose Wuta Mayi et Bopol les amis jumeaux de la musique congolaise English translation Wuta Mayi and Bopol twin friends of Congolese music sergediantantu com in French Archived from the original on 15 December 2009 English translation originally posted on the Vibes d Afrique board under the title Wuta Mayi amp Bopol Mansiamina archived as of 26 March 2012 available here a b Wuta Mayi La Face Cachee review World Listening Post 28 January 2020 Retrieved 26 November 2020 Orchestre Jamel MBOKAMOSIKA in French Retrieved 28 November 2020 a b Eyre Banning 27 September 2019 La Face Cachee review Afropop Worldwide Retrieved 26 November 2020 a b c d Stewart Gary 2000 Rumba on the river a history of the popular music of the two Congos London Verso ISBN 1 85984 744 7 L orchestre Bamboula de Papa Noel MBOKAMOSIKA in French Retrieved 22 August 2017 Papa Noel Cafe Noir Tumi Music Feature article from The Beat Rock Paper Scissors Retrieved 27 November 2020 Recording of A Song By Kekele In 2008 on YouTubeExternal links editBiography of Wuta Mayi translation from French of Jose Nzolani and Serge Diantantu Wuta Mayi and Bopol twin friends of Congolese music at the Wayback Machine Original French article Jose Nzolani and Serge Diantantu Wuta Mayi et Bopol les amis jumeaux de la musique congolaise at the Wayback Machine Context of original French article with audio link Wuta Mayi discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wuta Mayi amp oldid 1170053429, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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