Last updated: 4 hours ago
Paul Mfoko Mansiamina (26 July 1949 – 7 November 2021) a.k.a. Bopol, is one of a small and select group of musicians whose story lies at the very heart of Congolese and by that measure, African music.
Born in Leopoldville, Bopol was only 20 when he joined Papa Noel's 'Orchestra Bamboula' to represent Congo at the first Pan-African Festival of Culture held in Algiers in 1969. This was only one of many classic bands Bopol graced, including Dr Nico's 'African Fiesta Sukisa', Tabu Ley's 'Afrisa' and Sam Mangwana's 'African All-Stars'.
But Bopol's greatest achievements lay in the 1980s and 90s amongst the diaspora of Francophone Africans who, as the situations in their countries of birth deteriorated, made the cities of Europe and North America their home. By 1982 Bopol had settled in Paris and there with Syran Mbenza, Wuta Mayi and Nyboma he helped form one of the most successful groups of the time, the Quatre Etoiles.
Highly polished, chic, energetic yet sophisticated, here was a group to define the soukous sound that still today is one of the most significant and truly pan-African musics. Cutting straight to the chase with spiralling hypnotic guitar patterns, minimal horns and an insistent beat, the music urges you to dance. And dance people did: in the clubs and concert houses of the diaspora, soukous swept all before it.
Bopol Mansiamina is genuine soukous royalty.
Born in Leopoldville, Bopol was only 20 when he joined Papa Noel's 'Orchestra Bamboula' to represent Congo at the first Pan-African Festival of Culture held in Algiers in 1969. This was only one of many classic bands Bopol graced, including Dr Nico's 'African Fiesta Sukisa', Tabu Ley's 'Afrisa' and Sam Mangwana's 'African All-Stars'.
But Bopol's greatest achievements lay in the 1980s and 90s amongst the diaspora of Francophone Africans who, as the situations in their countries of birth deteriorated, made the cities of Europe and North America their home. By 1982 Bopol had settled in Paris and there with Syran Mbenza, Wuta Mayi and Nyboma he helped form one of the most successful groups of the time, the Quatre Etoiles.
Highly polished, chic, energetic yet sophisticated, here was a group to define the soukous sound that still today is one of the most significant and truly pan-African musics. Cutting straight to the chase with spiralling hypnotic guitar patterns, minimal horns and an insistent beat, the music urges you to dance. And dance people did: in the clubs and concert houses of the diaspora, soukous swept all before it.
Bopol Mansiamina is genuine soukous royalty.
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