Félix Nlandu Wazekwa (born 14 September 1962) is a Congolese singer-songwriter, author, filmmaker, dancer, and bandleader. Known for his Lingala deep lyrics and baritone voice, he is regarded as an influential figure in soukous and Congolese rumba music and one of the most prominent lyricists of his generation.
Wazekwa began his music career as a member of the Kinshasa-based group Kin-Verso. In 1995, he released his debut solo studio album, Tétragramme. In 1997, Wazekwa formed his band, Cultur'A Pays-Vie, and released his second studio album titled Pauvres, Mais. His third studio album, Bonjour Monsieur, published in November 1998, became a significant success throughout Africa and won him the ACMCO Revelation of the Year award. In 1999, Wazekwa released his fourth studio album, Sponsor, followed by Signature (2001) and Yo Nani? (2002). His later albums include Et Après... (2004), Faux Mutu Moko Boye (2005), Que Demande Le Peuple? (2008), Mémoire ya Nzambe (2010), Adamu na Eva (2013), and I Love You, which came out in January 2015.
Wazekwa gained widespread recognition with his breakout ndombolo-infused single, "Fimbu", which debuted in September 2015 in support of the Congolese national football team, nicknamed Les Léopards. It gained significant popularity during the run-up to the 2016 African Nations Championship and went on to become a sleeper hit in 2017 during the Africa Cup of Nations. The song also introduced the "Fimbu chicotte" dance, where players raised their right hand, snapped it down like a whip, kept their left arm stretched out, and moved together with short, matching steps across the field. In 2020, Wazekwa released his thirteenth studio album, Article 23.
His book Les Petits Bonbons de la Sagesse was published by Éditions Bergame on 10 January 2018.
Early life and career
1962–1995: Childhood, education and music debut Félix Nlandu Wazekwa was born on 14 September 1962 in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), then part of the Belgian Congo (later the Republic of the Congo, then Zaïre, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), to Félix Wazekwa Ndomingiedi, a trained architect, and Marie Luvuma. His father worked for the Ministry of Public Works and Land Planning, the World Bank, and the Office of Roads. He was also involved in business, belonged to the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Congo (Confédération des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises du Congo, COPEMECO), and led the "Construction and Buildings" group in Kinshasa. Wazekwa was drawn to music at a young age and formed a troupe of local children in the 1970s, and became known for dancing. He later formed a traditional music band called SODEPA in Matete, where he was noted for his singing and dancing. Then, between 1982 and 1983, he started another band called Kin-Verso in the same area.
After graduating from high school with a French baccalaureate from the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa, Wazekwa pursued economics studies at Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis in 1985. Besides his studies, he taught himself by reading many books, which sparked his interest in the works of writers such as Henry Nelson Wieman, Paul Valéry, Jean d'Ormesson, and Michel Serres. After completing his studies, he returned to Kinshasa and began writing songs for several up-and-coming Zairean artists. His work soon seized the attention of Koffi Olomidé, who used many of Wazekwa's compositions in several albums released between 1991 and 1993, such as Haut De Gamme - Koweit, Rive Gauche, and Noblesse Oblige.
After working with Koffi Olomidé for a short time, Papa Wemba asked Wazekwa to help with songwriting. In 1994, Wazekwa wrote four songs for Viva La Musica's album Foridoles, with "Reference" standing out as the signature track. He also claimed to have written "Nzete Ya Séquoia". The next year, he worked again with Papa Wemba by contributing to the album Pôle Position.
Solo career
1995–1997: Tétragramme and Pauvres, Mais… While helping produce Papa Wemba's album Pôle Position, Wazekwa was encouraged by Papa Wemba to begin a solo music career. That same year, he began recording his 10-track debut studio album, Tétragramme, with help from Papa Wemba and Madilu System. In an interview with Afropop Worldwide, Wazekwa said that he was also performing as a gospel singer while working on the album. Tétragramme was released in December 1995 through the French label Sun Records and blended Congolese rumba and soukous. It was arranged by Wazekwa and Didier Milla and featured guest vocals from Luciana Demingongo, Madilu System, Nyboma Mwan'dido, Papa Wemba, Shimita, and Yakini Kiese, along with backing vocals by Abby Surya, Patricia Aubou, and Valérie Colau. Rhythm guitars were played by Caien Madoka, Lokassa Ya Mbongo, and Maïka Munan, bass guitars by Guy Nsangué, Ngouma Lokito, drums by Djudjuchet Luvengoka, percussions by Mavungu Malanda, and animated vocals by atalakus Awilo Longomba, Colombani Wa Senga, and Yakini Kiese. Tétragramme received positive reviews and earned Wazekwa the Best Revelation of the Year award from the Association des Chroniqueurs de Musique du Congo (ACMCO).
In 1997, while working on his second studio album Pauvres, Mais... ("Poor, but..."), Wazekwa formed a band called Cultur'A Pays-Vie, which included new artists like Vicky Nasdaq and José Nzita. Pauvres, Mais... had ten songs and was recorded at Studio Macadam. It was released the same year and produced by Wazekwa, Claude Liongo, and Serge Masengo under the French label Rythmo-Disc. The music arrangements were done by Sec Bidens, and both Wazekwa and Bidens played acoustic guitar. The album featured main vocal performances from Wazekwa, Bozi Boziana, Luciana Demingongo, and Tabu Ley Rochereau, with backing vocals from Awa Maïga, Bitou Kikinda, Luciana Demingongo, Nyboma, Raphaël Makondika, Shimita, Solo Sita, Valérie Belinga, and Wuta Mayi. Percussion was managed by Deba Sungu, while Philippe Guez worked on programming. The album also included animated vocal parts from atalakus Papy Tshimanga and Prince Moba. The album's thematic content, which explored love and socioeconomic issues, was praised by critics. The track "Biléi Ya Mobóla" used figurative language to address love and the difficulties faced by the poor, while the eponymous single criticized the societal disregard for the poor.
1998–2004: from Bonjour Monsieur to Et Après... Wazekwa released his third studio album, Bonjour Monsieur, on 10 November 1998, which included ten tracks. The album was recorded at Studio Marcadet and produced by Cameroonian producer Jean-Pierre Saah, with Elvis Kemayo serving as executive producer. Wazekwa sang the lead vocals, supported by backing vocals from Abby Surya, Balou Canta, Luciana Demingongo, and Monglisha Kivuna. The instruments were played by different musicians, including congas by Ikonola Isibangi, drums by Komba Bellow, and mixing by Ambroise Voundi, while Thierry Galion handled programming. Nono Manzanza also appeared as an atalaku.
Bonjour Monsieur helped Wazekwa's career grow, as it came during the rise of ndombolo music. He adapted to this style by adding dance moves and choreography to his shows, which became one of his trademarks. The album also became popular because it was played on major African radio stations like Africa nº 1, which helped Cultur'A Pays Vie to gain more fans across West and Central Africa. Around this time, Joss Diena also joined his band and was seen by Wazekwa as a potential successor.
In December 1999, Wazekwa released Sponsor, a ten-song album recorded at Meko Studio in Kinshasa and Marcadet Studio in Paris. Members of Cultur'A Pays Vie based in Europe, including Deesse, Luciana, and Djanana, also took part in the project. Sponsor became an important step for the group, as it brought them more attention in the Congolese music world and led to performances in Africa and Europe. The success of Sponsor was also boosted by the help of the Congolese soft beverage company Bralima, which supported its promotion.
Wazekwa's fifth studio album, Signature, was released in mid-June 2001. Before the album came out, he took part in a meeting of the Union des Musiciens du Congo at the Vévé-Center in Kinshasa, where a patriotic song was created. The album was recorded in Paris at Marcadet Studio, included twelve songs, and was distributed by JPS Production. Signature also introduced dance crazes such as King-Kong and Ekiti Talo, along with the Male Mambwa dance created by Lady Nzongo Esobe and performed with the help of atalakus Papy Louange and Gesac Tshipoyi.
There were claims that Signature copied Koffi Olomidé's style, but Wazekwa rejected this and said he focuses on originality. To promote the album, Wazekwa and Cultur'A Pays-Vie performed at a sold-out show at the Cinemax in Kinshasa. The album's success brought him two CHADA awards for Best Artist and Best Group, as well as three ACMCO awards for Best Composer, Best Artist, and Best Orchestra.
That year, tensions arose between rival Congolese musical camps when, in July, two members of Koffi's band Quartier Latin International, atalaku J. Kanka "CNN" and singer "Mamale", were barred from participating in Koffi's major concert at the Zénith de Paris on 14 July. Following their exclusion, the pair attempted to join Cultur'A Pays-Vie but received a lukewarm reception, as the band reportedly considered its lineup complete and hesitated to integrate members from a rival band. According to Le Phare, Wazekwa was wary of being drawn into a public feud with Koffi. Nevertheless, he later integrated Quartier Latin International's members Eric Tutsi and CNN into Cultur'A Pays-Vie. Around this period, he also faced a false rumor in Matete saying he had sacrificed a band member named Boss for fame. He denied this and said it was made up by envious rivals, stating that "Stones are only thrown at ripe fruit". He said he knew who spread the rumor but did not name them.
In September 2001, Wazekwa began working on his sixth studio album, Yo Nani?. Le Phare reported that the album dealt with life questions and social issues, and he had already started ten tracks, including "La ceinture avancée", "Le corps humain", and "Parfum de la femme". He held rehearsals at the Sodima area in Matete. That same month, he was nominated for Best Male Artist of Central Africa at the 2001 Kora Awards. In May 2002, he went on a tour in Paris with Cultur'A Pays-Vie while preparing Yo Nani? and secured a deal for a concert in Paris at LSC planned for 20 July. After that, he returned to Kinshasa to finalize the album. Yo Nani? was released on 12 November by JPS Production.
Reviewing for Le Phare, Mavambu Leya Guyo, noted that the album was different from his earlier work because it moved away from a heavy guitar-driven sound and focused more on philosophical and societal commentary, especially in the hit song "Complexe". Jean-Pierre Nkutu wrote that the song used figurative language to describe an egocentric and secretive man who hides the truth, controls others, and creates fear. Some of the lyrics were seen as criticism of Koffi, and during this period, Wazekwa confirmed that he had an ongoing personal and professional dispute with him, although he did not explain the full cause. He mentioned recent issues, including a planned Quartier Latin concert in Matete that was canceled after local resistance, and soon after, the owner of Somida Bar, which had been Cultur'A Pays-Vie's base, asked him to leave the place. These events were seen by many as planned actions linked to Koffi's side.