Africa-Press – Zambia. The rivary between the two giants of Congolese music was termed as one of the bitterest musically and personally rivary in Congo’s music history..!
It was so bad to the extend that Papa Wemba(RIP) had forbiden Koffi from ever attending his fineral in case he died and vice verse! Koffi did just as Papa wished!
The history of these two friends dates back to 1970, while young Koffi started becoming an associate in the group Viva La Musica…a very good composer Papa Wemba gave him a platform and exposure to fullfill his musical dream..even giving him his famous stage name ‘Olomide’. Many projects followed untill 1986 when Koffi started working on his own.
Trouble:
The trouble in relationship begun around 1993/4..from a personal problem btwn them, when Papa Wemba started dating Rosette Kamono who was Koffi’s favourite female dancer..ohh he was not impressed at all and its said that he retaliated by snatching one of Papa’s mistresses!😊 the game was draw but a life long riff had been created!
In around 1994-6, another dimension of the conflict emerged in form of Felix Wazekwa…Felix had begun as a composer friend of Koffi even helping him in the composition of the album NOBLESS OBLIGE, but in 1994 started working for Papa Wemba in the albums FORIDOLE 1994 and POLE POSITION 1996.the two albums that brought back Papa to the top after along span of poor parformance- Koffi was not happy at all! putting Felix in the same rivary status as Papa.
In 1996, through their common friends..they reconciled and released the reconcilliation album WAKE UP, but soon after that, the relationship btwn them hit a snag! When Papa Wemba accused Koffi of refusing to share equally the huge amount of money paid by the donors of that project…he even started the process of suing him!
Next: Increased rivary 1999-2016
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