{UAH} THE RISE OF MBILIA BEL

One day, Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, known as Tabuley Rochereau, was seated at home watching television when a young lady singer appeared on the screen. This lady was M'bilia Bel, during her time with Sam Mangwana. At that moment, Tabuley was penning a new song titled "Mpeve ya Longo" and was eager to find a female vocalist for it. After seeing her perform on television, he sent for M'bilia Bel. However, she was not interested; her ten years in the Zairean music industry had left a bad taste in her mouth. She turned down Rochereau's offer, stating that music was no longer appealing to her.

Despite her initial reluctance, repeated persuasion from friends and acquaintances, who recognized Tabuley as a significant figure in the music industry, eventually led M'bilia to reconsider. She succumbed to the pressure and joined Afrisa International. "I am going to give you something bigger and more valuable than money," Tabuley promised her. This marked a turning point in her career.

M'bilia Bel quickly rose to fame and became a prominent figure in the music scene, even having a daughter named Melody with Tabuley. Their record label, Genidia, produced numerous hits, including "Cadance Mudande," "Boyaye," "Résidence Marina," "Paka Wewe Loyenge," "Nadina," "Emande," "Frigo FNMA," and "Keyna." During the 1981 audition, M'bilia was given "Mpeve ya Longo," a song that later became known as "Kamunga." The Super Mazembe band from Kenya later covered this song, releasing it as "Jiji."

Interestingly, the theme of "Mpeve ya Longo," which was M'bilia's first outing with Afrisa in 1981, mirrored the theme of "Wendenda," her last contribution to the band in 1987. The lyrics address the struggles of a lonely mother whose restless husband abandons her to care for their children. Following her departure from Afrisa International, she embraced a solo career and expressed her feelings through songs like "Mayavele," a composition by Rigo Star. During an interview with Machokaa in Kenya, she passionately stated, "It is a song warning girls not to get involved with other people's husbands... Mh!"

M'bilia Bel, born on March 9, 1959, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is celebrated for her powerful voice and significant contributions to African music. She is often regarded as one of the leading female vocalists in the soukous genre, and her collaborations with various artists have left a lasting impact on the music industry.

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