Kinshasa, May 28th, 2025 (CPA) – The musical influences attributed to the success of artist Koffi Olomide from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been discussed on Wednesday in Kinshasa during a telephone interview with a cultural operator, ahead of his concert scheduled for July 19th in Paris, France.
‘The musical influences that shaped the career of singer Koffi Olomide include the group of Congolese students in Belgium, the Los Nickelos orchestra, as well as legendary singers such as Tabu Ley, not to mention his various collaborations with artists such as Emeneya and the group Zaiko Langa Langa,’ has said the cultural operator Yves Kambala. Before making his breakthrough in music, Koffi Olomide, a student in Bordeaux, France, spent his free time by writing songs for the famous musician Papa Wemba. Attracted by Rochereau, he eventually founded his own group, ‘Quartier Latin,’ in which he expresses his unique vision of rumba under the musical identity of ‘Tchatcho.’ « From his beginnings in the 1980s, Koffi Olomide has established himself as an innovator in the Congolese music scene. He brilliantly blends the traditional rhythms of Soukous, Congolese rumba and modern influences from world music, jazz and pop. His unique style, which is elegant, complex and danceable, has enabled him to conquer not only Africa, but also Europe, North America and the Caribbean, » has said Yves Kambala. ‘Over the decades, Koffi Olomide has remained relevant by constantly renewing his repertoire while retaining the essence of his musical identity. He has trained and inspired generations of artists while remaining an essential reference in the world of African music,’ he has added. In addition Yddiveons Kambala also welcomed the appointment of singer Koffi Olomide on May 22nd, 2025 as a permanent member of the Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers (Sacem), a recognition he saw as a tribute to his significant contributions to the field of music. « Sacem, founded in 1851, is a central institution in the protection of copyright in France and internationally. Being appointed a permanent member is a distinction reserved for artists whose work and artistic impact are recognised as being on a par with the greatest. For Koffi Olomide, this appointment is a crowning achievement that rewards decades of commitment, creativity and passion for music. It is also recognition from a community that now fully understands the richness and complexity of African music, which is often underestimated on the international scene, » he has said. Koffi Olomide thus joins renowned artists such as Youssou N’Dour, Angelique Kidjo, Stromae, and legends such as Miriam Makeba and Fela Kuti, who have also been honoured by Sacem. This integration marks a turning point in the institutional recognition of African music, which is beginning to be treated on an equal footing with Western productions, it is remembered.