Papa Wemba was one of the very first musicians to join the influential Soukous band, Zaiko Langa Langa when it was created on December 24, 1969 in Kinshasa (Capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) along with such well known Congolese musicians as Nyoka Longo Jossart, Manuaku Pepe Felly, Evoloko Lay Lay, Teddy Sukamu, Zamuangana Enock, Mavuela Simeon, and others.
In a Congolese musical world dominated at the time by Franco Luambo and his remarkable band TPOK Jazz, Tabu Ley Rochereau's Afrisa, and by then-new musical groups like Les Grands Maquisards, Le Trio Madjesi, and even younger bands like Bella-Bella, Thu Zaina and Empire Bakuba, the young and talented Papa Wemba (then known as Jules Presley Shungu Wembadio), was one of the driving forces that by 1973 made Zaiko Langa Langa one of the most-performing dominant Congolese groups, featuring such popular numbers as "Chouchouna" (Papa Wemba), "Eluzam" and " Mbeya Mbeya" (Evoloko Lay Lay), "BP ya Munu" (Efonge Gina) and "Zania" (Mavuela Somo).
In December 1974, at the pinnacle of their fame (and just a month after the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa), Shungu Wembadio (Papa Wemba), along with Evoloko Lay Lay, Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana (who'd joined Zaiko Langa Langa a year earlier), left Zaiko Langa Langa to establish their own musical ensemble Isifi Lokole, ISIFI being an acronym for "Institut de Savoir Ideologique pour la Formation des Idoles." In July 1975, Shungu Wembadio officially adopted the soon-to-be-well-known worldwide artist name Papa Wemba, the addition of "Papa" (father) an allusion to what were in fact rather awesome family responsiblities as the first son in a family where both father and mother (Wemba's parents) had been deceased since the 1960s.
The "feux d'artifice" (fireworks) that was Isifi Lokole would only last a year, with the single "Amazone" (Papa Wemba) as its biggest commercial "hit" record. In November 1975, Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana abandoned Evoloko Lay Lay and Isifi Lokole to create the group Yoka Lokole (also known as The Kinshasha All-Stars, or Lokole Isifi, or simply Isifi), along with Mbuta Mashakado, another Zaiko Langa Langa 'transfusion.' Yoka Lokole enjoyed slightly less popular success than the original Isifi Lokole, but for a time still managed to remain at the top the African pop music wave with hit songs like "Matembele Bangui", "Lisuma ya Zazu" (Papa Wemba), "Mavuela Sala Keba", and "Bana Kin" (Mavuela Somo).
Like Isifi Lokole, the electronic-instrument driven Yoka Lokole (or The Kinshasha All-Stars) would not last much longer than a year, given the merger of so many big-name talents in the band's lineup. After a year of modest success, controversies within Yoka Lokole over money and prestige (complicated by Wemba's arrest and brief incarceration in Kinshasa Central prison in December 1976 for the 'crime' of being suspected of having had physical intimacy with an influential army general's daughter) would lead Papa Wemba, then feeling diminished by peers and neglected by the public, to form his own group Viva la Musica in February 1977.
At his home in the Matonge neighborhood of Kinshasa, Papa Wemba structured Viva la Musica around young talented artists like singers Kisangani Esperant, Jadot le Cambodgien, Pepe Bipoli and Petit Aziza, guitarists Rigo Star, Syriana, and Bongo Wende. The group had nearly instantaneous success, with hit songs like "Mere Superieure," "Mabele Mokonzi," "Bokulaka," "Princesse ya Sinza," and others.
During the height of his success in 1977, Papa Wemba's family home, which had become a popular, some even said hallowed/special place for Matonge youths to gather "à la mode" (i.e., to be cool) was named the "Village Molokai," and Wemba assumed the exalted moniker "Chef Coutumier" (Chief) of the Village of Molokai. In those days people referred to Papa Wemba as the "chief from the heartland (village)" to differentiate him from Kinshasa-born musical bigshots Mavuela Somo and Mashakado. However years later Mavuela would say that their difficulties only simply amounted to trivial foolishness over money, ambition and fame between some very-young people (that at the time they all were).
Since 1977, Viva la Musica has seen both the 'defections' of musicians every two or three years and the entrée and emergence of other new talents. King Kester Emeneya (1977-1982), Koffi Olomide (1978-1979), Djuna Djanana (1978-1981), Dindo Yogo (1979-1981), Maray-Maray (1980-1984), Lidjo Kwempa (1982-2001), Reddy Amissi (1982-2001), Stino Mubi (1983-2001) are among the currently well-known Congolese musicians who have served at one time or another with Viva la Musica. An old Kinshasa anecdote says that a college student then-named Antoine Agbepa Koffi was such an impressive songwriter that one day in 1977 Papa Wemba exhorted, "Ooh! l'homme idee" (Oh! the idea-man!) thereby on-the-spot renaming the impressive young singer-songwriter Koffi 'Olomide'--and the name stuck!
After the wave of African emigration to Europe in the 1990s, Wemba maintained one group in Kinshasa (called at times "Nouvelle Ecriture," "Nouvel Ecrita," and now again "Viva la Musica") and another one in Paris ("Nouvelle Generation," "La Cour des Grands," and now "Viva Tendance"). He has also consistently maintained a very high profile in World Music with such great hits as "L'Esclave" (1986), "Le Voyageur, Maria Valencia" (1992), "Foridoles, Dixieme Commandement" (1994), "Emotion" (1995), "Pole Position" (1996), "Fula Ngenge" (1999), "Bakala dia Kuba" (2001), and "Somo Trop" (2003). Many would assign Wemba the status of African-music "living legend," as few others in history could claim (Franco Luambo, Tabu Ley Rochereau, and Miriam Makeba certainly among them).
Papa Wemba is also known as an actor. In 1987, he played the male lead role in the successful Zairean (Congolese) film La Vie est Belle by Belgian director Benoit Lami and Congolese producer-director Ngangura Mweze.
Bravo Cathy
Papa Wemba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo kuna sans ko yeba,
A kanga mambu mingi, Na motema ennui d'amour.
Ba souvenirs, na lulaki ye se kitoko,
Po motema pe eza na kati,
Mabe na yeba,
Yo oko kosaka
To ko sala bolole
Mu lolendo ekoti zamba,
Ba seki ye na mitema.
Ba fêter ye ye ye ye ye ye oyé ooh
Oyeba solo, bolingo ezangi mvula eh, ezangi,
Ezangi pe miso eh,
Sombo oy na pakala, niso se bolingo Cathy
Le colonnel Jagger, ami d'enfance. Molokai
Na kamue yo Cathy, na yebaki yo Malamu te oh, na kosa yo pe Chanel
Après 3 pasi trop
Pasi, Pasi na ba koseli nga makambu,
Motema kaka oyo elulaki à la folie,
Ekomi ko beta mbangu.
Zuli Zulema, Kufikisa, Muana ya Paris
Zeise Marianne.
Likambo ya Nga na yo, na samba na nani likambo ya bolingo,
Na lela se motema e talela ngai likambo oyo,
Na mema yo ... motema mosika na misu ya bato,
Na linga yo lokola muana ya moke na kati ya maboko,
Ah chérie, Ya alain eh
Ah Chérie eh, talela nga likambo.
Soki yo Mbula, ngai ngai mabele
Ah ngai ayoyo ayoyoyo ayo
Soki yo butu ... likolo
Ah Ngai ayoyo ayoyoyo ayo
Soki yo l'amour, Ngai olilimbi na yo eh.
The song "Bravo Cathy" by Papa Wemba is a testament to a deep and meaningful love. The lyrics speak to the joy and pain that come with love, and how it can lead to both happiness and heartache. The song is addressed to Cathy, a woman that Papa Wemba clearly had strong feelings for. He reminisces about their shared memories, calling them beautiful, and talks about how his heart is full of love for her. However, he also acknowledges the times they have faced difficulties in their relationship, and how at times he has felt lost and uncertain. Despite this, Papa Wemba also expresses his gratitude for Cathy and her love, calling her his "Bravo Cathy."
One interesting aspect of the song is the way it blends different cultures and influences. Papa Wemba was known for incorporating both traditional African rhythms and Western pop and rock music into his songs. "Bravo Cathy" features a mix of African-style percussion and guitar riffs, as well as elements of French pop music. This fusion of sounds and styles was a hallmark of Papa Wemba's music, which helped to popularize Congolese rumba and soukous around the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Bravo cathy Oh mama.
Applause for Cathy, Oh mother.
Yo kuna sans ko yeba,
When you're not around, I miss you.
A kanga mambu mingi, Na motema ennui d'amour.
I have a lot to say, and my heart is filled with love troubles.
Ba souvenirs, na lulaki ye se kitoko,
I remember well the beautiful memories of her.
Po motema pe eza na kati,
Because my heart is in the middle,
Mabe na yeba,
I know the truth,
Yo oko kosaka
You help me heal.
To ko sala bolole
To escape loneliness.
Mua elikiya esili nioso,
The joy of life is everything to me,
Mu lolendo ekoti zamba,
In the village of Zamba,
Ba seki ye na mitema.
People celebrate with all their hearts.
Ba fêter ye ye ye ye ye ye oyé ooh
They celebrate with enthusiasm.
Oyeba solo, bolingo ezangi mvula eh, ezangi,
Listen carefully, love is like rain, it falls.
Ezangi pe miso eh,
It can also be like tears.
Sombo oy na pakala, niso se bolingo Cathy
Whether happy or sad, Cathy is love.
Le colonnel Jagger, ami d'enfance. Molokai
Colonel Jagger, childhood friend. Molokai
Na kamue yo Cathy, na yebaki yo Malamu te oh, na kosa yo pe Chanel
I met you, Cathy, and found out that you're not bad, and you deserve Chanel.
Après 3 pasi trop Pasi, Pasi na ba koseli nga makambu,
After three everlasting steps, steps without stepping on thorns,
Motema kaka oyo elulaki à la folie,
My heart beats madly for you,
Ekomi ko beta mbangu.
It's becoming too much to bear.
Zuli Zulema, Kufikisa, Muana ya Paris
Zuli Zulema, Kufikisa, Parisian child
Zeise Marianne.
Zeise Marianne.
Likambo ya Nga na yo, na samba na nani likambo ya bolingo,
My problem is, who can I talk to about my love trouble?
Na lela se motema e talela ngai likambo oyo,
I see that my heart is telling me this,
Na mema yo ... motema mosika na misu ya bato,
I tell you...my heart is heavy with tears.
Na linga yo lokola muana ya moke na kati ya maboko,
I love you like a child holding onto its mother's hand,
Ah chérie, Ya alain eh
Oh darling, Alain's wife,
Ah Chérie eh, talela nga likambo.
Oh darling, tell me what's wrong.
Soki yo Mbula, ngai ngai mabele
If you're a flower, I'm a bee
Ah ngai ayoyo ayoyoyo ayo
Oh my, oh my goodness
Soki yo butu ... likolo
If you're a drum...the rhythm
Ah Ngai ayoyo ayoyoyo ayo
Oh my, oh my goodness
Soki yo l'amour, Ngai olilimbi na yo eh.
If you're love, I am walking with you.
Writer(s): Wembadio Shungu
Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@lolababalola8205
Haa mon enfance !!!
Au Milles maquis à vendre mon abolos, avec ma tante trop de souvenirs 😥
Gratitude 🙏
@rubisengwanda1693
bravo_cathy...
dernier coup de sifflet
proclamation
je suis tellement fan et amoureux de ses chansons là
@dollamceleste3864
Le Rare de l' Orchestre Viva la musica de PAPA WEMBA. La musique à la Sape.... VaLa de VaLa Weston à Kauka ( DollA StaR ) DollaR de Kaukaaaa
@lydiegnohou5908
Ta musique vivra toujours et à jamais dans nos cœurs et nos pensées... VIVA LA MUSICA !
@joelluntadila5171
Le trio celé le Roi , Paola et papa Wemba
@OrnellaChristianne-it5no
Papa Wemba forever, rest in peace
@kariukinjenga8148
I saw him live singing this song......this takes me way back! continue resting in power shungu wembadio
@lynomakunga6587
Que viva la musica! Papa wemba kaka! à jamais dans nos cœurs...
@MrAdelbat
Le formateur des idoles, le kuru yaka. Tu resteras toujours présent dans mon esprit.
@kamdemkakengne
Merci beaucoup papa Wemba. Tu resteras à jamais dans nos pensées.