Pepe Kalle (November 30, 1951 – November 28, 1998) was a soukous singer, mu… Read Full Bio ↴Pepe Kalle (November 30, 1951 – November 28, 1998) was a soukous singer, musician and bandleader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Pepe Kalle was born Kabasele Yampanya in Kinshasa (then Léopoldville), but later assumed the name of his mentor, Grand Kalle.
With a multi-octave vocal range and a dynamic stage presence, the 190 cm (6 feet 3 inches) and 136 kg (300 pound) vocalist recorded more than three hundred songs and twenty albums during his two decade-long career. Known affectionately as "the elephant of African music" and "La Bombe Atomique", Kalle entertained audiences with his robust performances.
His musical career started with African Jazz, the band of Grand Kalle. He later become the lead singer of Lipua Lipua, where he sung alongside Nyboma Mwandido. In 1972, Kalle along with Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex, left Lipua Lipua to form their own band named Empire Bakuba. Empire Bakuba took its name from a Congolese warrior tribe, and it pointedly incorporated rootsy rhythms from the interior, sounds that had long been sidelined by popular rumba. The band was an instant hit, and together with Zaïko Langa Langa they became Kinshasa's most popular youth band. With hits such as Pepe Kalle's Dadou and Papy Tex's Sango ya mawa, the band was a constant fixture on the charts. They also created a new dance, the kwassa kwassa.
On their tenth anniversary in 1982, the band was voted Zaïre's top group. Throughout the early 1980s, Empire Bakuba continued to tour extensively while releasing no less than four albums a year. By the mid eighties, they had a large following throughout Francophone Central and West Africa. His 1986 collaboration with Nyboma labelled Zouke-zouke was one of the years top selling albums. But it was his second collaboration with Nyboma, Moyibi (1988), which launched his popularity throughout Africa.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kalle fused elements of the fast paced version of soukous produced in Paris studios. His 1990 album, Roger Milla, a tribute to the exploits of the great Camerounian footballer, is a classic example of this arrangement.
In 1992 the band faced its first major calamity when Emoro, the band's dancing dwarf, died while on tour in Botswana. Despite this setback, Pepe Kalle's popularity continued to soar in the nineties as he released albums like Gigantafrique, Larger than life, and Cocktail. He also collaborated with other legends like Lutumba Simaro and Nyoka Longo.
Pepe Kalle died of a heart attack in November 1998.
With a multi-octave vocal range and a dynamic stage presence, the 190 cm (6 feet 3 inches) and 136 kg (300 pound) vocalist recorded more than three hundred songs and twenty albums during his two decade-long career. Known affectionately as "the elephant of African music" and "La Bombe Atomique", Kalle entertained audiences with his robust performances.
His musical career started with African Jazz, the band of Grand Kalle. He later become the lead singer of Lipua Lipua, where he sung alongside Nyboma Mwandido. In 1972, Kalle along with Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex, left Lipua Lipua to form their own band named Empire Bakuba. Empire Bakuba took its name from a Congolese warrior tribe, and it pointedly incorporated rootsy rhythms from the interior, sounds that had long been sidelined by popular rumba. The band was an instant hit, and together with Zaïko Langa Langa they became Kinshasa's most popular youth band. With hits such as Pepe Kalle's Dadou and Papy Tex's Sango ya mawa, the band was a constant fixture on the charts. They also created a new dance, the kwassa kwassa.
On their tenth anniversary in 1982, the band was voted Zaïre's top group. Throughout the early 1980s, Empire Bakuba continued to tour extensively while releasing no less than four albums a year. By the mid eighties, they had a large following throughout Francophone Central and West Africa. His 1986 collaboration with Nyboma labelled Zouke-zouke was one of the years top selling albums. But it was his second collaboration with Nyboma, Moyibi (1988), which launched his popularity throughout Africa.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kalle fused elements of the fast paced version of soukous produced in Paris studios. His 1990 album, Roger Milla, a tribute to the exploits of the great Camerounian footballer, is a classic example of this arrangement.
In 1992 the band faced its first major calamity when Emoro, the band's dancing dwarf, died while on tour in Botswana. Despite this setback, Pepe Kalle's popularity continued to soar in the nineties as he released albums like Gigantafrique, Larger than life, and Cocktail. He also collaborated with other legends like Lutumba Simaro and Nyoka Longo.
Pepe Kalle died of a heart attack in November 1998.
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Pepe Kalle Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Pepe Kalle:
Bitoto ça enregistre là? Ok, ok, Annnh Ma bonne route Je suis un co…
Divise par deux Ecoutez moi ca Gigi, yaka ko longola nga pinzoli na elongi P…
Gerant Digame usted Con quien a venido, señorita Si ha venido solit…
Michou Likambu ya michou ya motema na nga Tongo na pokwa nga…
Monano Na moni lokola ndoto, masuwa matiki libongo Na tuni pe na…
Moyibi Nayebi olingaka ngai te ooo mwana maman Nayebi olingaka mbon…
Nina Mobali na linga mama Atonda boboto Abimaka naye mingi te Kak…
Roger Milla Eliminate all of enemies illuminating off your energy Roger …
Shikamo Seye Hidaya hidaya wangu... Shikamoo seye seye seyeee Nimepoteza …
Tika makanisi Makanisi ma leki ngaï Butu butu na lala té eh Sé po…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@siblingssiblings100
You guys. Can I just get original records of these collections. Please advise. +254725447730
@cosmuskithuku4230
This is the true taste of African Rhumba...So nostalgic. Vocals, equipment...all on point!
@tfl4963
O my! This was a sweet and nostalgic song back in my early high school years in Mombasa, Kenya (1987-88). Love the sebene and memories of Pepe Kalle visiting Mombasa back then one August holiday weekend. Listening from the great state of Minnesota in the USA
@NicholasMunge
Good music bring good memories
@franciskandagor1596
Listening to this Alima,2021 Nairobi Kenya. Nothing gives back memory of early 90's like this song of pepe.thought I don't understand the language but the chorus Alima eeh,makes me miss my home land.tugen hill of baringo.
@jamesangana_lingalarumbainstit
Check out on my YouTube channel
@NicholasMunge
Whenever Pepe kalle teamed up with Nyboma it was 🔥. Best duo ever
@patricejilani5304
listening from Busan, South Korea..African Rhumba is awesome...
@patrickchachi9098
Memories ❤️