Aurlus Mabélé

Benoit Aurélien Miatsonama (24 October 1953 – 19 March 2020) known professionally as Aurlus Mabélé, was a Congolese singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, dancer, bandleader, and sapeur. Often referred to as the "King of Soukous", he was one of the leading figures in the genre during a career spanning more than three decades. He sold more than 10 million albums worldwide and helped popularize soukous outside Africa, especially in France, Belgium, and the Caribbean. His hits include "Betty", "Asta Di", "Loketo", "Vacances aux Antilles", "Zebola", "Femme ivoirienne", "Ebouka", "Sans frontières", "Waka Waka", and "Liste Rouge".

Born in Poto-Poto, Brazzaville, Mabélé began his musical career as a student in the early 1970s. In 1974, he co-founded the band Les Ndimbola Lokole,

In 1974, together with fellow Congolese musicians including Mav Cacharel, Jean Baron Ngouala, Pedro Wapechkado, Cortey Maboundou, and brothers Eddy and Darry Diaboua, Mabélé co-founded the band Les Ndimbola Lokole. He established himself as a songwriter whose lyrics centered on themes that appealed to young audiences. According to Ossinondé, Ndimbola Lokole's music reflected a break from the dominant musical and social norms of the period. It received little attention after Totem Music shut down soon afterward. Mabélé wrote all of the songs, while the record was directed by Tanawa and featured bassist Kinzonzi André Du Soleil, drummer David Tochino, lead guitarists Souzy Kasseya and Syran Mbenza, and rhythm guitarists Petit Poisson and Rigo Star. Dibala played lead guitar and co-arranged the music, supported by Pablo Lubadika Porthos on rhythm guitar, Remy Salomon on bass, Ti Jean on drums, Houetinou on electronic drums, and A. Jean Luc on violin, cello, and synthesizer. Mabélé sang lead vocals, played the maracas and cloche, a bell-shaped percussion instrument, and co-produced the album with Houetinou. Reviewing the album, music critic Robert Christgau said that even though Mabélé was the main vocalist, Dibala's guitar playing dominated the album, "piling signature riff on signature riff", while "his guitar lines and interludes lift and lyricize the boss's stripped-down Afrodisco". This was followed by the band's six-track album Explosion, for which Mabélé composed "Pardon" and "Douce Isabelle". Mabélé also released the six-track Soukouss La Terreur that year, while Dibala issued Mondo Ry with Loketo. The band also appeared on John Boxingo's self-titled five-track album John Boxingo. They performed several concerts across Africa and Europe—especially in Paris—before appearing at SOB's in New York City, which Afropop Worldwide called the "gateway for African groups seeking to tour in America". During this period, the fashion movement La Sape emerged alongside the kwassa kwassa in Paris. Stewart noted that its rise was fitting, as Zairean sapeurs were arriving in large numbers, with Paris providing easy access to the designs of Pierre Cardin, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Giorgio Armani, and Gianni Versace. That same year, Loketo released the seven-track Choc A Distance, which included Mabélé's songs "Zenab" and "V.M.". The album was produced by the Kenyan label Editions D'Ivoire and reissued in 1993 by Jimmy's International Production, which also released Mabélé's seven-track 1994 album Génération-Wachiwa Encaisse Tout, recorded with Loketo. While touring Kenya, fellow Congolese singer Nyboma informed audiences of Mabélé's illness and called on fans to pray for his recovery. During one of his performances, Nyboma honored him by performing one of Mabélé's songs.

Mabélé was admitted to a hospital in Eaubonne on 19 March 2020 and died that night after contracting COVID-19. His daughter Liza Monet announced his death on Twitter, while former Loketo member Mav Cacharel also shared the news on Facebook. However, Houetinou told BBC Afrique that Mabélé's death from coronavirus had not been officially confirmed and cited his longstanding health issues.

Personal life Mabélé was married to a woman from Réunion, and they had a daughter, French rapper Liza Monet, who was born on 12 April 1989 in Clamart, Hauts-de-Seine. According to the Nairobi-based media outlet Kenyapage, his wife, Liza, left him after his health deteriorated following a stroke that left him partially paralyzed.

Discography

Solo 1982: Na La Vie (Totem Music) 1983: Nicoletta, Fille des Antilles (Afro Rythmes) 1986: Africa Mousso (Femme D'Afrique) (Jimmy's International Production) 1986: Soukouss La Terreur (Jimmy's International Production) 1991: King of Soukous (Sound Wave Records) 1991: Embargo (Jimmy International Production) 1992: Stop, Arrêtez! (Jimmy International Production) 1994: Génération-Wachiwa Encaisse Tout (Jimmy International Production) 1998: Tour De Controle (Jimmy International Production) 2000: Dossier X (Jimmy's International Production) 2004: Ça Va Ce Savoir? (Debs Music) 2019: Elephants Ambiance (Jimmy's International Production)