Debaba

Cleophas Claude Dieka Mbaki (12 October 1961 – 24 April 2011), known professionally as Debaba, Debaba El Shabab, or Debaba Mbaki, was a Congolese singer-songwriter and composer. Born and raised in Kinshasa, Dieka made his public musical debut with the band Véritable Sakana Musica. In 1975, he became a member of Kanako Shiprike Bango orchestra, founded by Tonton Boutshie (often spelled Butshe).

Early life and career

1961–1977: Childhood, education and music debut Debaba was born Cleophas Claude Dieka Mbaki on 12 October 1961 in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), in what was then the Republic of the Congo (and was later Zaire, and is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). His father, Simba Simba, served in the Zairean military, while his mother, Mbombo Pascaline, worked as a vendor at Marché Central. He grew up in Barumbu, living on Kindu Avenue with his cousin Hyppolite, and attended the Petit Séminaire Saint Jean Berchmans de Lemfu, a Catholic boarding institution operated by the Catholic Brothers, located 32 kilometers away from Kisantu. While with Viva La Musica, he composed the 1981 hit "Abidjan" accompanied by Bengali Petit Prince, Fafa De Molokaï and Maray Maray, featuring Huit Kilos Nseka on the guitar and Itshiari Mukulapio on percussion (lokole). Historia Musica included other members like Cele Le Roi, Desouza Santu, Koko Anana Efoloko, Muzola Ngunga (formerly of Orchestre Kiam), Laza le Chestre, Coco Coluche, Djoe Mile, Derval, Adamo Leovis, Moreno, Athos, Autri, Commando, and Lokombe Bola Bolite. He also contributed his voice to guitarist Roxy Tshimpaka's "Jardin de mon cœur", Ben Nyamabo's "Riana" and "Kelemani", Djuna Djanana's "Mbuma Elengi", Carlyto Lassa's "Mauvais Souvenir", "Pressé te", "Terminus", and "Mokolo Mosusu", the latter of which was written by Sedjoka. He also appeared in Rapha Bounzeki's album Résultat du Dimanche alongside Carlyto that same year. However, as the 1990s dawned, Choc Stars started to lose its pace. Band members gradually left, and Debaba remained the sole leader, steering the group through challenging times as its conductor and president until his eventual departure in 1994. The album's success, especially the hit "Le Dieu qui connait tout", helped launch Misamu's solo career.

That year, Debaba released the album Musamaliya, which was co-produced by BZ & Associés and Glenn Music. On 24 April 2011, Debaba died at approximately 2 am. with his burial at Mbenseke Cemetery in the Mont-Ngafula commune.

Discography

Solo

Sauvetage (1988) Debaba et Soukous Stars (1991) Licencié sans Fonction (with Madilu System) (1994) Musamaliya (1997) Seigneur (alternatively named Nazhirea (Who's That Girl?) (1998) Il est au-dessus de Tout (1998) Lisitwale (1999) Merci Jésus (2010)

With Viva La Musica

"Abidjan" (1981)

With Historia Esthétique

Kayikoley (1985) Faux Parisien (1985)

With Choc Stars

"Zikondo" (1987) Zaïco (with Vincent Dusart and Nzaya Nzayadio) (1989)