Héritier Watanabe

Héritier Bondongo Kabeya (born 29 August 1982), known professionally as Héritier Watanabe or Héritier Wata, is a Congolese singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, and bandleader. He is the founder of the Kinshasa-based orchestra Team Wata. An influential figure in fifth-generation Congolese rumba, Bondongo began singing at the age of 10 and soon joined JB Mpiana's Wenge BCBG for practice and public appearances, seeking admittance but was eventually rejected.

Bondongo gained widespread recognition after joining Werrason's Wenge Musica Maison Mère in 2001, where he co-wrote and sang on several of the band's most breakout songs, including "J'en ai assez" (2002), "Nostalgie" (2002), "Demi-Tour" (2005), "Simeon" (2006), "Confession Intime" (2008), "Sol De Mi Amor" (2008), "Par Amour" (2009), "Remise et reprise" (2011), "Le prince de la ville" (2011), "Amour vrai" (2014), and "Kimberny meilleur choix" (2014). His second album, Mi-ange mi-démon, released as a double-disc set, debuted with Tout simplement moi (Mi-Ange) on 18 December 2020, followed by Tout simplement moi (Mi-démon) on 26 February 2021. Bondongo's third album, Chemin de la gloire, came out on 15 March 2024, garnering 31,000 streams on Boomplay and climbing to 38th place on iTunes France's Top 50 albums.

Early life and career

1982–1998: Childhood, education and Wenge BCBG Héritier Bondongo Kabeya was born on 29 August 1982 in Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). He was raised by his mother, Mariam, in Bandalungwa and had no contact with his father due to family internal disputes. In a Radio France Internationale interview, Bondongo remarked, "I grew up between two working-class, somewhat ghetto quarters in the Congolese capital: Bandal, the birthplace of rumba, and Kintambo, the birthplace of traditional music, two styles that have guided my steps". His nickname "Watanabe" is a tribute to the famous Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe, who designed for the Comme des Garçons label. Watanabe began singing in a choir at Saint François Parish of Kintambo at age 10, along with future actor and producer Fiston Sai Sai and soloist Patou Solo. However, during the trip, Watanabe was stranded with guitarist Patient Kusangila during a stop in Brazzaville. He contributed to the band's studio album À La Queue Leu-Leu, which debuted on 28 December. Watanabe considered following them, but in various interviews, he expressed his loyalty to Werrason, stating that he owed him too much to leave him in such a manner. Alerte Générale signified the dawn of a new era for Wenge Musica Maison Mère, with Watanabe stepping up as the band's director, supported by drummer Papy Kakol. That same year, Watanabe performed for the third time at Zénith de Paris with Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère, where he was the only singer to deliver vocal solos before Werrason's entrance. That same year, Techno Malewa Suite & Fin, Vol. 1 was released, where Watanabe signed the song "Remise et reprise" and led the entire first part of "Le prince de la ville" written by Werrason. In February, he held his inaugural concert without Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère in Mbuji-Mayi, supported by the Airtel brand. He ultimately submitted his resignation on 8 April to the secretary-general of Wenge Musica Maison Mère. One day later, Werrason and his team reacted to Watanabe's resignation by urging him to reconsider, stating it was premature for him to launch a solo career. On 29 April, he held his first rehearsal with his newly formed orchestra, Team Wata, during which he was visited and supported by his former bandmate Bill Clinton Kalonji. The rehearsal took place near Zamba Playa, Werrason's rehearsal spot, and close to Ferré Gola's venue, Chez Mama Kulutu 1, 2, 3. On 12 May 2015, Watanabe went to Paris to sign a record deal with Ivorian producer David Monsoh's Obouo Music. He signed a three-album deal with Obouo Music and a 5-year distribution agreement with Because Music worth $500,000. He performed his debut solo concert at Roméo Golf with Team Wata on 3 July, becoming one of the few Congolese musicians to sell out a concert without having released an album. While producing Carrière d'honneur - Retirada, Watanabe gave a concert at Ciné Atlántico in Luanda, Angola, on 5 May 2016. Initially planned for Watanabe's 34th birthday on 29 August, the lead single "BM" was unveiled on 13 July 2016. To support Carrière d'honneur - Retirada, Watanabe embarked on a 12-concert tour with Team Wata in Angola in May 2017.

His first major international solo performance was scheduled for 15 July 2017 at Olympia Hall in Paris. However, just two days before the event, the venue submitted a request to the Paris Police Prefecture to cancel the concert due to threats from Combattants, a dissent faction opposed to President Joseph Kabila and Congolese musicians allied with him, who threatened to carry out a "new Bataclan" attack if Watanabe performed. Although the prefecture initially permitted the concert to proceed, imposing time restrictions and prohibiting demonstrations, disturbances on the day of the event, including vehicle fires near Place de l'Opéra, led Paris Police Prefet Michel Delpuech to cancel the show. On 7 October, he took the stage at Chez Randy Ex-treme in Ngaliema's Ma Campagne Avenue, and joined JB Mpiana on stage at his Klubb concert. Watanabe performed in South Africa in January 2018, and in March, he played two consecutive shows in Lubumbashi. He then hosted two consecutive concerts in Abidjan, performing at the Palais des Congrès of the Hôtel Ivoire on 7 September and the Palais de la Culture d'Abidjan on 8 September. His previously unreleased track, "5ème Vitesse", premiered on 18 September.

2018–2023: Mi-ange mi-démon and performances At the end of 2018, Watanabe revealed through Instagram that his second Congolese rumba double album would be titled Mi-ange mi-démon and was slated for release in 2019. On 26 November 2018, he released the promotional single "Reine de Saba", with the accompanying music video premiering on 11 January 2019. Despite the initial April 2019 release target, the album faced several delays, with the launch postponed to December 2019 and then further pushed to January 2020 as the final touches were made in Paris. On 11 October 2020, Watanabe announced the release of the first single from Mi-ange mi-démon, titled "Désolé", which tendered an apology for the sexual controversies and legal issues that have besmirched his public image. The single was made available on 20 October, accompanied by a music video directed by French filmmaker Chris Macari. while the second part, Tout simplement moi (mi-démon), followed on 26 February 2021. Tout simplement moi (Mi-Ange) featured appearances from Reddy Amisi and Debordo Leefkunfa,

On 12 August, Watanabe was part of the youth delegation received at the Cité de l'Union Africaine to commemorate International Youth Day. Four months later, Watanabe was selected as one of four artists by Minister of Tourism Modero Nsimba Matondo to join the 24th UNWTO General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, to showcase Congolese culture and promote the DRC as a tourist destination through his music and live acts. Afterward, he attended a reception hosted by Spain's King Felipe VI, followed by the unveiling of his single "Wosso" on 21 December. Watanabe also delivered a performance at the closing of the International Tourism Fair in Madrid on 22 January 2022, then appeared in Istanbul, Turkey, on 19 February at the Gar Musichall, and followed with a concert at Millionaire Club in Kinshasa. On 17 March, he appeared on the single "Leopards Fimbu International" to rally support for Les Léopards in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers' playoff stage, with artists Félix Wazekwa, Flaety W. Manuke, Lokua Kanza, Kadiyoyo, JB Mpiana, Barbara Kanam, Koffi Olomide, Cindy Le Cœur, Kristy Diamond, Laetitia Lokua, Adolphe Dominguez, Werrason, Lemiran LEM, Ferré Gola, and Innoss'B.

On 25 December, Watanabe took the stage at Stade des Martyrs with Team Wata, attracting a turnout of 50,000. In May 2023, he performed in Saint-Étienne with Team Wata and later appeared on fellow Congolese singer Samarino's single "Laisse les parler" on 5 November. On 6 August, Watanabe and Team Wata performed at the Esplanade Du Palais Du Peuple in Kinshasa as part of the penultimate day of the Nuits de la Francophonie event for the 9th Francophone Games. However, during their performance, Watanabe addressed the audience, conveying that their set would not proceed as expected due to a mishap involving Team Wata's key members in Equatorial Guinea and noted that he had to enlist additional musicians for the show. On 24–25 November, Watanabe achieved two sold-out consecutive concerts in Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville.

2024–2026: Chemin de la gloire, performances and collaborations Watanabe began working on his third album, Chemin de la gloire, in December 2021. In August 2023, he went to Paris to finalize the album and posted on social media that Chemin de la gloire was nearing completion. The album officially debuted on 15 March 2024 as an 18-track double album dominated by Congolese rumba. Dan Kalala Kalambay of Ouragan extolled the album as an "unparalleled opus" with "impeccable sounds" and "a forged and nonsensical language". and later joined Mike Kalambay onstage at his concert on 27 July at Stade des Martyrs.

On 12 September, Watanabe sold-out La Seine Musicale nine days ahead of his rescheduled concert. He performed many fan-favorites, such as "Remise et reprise", "Par amour", "Confession intime", "Racoeur", "Abeti Faux", "D de D", and "De la République". The concert featured an ensemble of guest musicians, including Sarah Solo, DJ Mombochi, and Werrason. Dan Kalala Kalambay lauded the event as a "historical show", calling Watanabe "undoubtedly an excellent dancer". Wrapping up his European tour, Watanabe hosted an exclusive VIP concert titled "Le retour de Wata" on 30 November at the Hilton Hotel in Kinshasa, followed by a free performance named "Retour à la maison" on 7 December at Stade Vélodrome in Kintambo. Watanabe ended the year with concerts on 20 December at Résidence Hotel in Bukavu, 21 December at Est Métro Tunnel nightclub, and 31 December at a gala night hosted by the Hilton Hotel.

On 15 February 2025, Watanabe made a guest appearance at Werrason's concert at the Arena Grand Paris in Tremblay-en-France. On 24 May, he headlined a concert at Dôme de Paris, where fellow Congolese singer Robinio Mundibu made a surprise appearance. On 4 July, Watanabe collaborated with Labeso, Ambulance, and Malick Synthé on the single "Zala" that introduced the "Magoda" dance, which quickly became a nationwide trend through a TikTok challenge and was also popularized at one of his concerts. On 23 July, he was arrested and taken into custody at the Gombe prosecutor's office over "Zala" and the "Magoda" dance, which the CSAC claimed encouraged "moral depravity" because of its sexually suggestive and allegedly obscene movements. Authorities also sought a social media personality known as "Tia ba Tshuba" for taking part in the viral challenge, alleging that she had violated public morality. Despite the ban, Watanabe performed the "Magoda" dance and its signature chant during the closing concert of the World Festival of Music and Tourism in Kinshasa on 19 July. Later that year, on 26 June, he appeared as a guest on Yuma Dash's single "Lulendo".

Watanabe and Team Wata made their Zénith Paris concert debut on 3 July, joined on stage by Innoss'B, Serge Beynaud, Robinio Mundibu, and Kim. On 13 July, he collaborated with Laurette La Perle by guest-performing on her rumba single "Madame".

2026–present: Les Évangiles During an appearance on B-One Music in November 2025, Watanabe announced Les Évangiles, a collaborative album with Team Wata. He described the approximately 14-track album as a tribute to members of the group who had remained with him through the COVID-19 pandemic and other difficulties. Promotion began in June 2026 with "Altess", performed by Watanabe, Team Wata vice-president Michka Ngandu, and vocalist Arnakula, followed by the ndombolo track "Bala Bala".

Discography

Solo

Studio albums

Carrière d'honneur - Retirada (2016) Tout simplement moi (Mi-Ange) (2020) Tout simplement moi (mi-démon) (2021) Chemin de la gloire (2024)

Live albums

Live au Roméo Golf Kinshasa (2015) Concert au Palais de la Culture Abidjan (2019) Tout simplement moi (Live Kinshasa Showbuzz) (2021)

Singles

"S'il te plaît" (2017) "5ème Vitesse" (2018) "Reine de Saba" (2018)

"Wosso" (2021) "Opona Nga" (2023) "Zala" (2025)

Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère

À La Queue Leu-Leu (2002) Tindika Lokito (maxi-single, 2003) Alerte Générale (EP, 2004) ..Temoignage (2005) Sous-Sol (EP, 2006) Temps Présent (Mayi Ya Sika) - Vol. 1 (2008) Techno Malewa Sans Cesse vol. 1 (2009) Techno Malewa Suite & Fin, Vol. 1 (2011) Satellite + 2 (2012) Education (2013) Flèche Ingeta (2014)

Awards and nominations YearEventPrizeRecipientResultRef.2024Mundi Music AwardsBest MMA FavoriteHimself