Madilu System

Jean de Dieu Bialu Makiese (28 May 1950 – 11 August 2007), known professionally as Madilu System, was a Congolese singer-songwriter and bandleader. Over a nearly four-decade career, he became one of the leading vocalists in Congolese rumba. He was noted for his husky tenor voice and was referred to by various nicknames, among them the "Madilu Multi System", "Grand Ninja", "Le Grand Pharaon (The Great Pharaoh)", and "Ramses II". His breakthrough came in 1980 when he joined TPOK Jazz, led by Franco Luambo. Initially recruited as a backup vocalist, he became one of the band's principal vocalists in 1983 after Franco spotlighted him during the recording of the controversial track "Non". He then provided lead vocals on hits such as the 1984 "Mamou (Tu Vois)" and the 1985 duet "Mario" with Franco.

Following Franco's death in 1989 and altercations in TPOK Jazz in December 1993, Madilu launched a solo career. Alternating between Europe and Kinshasa, he led his own band, Tout Puissant Multi-Système, and released a series of albums, including Sans Commentaire (1993), Album '95 (1995), L'eau (1998), Pouvoir (1999), Bonheur (2001), and La Bonne Humeur (2007). He also collaborated with artists, including Nyboma, Zaïko Langa Langa, Rigo Star, Josky Kiambukuta, and the Afro-salsa group Africando. He died on 11 August 2007 in Kinshasa at age 57. His father intervened and persuaded the school to readmit him. After finishing sixth-form secondary school, his mother arranged an administrative position for him, but he turned it down to pursue a musical career. When his parents later separated, Bialu became the family's primary provider, using income from his early performances to provide for his mother and younger sisters. Unconvinced by the "James" part, he retained "Madhi", omitted the "h" due to a spelling error to form "Madi", and then combined it with the final syllable of his surname, "lu", to create the stage name "Madilu".

1973–1980: Early leading band ventures In 1973, under President Mobutu Sese Seko's authenticité policy, which required many Zaireans to abandon Western or Christian names, often those of European saints, in favor of authentic "Zairean" names, Madilu started going by his surname, Bialu. That year, he joined guitarist Yossa Taluki and vocalist Pirès to form Orchestre Bakuba Mayopi, whose name was derived from the first two letters of each co-founder's name (Ma-Yo-Pi). The band released singles including "Zunguluke", "Mbiyavanga" and "Sunda", while Madilu composed "Kaya Yolande", "Nzele" and the hit "Pamba-Pamba" between 1973 and 1975. After internal disagreements, he left the group in 1976 to form Orchestre Pamba Pamba, which was named after the band's hit. During this period, Franco reportedly doubted Madilu's vocal abilities and frequently telling other band members that he lacked the refinement necessary for a lead role. In 1982, he appeared as a backing vocalist on tracks such as "Aimer sans amour" and "Très fâché", as a backing vocalist.

Madilu's professional breakthrough occurred in 1983 during TPOK Jazz's European tour. Franco had composed the classic "Non", a Congolese rumba about the breakdown of a marriage by casting blame on the wife. Earlier, in 1978, Franco and several of his musicians had been imprisoned at the Makala Central Prison by Zaire's Attorney General due to the explicit and politically sensitive lyrics of his songs "Helene" and "Jackie". Fearing further legal consequences, the band's main vocalists, including Josky Kiambukuta and Dalienst, refused Franco's requests to sing the lead vocals on "Non". Seeking a vocalist for the song, Franco met Madilu in a hotel hallway just as the singer was preparing to leave the group permanently.

In 1984, Franco released "Mamou (Tu Vois)" as the B-side of the LP Très Impoli, a theatrical rumba about two women trading accusations of marital infidelity and societal gossip (radio trottoir). Madilu sang the lead role of a married woman defending her extramarital affairs by accusing her friend of being a troublemaker. "Mamou" became a major success across sub-Saharan Africa and around African diaspora in Europe. That year, Madilu also performed another duet on Franco's composition "Makambo ezali bourreau" and Madilu's first composition for the band, "Pesa Position", an up-tempo track on the album Franco et le T.P. O.K. Jazz à l'Ancienne Belgique.

In 1985, Franco released "Mario", which was written by him and released on the eponymous album Mario. The duo followed this with the critically acclaimed "La Vie des Hommes" (1986), a critique of male behavior released on the eponymous album marking TPOK Jazz's 40th anniversary. Franco's death on 12 October 1989 affected the structure of TPOK Jazz. Simaro Lutumba took over the band's leadership. In 1990, the band's first album after Franco's death, Eau Bénite (subtitled Héritage De Luambo Franco), on the Tamaris label. Madilu served as the lead vocalist on Simaro Lutumba-written title track "Eau Bénite", which became one of the band's greatest classics. In 1991, he composed "Mort Vivant Somida" on the TPOK Jazz album Maby… Tonton Zala Sérieux.

1992–2007: Solo career In 1992, Madilu began recording solo material while continuing to perform with TPOK Jazz. He released his debut solo LP, Na Pokwa Ya Lelo, through the Espera label. The album included two new tracks and a medley of his earlier hits.

In 1993, Madilu released Sans Commentaire, recorded at Studio Harry Son in Paris and issued by Syllart Records. Supported by the success of the hit songs "Ya Jean" and "Biya", the album achieved widespread success across sub-Saharan Africa and helped establish his solo career. He also appeared on TPOK Jazz's album Chaude Ambiance. During his suspension, tensions intensified between the band's musicians and Franco's family. According to Lutumba, the family proposed a 60–40 division of the band's revenues in its favor, a plan that the musicians rejected. After an ultimatum was reportedly issued to Lutumba, he resigned from TPOK Jazz, and most members followed him to form Bana OK under his leadership after a farewell concert in December 1993. Madilu did not join the new group, instead pursued his solo career. The album included the hits "Frère Édouard", a narrative-driven piece with spoken dialogues, "Fanta", "Maria", "Shamita", "Pardon", "Djaffar", and the folkloric-inspired "Mbadicoco". In 1998, Madilu issued L'Eau, a thematically diverse album produced under JPS Productions. The album included the Franco tribute "Yaya", the title track "L'Eau", "Colonisation", "Mokonzi", "Saah", "Sans Effets", "Ako", "Tends-Moi la Main", "Soeur en Christ", and "Thermomètre". In 1999, he released the 10-track album Pouvoir, which featured the hits "Faute Ya Visa" and "Si Je Savais Ça". He followed it with Bonheur in December 2001. The burial, initially scheduled for 21 August, was postponed after the government assumed responsibility for organizing the ceremony. He was ultimately buried on 22 August. La Bonne Humeur 's music videos were released on DVD in October of that year.

Discography Na Pokwa Ya Lelo (1992) Sans Commentaire (1993) Album '95 (1995) L'eau (1998) Pouvoir (1999) Bonheur (2001) Le tenant du titre (2004) La Bonne Humeur (2007)