Mayaula Mayoni

Freddy Mayaula Mayoni (6 November 1946 – 26 May 2010) was a Congolese soukous musician and professional footballer. Born and raised in Kinshasa, he first gained prominence as a left winger for AS Vita Club and was selected for the national team, the Leopards, in 1968. He later played in Dar es Salaam, where his father served as a diplomat, before continuing his studies in Belgium. There, his footballing abilities secured him spells with Royal Charleroi Sporting Club, Racing Jet de Bruxelles, and subsequently in Fribourg, Switzerland.

In January 2004, while serving as a cultural officer at the embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Dar es Salaam, Mayaula suffered hemiplegia. at Saint Jean Berchmans Primary School of Kalamu (École primaire Saint-Jean-Berchmans de Kalamu), and at the Protestant Primary School of Lisala. He later enrolled in secondary-level teacher training at the Protestant Baptist School of Kintambo, affiliated with the American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society (now the Communauté Baptiste du Congo Ouest; CBCO), and at the Collège Moderne Scientifique (now Collège Kubama) in Kisantu, where he graduated in 1962.

Mayaula began his football career as a left winger with AS Vita Club from 1967 to 1971, during which he gained a reputation for his technical dribbling and scoring ability. His performances earned him national recognition, and in 1968, he was selected for the Congolese national team, the Leopards. The song sparked controversy because it narrated the life of a prostitute from her own perspective, which led some to accuse it of prodding or justifying prostitution. As a result, "Chérie Bondowe" was proscribed by the National Commission for the Censorship of Songs and Performances. Nonetheless, in 1976, Franco and TPOK Jazz re-recorded the track in Brussels as "Bondowe II". Ironically, the ban only increased the song's popularity, and TPOK Jazz began performing it publicly. Mayaula contributed the song "Ndaya", which became a smash hit. In 1977, he recorded "Momie" with TPOK Jazz, while Les Ya Toupas du Zaïre performed two of his other works, "Cicatrice" and "Likama".

Mayaula later joined Mabiala and Kiambukuta to create the trio Mamaki and subsequently released the hit "Bombanda compliqué". In 1979, as music from Brazzaville, led by figures such as Pamelo Mounk'a, Youlou Mabiala with Kamikaze Loningisa, and Pierre Mountouari, flooded the market, Mayaula's "Nabali misère" played a key role in sustaining the prominence of Congolese-Kinshasa productions in the face of strong regional competition. Government authorization was finally granted in July 2007, which allowed Mayaula to travel to Brussels for treatment. The organization later acknowledged the support of Raymond Tshibanda and ministers Victor Makwenge, Adolphe Muzito, and Athanase Matenda Kyelu.

He died in Brussels on 26 May 2010 around 1 a.m., reportedly following a cardiac arrest.

Personal life He was the father of one daughter, Mylène Mayaula, who is based in London.

Discography +Selected discographyTitleYearLabelFormat"Chérie Bondowe" 1975 Label – African45-rpm"Bondowe II"1976 Label – African

Composed by, written by – Mayaula Mayoni

Rights society: SACEM45-rpm"Cicatrice"1977 Label – Mayaula Composed by – Mayaula Mayoni45-rpm"Nabali Misere"1979 Label – Zebi

Written by, composed by – Mayaula Mayoni

Manufactured by – Mazadis (Manufacture Zaïroise du Disque) Distributed by – Moninga Star Distributed by – Disc-Orient Printed by: Imprimerie ILM - Abidjan Written by, composed by – Mayaula MayoniLPLa Machine A Tube1984 Produced by – Africa New Sound Producer: Gérard Akueson and Assih

Written by, composed by – Mayaula Mayoni

Marketed by – Win Exports Ltd. Marketed by – Tabansi Records Inc. Marketed by – Tabansi Agencies LimitedLPVeya1986 Label – Associated Sound (East Africa) Limited (ASL)

Copyright – Polygram Rec. (Disc Orient)LPFiona-Fiona1987 Label – Alia Music and Rythmes Et Musique

Written by, vocals, guitar [mi-solo], rhythm guitar, producer, percussion [ gong] – Mayaula MayoniLPMizele1990 Label – Kiamana Productions Services

Guitar [mi-solo guitar], rhythm guitar, percussion, mixed by, leader, concept by, directed by – Mayaula Mayoni

Recorded by – Alan Ward, Martin Bakala, StephanLPL'Amour Au Kilo1992 Label: Tamaris

Arranged by, composed by, lead vocals – Mayaula Mayoni Arranged by, programmed by – Ernest Mvouama

Distributed by – SonoDiscLPPolygamie - IyomiUnknown Label – Editions Akiyo & Fils

Distributed by – A.V.A. Promotions

Written by, composed by, arranged by – Mayaula MayoniLP