Werrason

Noël Ngiama Makanda ( 25 December 1965), known professionally as Werrason, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, composer, producer, philanthropist, and the bandleader of Wenge Musica Maison Mère. He was a co-founding member of Wenge Musica, a musical group that played a pivotal role in the development of the ndombolo dance music genre during the 1990s. Often referred to as "Roi de la Forêt" ("King of the Forest"), Ngiama is widely recognized as one of the emblematic figures of Wenge Musica, with hits such as "Mulolo", "Kin É Bougé" (featuring JB Mpiana), and "Kala-Yi-Boeing".

Following Wenge Musica's disbandment in 1997 due to internal disputes between him and JB Mpiana, the band split into Wenge Musica Maison Mère, led by him, and Wenge BCBG by JB Mpiana. In December 1999, Wenge Musica Maison Mère released the ndombolo-infused album Solola Bien!, which went gold and experienced immediate success across Africa and its diaspora in France. In September 2000, Wenge Musica Maison Mère became the second African act to perform and sell out the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy following Koffi Olomidé earlier that year. With a career spanning nearly four decades, Werrason has produced several successful studio albums, including seven with Wenge Musica, nine with Wenge Musica Maison Mère, and four solo studio albums. His solo releases include Kibuisa Mpimpa (2001), Témoignage (2005), Sans Poteau (2015), and 7 jours de la semaine (2017). Recognized as an "Ambassador For Peace" and "people's singer" by the United Nations Global Compact, Ngiama is an advocate for UNESCO's initiatives against AIDS and discrimination. In 1981, the band was renamed Wenge Musica. While the original lineup remained, new members soon joined, including vocalists Dede Masolo, Wes Koka, and Anicet Pandu; guitarists Alain "Docteur Zing" Mwanga, Alain Makaba, and Christian Zitu; and drummers Ladins Montana, Maradona, and Evo Nsiona. In late 1982, singer JB Mpiana joined the band and brought vocalist Blaise Bula with him. Wenge Musica quickly rose to prominence, and Werrason stood out as a multi-talented artist, excelling in songwriting, dancing, and live performances. Despite the band's international success, Wenge Musica split in 1997. The split was emotionally challenging for Werrason, and he found it hard to move past initially. However, the strong support from his fandom inspired him to persevere. In 1998, Werrason's faction established Wenge Musica Maison Mère (WMMM),

1999–present: Releases and performances Their second studio album, Solola Bien!, was released on 10 December 1999, under JPS Production, a Cameroonian label based in Paris and founded by Jean Pierre Saah, with distribution handled by Musisoft Distribution. Produced and arranged by Maïka Munan, the album achieved widespread success in the African music scene, earning a gold record in France with over 100,000 copies sold in Paris and millions across Africa. The hit single "Augustine" was later named one of the "Five songs that made the Congo dance" by Jeune Afrique magazine. Solola Bien! solidified Wenge Musica Maison Mère's status as one of Africa's top music groups, leading to concerts in the DRC and across the continent, and shortly afterward, Werrason became the sole leader of the band following the departure of Adolphe Dominguez and Didier Masela.

On 16 September 2000, Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère sold-out the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris (now Accor Arena), becoming only the second African acts to achieve this milestone after Koffi Olomide's performance earlier that same year in February. That day, Aimelia Lias, a vocalist from the rival band Wenge BCBG, joined Wenge Musica Maison Mère on stage to sing. Having finished recording in France, the band was preparing to return to Kinshasa after nearly nine months abroad. Werrason notably donated three buses to the leading Kinshasa football clubs: Daring Club Motema Pembe, AS Vita Club, and Amicale Sportive Dragons, during the concert, which also included a tribute moment for the late President Laurent-Désiré Kabila.

Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon) was officially released on 21 June in Paris through JPS Production. The record, divided into two volumes with 17 tracks, blended ndombolo and Congolese rumba with stylistic influences from makossa, charanga, and salsa. Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon) features guest appearances from Manu Dibango, Nathalie Makoma, and Al Nzimbi. Among its standout songs was "Croix Rouge", a collaboration with Manu Dibango and Nathalie Makoma that delivered a message of peace and non-violence. Other notable tracks included "Destin Ya Moto", dedicated to businessman Didi Kinuani; "Obiang", reportedly written in honor of Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is a close friend of Werrason. To promote Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon), Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère performed on 15 July at a fair in Lemba's Salongo garden, organized by the foundation of the late Bernardin Mungul Diaka. They subsequently appeared at the third edition of the Pan-African Music Festival (Festival panafricain de musique; FESPAM) on 6 August at the Palais du Parlement in Brazzaville, before touring to Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru for concerts that had been postponed twice in July and continuing their tour with a performance in Bangui. In November, Radio France Internationale named the music video for "Opération Dragon" the Best African Video, and on 3 November in Sun City, South Africa, Werrason won two Kora Awards: Best Male Artist of Africa and Best Male Artist of Central Africa, becoming the first artist to achieve two awards in a single ceremony before, and also received a nomination for Best Arrangement of Africa.

Later that year, Werrason delivered consecutive performances at Zénith Paris. He toured Europe including London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Rome, and Stockholm. During his world tour, performed with other African artists including Manu Dibango at the Paris Olympia, Passi, Doc Gynéco, Benji and Akil. In January 2005, the Gombe-based Cabinet EXPERTS released a Kinshasa-wide survey identifying leading public personalities of 2004 across ten categories; Werrason topped the music category with 28% of respondents citing him, well ahead of JB Mpiana, L'Or Mbongo, Koffi Olomidé, Félix Wazekwa, José Nzita, and Papa Wemba. Werrason also collaborated with Shaggy. In the same year, Werrason performed a concert at Stade des Martyrs, which was attended by over 100,000 people. In March 2010, he returned to Zénith Paris with Wenge Musica Maison Mère.

On 15 February 2025, Werrason made a triumphant return to the European stage after a 14-year hiatus with a sold-out concert at Arena Grand Paris. The event attracted a vast audience and featured Wenge Musica Maison Mère and their dancers, with performances of iconic hits such as "Solola Bien" and "Techno Malewa". Former bandmates, including Bill Clinton Kalonji and Héritier Watanabe, joined him on stage, On 27 February, he took part in a peaceful march in Paris, denouncing the M23 campaign in eastern DRC alongside members of the Congolese diaspora. He later performed at Brussels' Couleur Café festival on 28 June. On July 18, he was part of the closing event of the first World Music and Tourism Festival (Festival Mondial de la Musique et du Tourisme) at the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa, organized by the Congolese government with assistance from UN Tourism.

On 18 October, Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère sold-out the Adidas Arena in Paris. As reported by the Agence Congolaise de Presse, the concert brought a wave of nostalgia, accentuated by high-energy renditions of their biggest hits. Special guests included former bandmates Manda Chante, Deplick Pomba, and Brigade Sarbaty.

Feuds

JB Mpiana and Wenge BCBG

Origins and early violent clashes between factions The feud between Werrason and JB Mpiana began after the disbandment of Wenge Musica in December 1997. Werrason went on to establish Wenge Musica Maison Mère, while JB Mpiana formed Wenge BCBG. According to Claude Kamanga Mutond, a correspondent for the Congolese newspaper Le Phare, Werrason's success with his new band transformed him into a national icon. His popularity stirred heated debates among fans in the streets and in the press, often sparking confrontations with supporters of JB Mpiana and Wenge BCBG. Kamanga noted that the once-brotherly musicians had become enemies, and their fandoms mirrored this enmity. Witnesses saw the pair trade insults, and the situation almost escalated into a fight before bystanders managed to intervene. A few days earlier, during a concert by Adolphe Dominguez's Wenge Tonya Tonya at Collège Saint Georges in Kintambo, Papy Kakole and Thierry "Synthé" of Wenge Musica Maison Mère allegedly tried to disrupt the show by performing provocatively atop their cars near the venue. This rivalry frequently manifests through verbal assaults, metaphorically known as mabanga (stones), sharp, cutting words flung by the musicians themselves. Shortly afterward, JB Mpiana slipped and fell on the stairs at the Atmosphère nightclub. Rumors spread that Werrason had caused the fall through "mystical" means, an allegation used to question the sincerity of the reconciliation. Others compared the situation to political peace efforts that fail to deliver absolute unity, implying the handshake lacked meaning. JB Mpiana later addressed the matter on television, confirming that he had fallen and expressing gratitude to those who helped him. He emphasized that he sees Werrason as a brother, with their only rivalry being professional and amicable. He condemned attempts to inflame tensions and said he forgave anyone who had wished him harm.

Discography Albums

2001: Kibuisa Mpimpa 2005: Témoignage 2008: Simply The Best Of, Vol. 1 2015: Sans Poteau 2017: 7 Jours de la Semaine

Singles 2013: "I Found a Way" (feat. Mohombi) 2014: "Block Cadenas" 2017: "Diemba (Balançoire Générique)" 2019: "Formidable" 2020: "Yeke Yeke" (feat. Bikorine & But Na Filet)

Featured in 2021: "RDV" (Picolcrist bil feat. Werrason)

Awards and nominations