Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique: Karma Pa

Frank Bessem's
Musiques d'Afrique:

Karma Pa
(Congo-Kinshasa)

Back to Musiques d'Afrique
retour aux Musiques d'Afrique
Back to Musiques du Congo-Kinshasa

Karma Pa is one of the latest stars from Kinshasa. At the end of 2003, he released his first album « Je m'appelle toi (Love moi) » and it was an instant success. Both in Congo and elsewhere, the album was well received and sold relatively well, which is not easy in the highly competitive Congolese music scene.

He grew up with music of Tabu Ley Rochereau and Lutumba Simaro, which might explain the fact that his music is more melodic and with more emphasis on the lyrics than generally in present day Congo music. Therefore, a comparison can be drawn with the music of Koffi Olomide. The album offers a variety of rhythms, with nice guitar solos. There is no song on the album that is really disappointing.

Karma Pa can be seen as an exponent of a new generation, a carrier of hope for the continuity of the popularity of Congolese music, currently under pressure from the increasingly popular music from Côte d'Ivoire.

Musicians on « Je m'appelle toi (Love moi) »:
Solo guitar: Popolino, Eurostar;
Mi-solo guitar: Stella;
Rhythm guitar: Ada Muangisa, Mikilison;
Bass: Lofombo, Mimiche, Mite Bass;
Keyboards: Philippe Guez, Jean Jacques Synthé;
Percussion: Simolo;
Congas: 3615 Niawu;
Drums: Aladji;
Lead vocal: Karma Pa;
Backing vocals: Bogas, Life, Djamalien, Ericson, Y. Lutumba, Syllord, Dede Djasco;
Animation: Amedo Nkumu, Oasis, Hitler-H;

Born: as Kibinda Pembele Jean-Jacques
Style: soukous.

Discography:

Title	Year	Label	Remarks
Riposte	2007	Ets. Ndiaye ND160/07
Le temps de l'amour	2005	Solfège Universel Productions / Sonima
Je m'appelle toi (Love moi)	2003	ELP Production 8912