Exclusive with Congolese music star Adolphe Dominguez

Adolphe Dominguez, a scion of the legendary Congolese band Wenge Musica and part of the new breed of lingala musicians is in Kenya. The music star arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday evening aboard a Kenya Airways plane from the Democratic Republic of Congo accompanied by his five-man band amid tight security.

Adolphe will stage a grand concert tonight (Friday, 11, 2015) dubbed ‘The Return of Adolphe’ at the newly refurbished Club Meladen situated in Nairobi’s Community in Upper Hill. The event organised by the club in conjunction with promoter Jules Nsana will witness revellers from all walks of life thronging the venue for a special live event from one of Africa’s greatest stars alongside his Orchestra Wenge Tonya Tonya.

Adolphe says he will use the opportunity to explore rhumba and new lingala sounds in a contemporary context. “I will be introducing new dancing styles, including Youmbi, Mama Port Moi/Mama Unibebe (Carry me Mum), besides incorporating old moves like ndombolo and lopele,” he says.

Fans will be treated to  the best of entertainment from his recently released album titled Tshop Tshop; which boasts of a unique fusion, a more contemporary feel, and a blend of Congolese instrumentation-something Adolphe describes as ‘international rhumba’. The event’s gate charges are pegged at Sh1, 000 per head.

But that is not all, local stars including top rumba singer Johny Junior alongside his BV International Band and veteran Ohangla musician Jack Nyadundo will curtain raise for Adolph ensuring that the very best of evergreen Kenyan and East African tunes take revellers down memory lane.

An excited Adolph could not hide his love for Kenya, which he refers to as one of his favourite destinations.

“I can’t wait to see the beautiful sights and sounds of Kenya. It is the one thing I can’t always seem to get enough of,” he proclaimed.

Adolphe’s greatest show in Kenya , as his fans might recall, was in 1997 when he performed in Nairobi as a member of the Original Wenge Musica band, which featured stalwarts Werrason and JB Mpiana. Soon after the group split. In 2001, he came back as part of Congolese maestro Werrason Makiadi Ngiama, and staged a show at Carnivore for more than five hours nonstop.

Adolphe, alongside Wenge Musica, captured the imagination of the nation with his waist cum hip-shaking sexy style in Kenya. As fate would have it, however, he would later quit to form his own band that has quite a following internationally.

A man of many names

Born Adolphe Elongo Ebondja in 1966, Adolphe probably has the most nicknames compared to his peers. They include Tata Mobitch, Tata Mobimba, Cassius Clay, Trinita Bush, Big Daddy, Le Grand Sapeur du Congo and Monte Carlo.

To most fans of the original Wenge Musica Four by Four, he was the man to watch, at least for his dance moves and sense of fashion.

He has held his own and has gone on to perform in the big league alongside big names like JB Mpiana, Werrason, Alain Makaba, Blaise Bula, Alain Mpela, Toutou Caloudji, Roberto Ekokota and AimÈlia Alias, Adolphe; even after the breakup of Wenge.

Indeed, his energetic stage performances and bewitching vocals have ensured his staying power. Looking fit and relaxed during the interview held at the Hilton Hotel where he is putting up, Adolphe says he is presently the leader of Le Sape (a movement of Congolese fashion aficionados that literally worship well-designed clothing, shoes and hairstyles), since the ‘Pope’, Papa Wemba, is way past his prime.

Indeed, Adolphe insinuates, his flamboyant dressing has earned him the nickname Le Chouchou (ladies’ choice). Although fans refer to his group as Wenge Tonya Tonya, Adolphe attempts to set the record straight, claiming his band is Wenge Musica Adolphe Dominguez. “Tonya Tonya is the name of one of my bands. Fans were probably confused by the fact that it was done by my Wenge group,” Adolphe says, adding that he runs two other bands: One based in Paris, France, which is made up of people of different nationalities and another in Cape Town mostly comprising South Africans. This, he says, is to cater for fans with different tastes.

Low profile

Asked why he has kept a relatively a low profile compared to JB Mpiana and Werrason, even eliciting suggestions that his fortunes had dwindled, Adolphe says most of his shows have been abroad.

“I operate between Paris and Cape Town,” he says. His heart is, however, in Congo where he has been working hard to promote peace, alongside Monuc, a UN mission in the country. To prove his intent, he reveals he has just completed his eighth album, Tshop Tshop, which is currently doing well. “For close to four years I was busy recording my 15-track album in Plus 30 Studio Paris. I am glad it has been worth the time,” says Adolphe adding that his previous album, Suspension, released in 2010 was equally well received.

As for why his music is not available locally, Adolphe blames piracy and lack of reliable distributors for his reluctance to venture into the Kenyan market.

“However, my music is available in Congo (DR), Europe and South Africa. I hope to soon get a distributor in Kenya,” he says. Having worked with many international artistes, Adolphe believes that Ferre Gola, Fally Ipupa, JB Mpiana, Werrason, Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba are the greatest Congolese musicians. “The rest lag behind us,” he confidently asserts.

Adolphe denies allegations that there is widespread witchcraft in Congolese music. Success, he says, depends on talent, discipline, and practice. He does music for the love of it and not as a means of survival. The son of a rich businessman, Adolph is married to Guigui Kuyenga who he mentions in several songs. Heis a father of four.

You might remember this musician, who is also involved in charity, as the champion of a concert aimed at promoting a United States of Africa in Libya five years ago at the invitation of the country’s then president and African Union chairman the late Muammar Gaddafi. He composed a song, Fardc, for peace. In the video he dressed like a soldier proclaiming peaceful coexistence.