We rememer this Great Icon of Congo Music …
Kabasele Ya Mpanya AKA Pepe Kalle.
Pépé Kallé was born Kabasele Yampanya in Kinshasa , DRC. on 30th November 1951.
He later assumed his pseudonym in hommage to his mentor, Le Grand Kallé.
With a multi-octave vocal range and a dynamic stage presence, the 6 ft 11 in and 150 Kg vocalist recorded more than three hundred songs and twenty albums during his two-decade-long career.
He was known affectionately as “the Elephant of African music” and “La Bombe Atomique”.
His musical career started with l’African Jazz, the band of Le Grand Kallé.
He later performed in Orchestre Bella Bella and became the lead singer of Lipua Lipua , where he sang alongside Canta Danos Nyboma Mwandido.
In 1972 , Pepe Kallé along with Dilu Dilumona and Papy Tex left Lipua Lipua to form their own band named Empire Bakuba.
Empire Bakuba took its name from a Congolese warrior ethnic group, and it incorporated rootsy rhythms and sounds that had long been sidelined by the more popular rumba.
The band was an instant hit , and together with Zaiko Langa Langa they became Kinshasa’s most popular Youth Bands.
They also created a new dance , the Kwassa Kwassa.
It was his second collaboration with Nyboma , Moyibi (1988), which launched his popularity throughout Africa. In the song Moyibi, there’s a part at the end that says Bakule, Bakule .
The Bakule part is taken from a Rock-a-Mambo song named Bakoule (Bidama), written by Honore Liengo in 1961.
Pépé Kallé later introduced some dancers with growth disabilities like Jolie Bebe, Dominic Mabwa and Ayilla Emoro [ Dancing Emoro ] in to his band.
On November 28, 1998, Pépé Kallé suffered a heart attack at his home in Kinshasa and on Sunday November 29, Pépé Kallé was pronounced dead.
The cause of his death was officially reported to be a myocardial infarction.
Herewith his Greatest collaboration with Canta Danos Nyboma Muandido :-
The MOYIBI Album.
Musicians :-
Lead Vocals – Pépé Kallé , Nyboma Muandido.
Backing Vocals – Solo Sita
Lead Guitar – Dally Kimoko , Doris Ebouya , Kinanga Boeing Nzaou.
Rhythm Guitar - Lokassa Ya Mbongo
Guitar – Elvis Nkounkou
Keyboards – Philippe Guez
Bass Guitar – M.P. Milandou
Drums – Boffi
Percussion – J.M. Bolangassa
Saxophone – Charles Bocker
Trombone – Yoro Gueye
Trumpet – Freddo
MOYIBI : [ Vocals : Pepe Kalle & Canta Nyboma Muandido ].
LIKAMBO : [ Vocals : Pepe Kalle & Canta Nyboma Muandido ].
Acoustically , the MOYIBI Album is the best produced of all his collaborations with Canta Nyboma Muandido …
Take some time and listen to it … 
RIP +++
