Congolese artist Ferre Gola is one of the most influential artists in the continent       Photo:Courtesy

When Kenya Airways plane touches down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport next week Wednesday evening (November 25), one of the passengers disembarking from it will be one of Africa’s most influential DRC artists, Ferre Gola.

In a telephone interview with The Standard  from Kinsasha, Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, the multiple Kora award winner says he will be accompanied by 17 band members, including lead singers Makinu, Kombo Chikito and Olenga Makiese whose melodious voices have been used to back up most of his music.

"My fans should be ready for a new sensational dance style and the best of rumba. It was not for nothing that I was groomed by my ‘father’ Werrason (leader of the original Wenge)," he says. And to add to the excitement, Ferre reveals his Kenyan fans will be the first to be treated to a live performance of music from his latest album, Derangement.

The event courtesy of Kenyan based Congolese promoter Jules Nsana of Nsana Promotions to be held at Bomas of Kenya is expected to attract fans from all walks of life. This is considering Ferre’s popularity as one of the most sought-after vocalists on the Lingala music scene among the new-generation rumba musicians.

Curtain raiser will be local band Prezda Bandason alongside his Patron Musica band. 

“This is one event you cannot afford to miss. I heeded to the demands of Kenyan Lingala lovers who demanded that I bring Ferre Gola over to Kenya, since he is currently the biggest Congolese rumba musician of the current times.”

This is not his first time in Kenya, though. In 1997, Ferre performed in Nairobi as a member of the Original Wenge Musica band, which featured stalwarts Werrason and JB Mpiana before the group split.

Five years later, he came back as part of Congolese maestro Werrason Makiadi Ngiama, and staged a show at Carnivore, for more than five hours non-stop. 

In 2009 he visited the country now as a band lead with his Ferre Gola band bringing back nostalgic memories for Rumba lovers at Club Afrique (now defunct) and Deep West Resort.

Ferre says he joined Wenge on Werrason’s invitation after the band had just completed their Pentagon album.

The band split soon thereafter and Ferre chose to follow Werrason and his Wenge Musica Maison Mere. Ferre’s most memorable contribution is the song Vita Imana in Solola Bien album.

After working with Werrason for a decade, he eventually left.  

"I realised I needed to move on. I’m still in good terms with Werrason. But at one point someone has to grow in whatever career they are doing. After all Werrason fondly referred to as Rois de la Forest (King of the forest) had paved way for his lion child," he says.

Ferre who  has a philanthropic side, is known to rehabilitate street children in DRC. Vocalist Chikito, who features in some of Ferre’s videos, is one of the beneficiaries.

“Once you give out something with the right hand, don’t let the left one know," he responds when asked if the philanthropy is merely a publicity stunt. Given his charming looks and sense of fashion, Ferre says he always has many female admirers.

"Well, I try to be nice to them because they are my fans who make me who I am.”

He says he believes in maintaining high standards of fashion, something he learnt from Wenge Musica. The musician and his Ferre Gola band have performed in various parts of the world and have been to Angola, Belgium, France, Holland, Guinea, Congo Brazzaville, US and Canada.

Asked on who he thinks is the best among the Congolese musicians, he simply states that they are all good but he feels Werrason is more industrious and wise.