Sensational Fally Ipupa set to rock Kenya

By Caroline Nyanga

Celebrated Congolese musician Ipupa Nsimba popularly known as Fally Ipupa or DiCaprio is in Kenya. The 2011 BET Award nominee for Best International Act, arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Friday evening at 4.30 pm aboard Kenya Airways plane from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He was accompanied by his 17-man band amidst tight security.

The musician will stage a grand concert Saturday tonight at Nairobi’s Carnivore Grounds during the fifth edition of Sawa Sawa Festival organised by Sarakasi Trust among other sponsors.

Local gospel artiste Daddy Owen also 2010 MTV award winner will also perform alongside him. Curtain raisers include poet Wanjiku Mwaura, Chumba and sensational Sarakasi dancers.

Sunday will be a Family Day show featuring top Kenyan artistes like Sauti Sol, The Villagerz, Neema, Dela, Muthoni DQ, Fenna, Suzane and Amelina finalist at the just concluded Tusker Project Fame music competition.

An excited Fally 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."

" Meanwhile, my fans will not only be entertained but will also have the opportunity to catch up with the latest dance moves," he says.

"I want my fans to know that I have surprises for them. "Ours is a different version of music making it easier for fans to sit back and enjoy."

He added: "I want Kenyans to ‘eat’ my music which I believe is unique."

This is his third visit to Kenya since making a brief appearance as a solo artiste during the MTV Music Awards held in Nairobi, Impala Grounds in 2009.

His greatest show in Kenya, however, was in 2002 at Nairobi’s Safari Park Hotel and Bomas Club alongside Congolese maestro Koffi Olomide’s Quartier Latin who he was part of for a period spanning 10 years.

He is best known for songs such as Naufra-Ketch Suite, Droit Chemin, Mioleseke, Une Minute,

L' IntÈgral des Clips, Kidiamfuka and Sexy Dance among others.

The Congolese sex acclaimed symbol, lead singer, songwriter and respected guitarist, has four albums under his cap. They include Droit Chemin 2006, Dicap Cadena 2007, Arsenal De Belles Melodies 2009, L’intergral Des Clips, and Zenith De Paris 2010.

Undoubtedly considered one of the smoothest and silky voiced artistes among Congolese musicians, he says his mission is to bring back rumba rhythm with a difference.

Known for his fashionable dressing, energetic stage performances and bewitching vocals, Fally alongside Koffi Olomide’s Quartier Latin, captured the imagination of the nation with their waist cum hip-shaking sexy style in Kenya and abroad during the past years. It was later that he decided to quit and form his own band and has been doing well at the international levels. Besides being a nominee for this years BET Awards for Best Act Africa alongside Nigeria’s 2 Face Idibia and D’banj – his Sexy Dance video scooped an award for Best Video during the 3rd African MTV Music Award held last December in Lagos.

Long way to stardom

Born and raised in Kinshasa, DRC in 1977. Like many young performers of his generation, music was considered more of a hobby and studies took priority over the young man’s passion.

At a young age Fally begun by playing in various small music groups within Congolese streets. It was until Koffi Olomide’s Quartier Latin eventually noticed him, and he immediately joined them as a guitarist-cum-singer.

For more than ten years he spent time honing his skills under the watchful eye of his mentor, Koffi Olomide. He is also credited for composing two of Koffi’s biggest hits, namely Eternellement on the album Force De Frappe in 2001, and Ko Ko Ko Ko on the album Affaire d’Etat. This rocketed him to the position of band composer despite his young age.

Even as fame came his way, he was still curious on exploring more as far as music goes.

He felt he needed to quit the band, in order to pursue a solo career.

A wise decision it was. His first solo album Droit Chemin released in 2006 sold over 100 000 units, with hits like Droit Chemin, Liputa and Kidiamfuka.

In 2007 he won the Best Male Artist Cesaire Award and Best Artist or Group from Central Africa in the continental Kora Awards.

It seems that Fally Ipupa’s career had just begun. His silky smooth voice has been widely appreciated the world over including his style which comprises a blend of various musical styles including Soukous, Ndombolo, pop and R&B.

In 2009, his album Arsenal de Belles MÈlodies received much media attention and rave reviews, with hits like Chaise Electrique, a duet performed with American singer Olivia from the group G-Unit.

That same year, he participated in the MTV Awards Made in Africa, where he performed his hit Bicarbonate for millions of viewers.

This year’s Sawa Sawa festival is dubbed Power and Beauty of Women and is aimed at involving the public to celebrate femininity across borders.

It also entails workshops focusing on peer education, gender issues, creativity, women empowerment, and women and the new constitution.