Werrason

When Werrason's college band Wenge Musica 4x4 BCBG split in December 1997. Werrason, Masela, and Dominguez then created Wenge Musica Maison Mère, a band based at Zamba Playa in Kinshasa. With the help of among others Sankara de Kunta and Zachary Babaswe, Werrason travelled the country to recruit young musicians; his primary band members were Masela, Dominguez, Ferre Gola, Baby Ndombe, Seseli Adjani, JDT Mulopwe, Celeo Scram, Bill Kalondji, Serge Mabiala, Didier Lacoste, Lay Chou, Michael Shendu, guitarists Flam Kapaya, Japonaise Maladi, Christian Mwepu, and drummers Papay Kakol and Ali Mbonda. His first album, Force d'Intervention Rapide was released at the end of 1998.[2]

His song "Chantal Switzerland" became a noted song of the year, while his animator Bill 'Clinton' Kalondji was voted best animator. His second album Solola Bien (1999) was successful in the African music scene,[3] and earned the Golden Record in France. In the same year, WMM was voted the Best Congolese Group and Werrason was named artist of the year. In June 2001, Werrason released his first solo album Kibuisa Mpimpa, a double CD with 17 tracks. This recording was the result of five years of preparation,[1] four months of studio work, and over 2,000 hours of writing. Kibuisa Mpimpa was described as "culturally revolutionary" by observers of African music.[4] This album won him two[5] Kora awards in South Africa, including[6] "Best Artist" in Africa and "Best Album" in Central Africa.

Later that year, Werrason performed back-to-back concerts at Zénith Paris, one of the largest concert halls in France. He toured Europe including London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Rome, and Stockholm. The United Nations have awarded him the title of Universal Ambassador of Peace.[7][8] In 2001, Werrason was received by Pope John Paul II. Since then, he has spoken for UNESCO campaigns against AIDS and discrimination,[9] and in campaigns against early marriages and to promote education for girls.[10] During his world tour, performed with other African artists including[11] Manu Dibango at the Paris Olympia, Passi, Doc Gynéco, and Benji and Akil. Werrason also collaborated with Shaggy.[12] In the same year, Werrason performed a concert at Stade des Martyrs, which was attended by over 100,000 people.[13] He also performed for 17,000 at Bercy in 2000.

In 2004, Werrason lost a large number of key band members, including his deputy and composer Ferre Gola, his chief animator Bill Kalondji, and singer JDT Mulopwe. These members followed the earlier departures of Baby Ndombe, Serge Mabiala and Japonaise Maladi. Many of the former members grouped together to form a rival band called Les Marquis de Maison Mère.

At the same time, Werrason was unable to obtain European visas for his band,[14] which denied him the revenue of another European concert tour. The following year, he parted ways with sponsor Bracongo, producers of the beer 'Skol'.[15] Unable to access French recording studios, Werrason found it necessary to record in inferior Congolese studios for the first time, recording his album Alerte Generale. Werrason rebuilt his band and secured a lucrative sponsorship deal with Bralima, producers of the beer Primus.[16]

True to his nickname "le grand formateur" Werrason dropped his next single Sous Sol an album with new dance styles, guitar and drums that proved revolutionary. Counting on his new talented musicians Heritier Watanabe, Eboa Lotin, Miel de son, Cappucino Bogard,solo guitar master Flam Kapaya, his longtime drummer Papy Kakol, animators Brigade Sabatini and Celeo Scram, seasoned dancers Anya Star, Bibisia Mfwengi, Gisele Yamamoto, Linda Kalome among others, the band enjoyed great success and did a number of major performances attended by tens of thousands in Brazzaville, Angola, Kikwit, Stade de Matadi, Bukavu, Masina, FIKIN among others.

In 2004, Werrason released Alerte Generale, a 4-track single, then proceeded on a European tour to promote the album. In 2005, during performances in Africa and Europe, he reorganized Wenge Musica Maison Mère, and continued work on his second solo album, Temoignage de Miracle, a 14-track double CD released in early 2005. Werrason won a 2005 KORA award for best artist in Central Africa.

Werrason joined forces, in 2006 in Kinshasa, with the Jamaican superstar Shaggy who, during an interview in CNN recognizes Werrason as “The greatest current African artist”. The album Sous Sol was followed closely by another great album Temps Present-Mayi Ya Sika also a double CD with 15 tracks, in which he gave his band members a chance to develop their singing and composition prowess. Werrason is recognized for his ability and desire to promote, nurture and expose his band members as a way of encouraging them to later confidently pursue their own solo careers. In that album Temps Present – Mayi Ya Sika this was evident as he gave not just the singers, but even the instrumentalists a chance to make their own compositions. Heritier Watanabe once again shone with beautiful songs "Sol demi amour" and "Confession Intime", the young singers Cappuccino Bogard and Eboa Lotin composed beautiful love songs "Point Carre" and  "Bula Wa Yo" respectively while his experienced mi-solo guitarist Corean 'Polystar' Acompa, drummer Papy Kakol and Mimiche Bass also got a chance to do their own compositions. A number of former members of Werrason’s Wenge Musica Maison Mère have benefitted from this kind of exposure and have now gone independent. They include Ferre Gola, a high flying former chief d'orchestra in WMMM who presently leads a band called 'les Marquis de Gaulois', Bill Kalondji, former animator now leader of the band le Samurai, JDT Mulopwe a former singer with WMMM presently leading Le Marquis de Maison Mère, and Celeo Scram with his orchestra ‘Plus 10’, among others.

Werrason’s next album Techno Malewa Sans Cess was released in October 2010. Making use of the continental style ‘Coup De Calle’ and new dance moves, the album received great success across Africa and in Europe, and in it Werrason's versatility was shown. His new young singers Deplik Filla, Fabrice Energie andCafe Roum were given an opportunity to star in songs composed by Werrason. Werrason followed the release of Techno Malewa Sans Cess with his energetic performances at a packed‘Zenith de Paris’ in March 13, 2010. He later visited Holland, Brussels, Lyon among others. His African performances including atBukavu‘s Stade de Kadutu will remain long in the memory of many African music fans. In June 2011, Werrason gave a grand performance at Stade de France'sAfrica Night alongside other Great African artists including Meyway, Magic System and Passi and in the same month released a single Primus Diata Bawu. His next album Techno Malewa Suit en Fin is scheduled for release in July 2011.

To crown his comeback, Werrason visited his home province of Kikwit, and performed a concert for over 200,000 people, which is one of the largest music events held in Africa. He followed this by another performance at Masina.