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Werrason
Werrason in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Noel Ngiama Makanda
Also known as	King of the forest, Igwe of the jungle
Genres	African Music, Soukous, Congolese music, World music
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer arranger dancer choreographer
Instrument(s)	Vocals, multiple instruments, percussion
Years active	1981–present

Website	Werrason Official Website

Musical artist

Werrason, real name Noël Ngiama Makanda born December 25, 1965 in Moliombo, a small village in Northern Democratic Republic of Congo in Kikwit, Kwilu Province is a musician from the Democratic Republic of Congo and also leader of the band Wenge Maison Mere (WMM). By age 8, Werrason was singing at his local church, the Protestant Church of Cebezo, Kinshasa. He loved Martial arts and was a Martial Arts champion by age of 12. In 1981 in between his studies (for a degree in Accountancy) Werrason, and his college friends Didier Masela, Adolphe Dominguez, J.B Mpiana, Blaise Bula among others created an innovative musical band “Wenge Musica 4X4 Tout Terrain Bon Chic Bon Genre”.

Werrason forms Wenge Musica Maison Mere

Their band Wenge Musica BCBG 4X4 Tout Terrain split in December 1997. Werrason and his two friends Adolphe Dominguez and Didier Masela, created Wenge Musica Maison Mere (WMMM)”, with its headquarters at Zamba Playa in the Kinshasa, D.R.Congo, with Werrason as head. With most band members gone with JB Mpiana Werrason and his two friends, had to build Maison Mere from scratch, with assistance from a number of people especially Sankara de Kunta and Zachary Babaswe. Werrason went round the country recruiting several young talented musicians and also taking back some old colleagues from from JB Mpiana's band. Werrason's original band members were Didier Masela, Adolphe Dominguez, Ferre Gola, Baby Ndombe, Seseli Adjani, JDT Mulopwe, Celeo Scram, Bill Kalondji, Serge Mabiala, Didier Lacoste, Lay Chou, Michael Shendu, Guitarists Flam Kapaya (solo), Japonaise Maladi (rhythm), Christian Mwepu (Bass) drummers Papay Kakol and Ali Mbonda. His first album, “Force d’Intervention Rapide” (force of rapid intervention) was released end of 1998. His song Chantal Switzerland was voted Song of the Year, while his animator Bill 'Clinton' Kalondji was voted the best animator. His second album "Solola Bien" of 1999 took the African music scene by storm. “Solola Bien” was rewarded with the Golden Record in France. In the same year, his band Wenge Maison Mere was voted the Best Congolese Group, with Werrason as the Artist of the Year. In June 2001, Werrason released his first solo album "Kibuisa Mpimpa," a double CD with 17 titles. This was work that had taken him 5 years of preparation, 4 months of studio work, and over 2000 hours of compositions and philosophical reflection back to his roots. 'Kibuisa Mpimpa' was described as"culturally revolutionary" by observers of the African music. This album won him two (2) Kora Awards in South Africa including Best Artist in Africa and Best Album in Central Africa. Later that year Werrason gave one of his very best performances at a double concert (two days) at"the Zenith de Paris,” one of the largest concert halls in France, with a seating capacity of well over 20,000. He also toured extensively major European cities like London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Dublin, Rome and Stockholm. Through his musical innovations, Werrason attracts a new public to embrace the black cultural awareness without being militant. The United Nations have awarded him with the title of Universal Ambassador of Peace. In 2001, WERRASON was received in audience by Pope John Paul II. Since then, he dedicates part of his time to all the UNESCO campaigns against AIDS and all sorts of discriminations, and in campaigns against early marriages and promoting education for the girl child. During his world tour he shared performances with great African artists among them Manu Dibango who invited him in his concert at the Paris Olympia. Others were Passi,Doc Gynéco , Benji and Akil who asked him to take part in their musical projects. Werrason also collaborated with international artists like Shaggy. In the same year, Werrason also did a large concert at the Stade des Martyrs which was attended by over 100,000 people. The year 2000 also saw Werrason do one of his best ever live performances at Bercy infront of over 17,000 fans

The Fall and Rise of Werrason

In 2003, Werrason’s musical career took a major blow when he lost a large number of key band members. These were his deputy and composer Ferre Gola, his chief animator Bill Kalondji, and Singer JDT Mulopwe. These members left a few months after other key members (Baby Ndombe, Serge Mabiala and Japonaise Maladi) had also left for varied reasons. These former members grouped together and formed a rival musical band called ‘les Marquis de Maison Mere.’ This period coincided with the time, Werrason could not get European visas for his musical group to go and produce his next album ‘Alerte General’ and to perform to his fans abroad, who to this day remain one of the key sources of revenue for his band. The following year Werrason parted ways with his then sponsor‘Bracongo,’ producers of beer ‘Skol.’ Werrason was forced to, for the first time, produce an album, 'Alerte Generale' in studios in Congo, which are inferior in quality compared to his favored studios in France.Werrason weathered this storm, rebuild his band and secured a lucrative sponsorship deal with Bralima, producers of beer ‘Primus.’ In 2004, he finally released ‘Alerte Generale’ a single with 4 tracks and then proceeded on a European tour to promote the album. In 2005 in the midst of performances in Africa and Europe and as he reorganized his band Wenge Musica Maison Mere, Werrason continued work on his second solo album ‘Temoignage de Miracle’ a 14 track double CD which he released early 2005. It was evident that Werrason had bounced back in a big way and by this time had regained his position as the musician with the highest number of fans in Central Africa. That year (2005) Werrason won a KORA award for the best artist in Central Africa beating off a strong field of contenders including Koffi Olomide. To crown his comeback, Werrason visited his province of birth Kikwit and did a concert attended by over 200,000 people, and this remains one of the biggest music concerts ever in the African continent. He followed this by another mega performance at Masina.

The Success of Werrason 'Le Grand Formateur'

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 long time 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.

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 Mere have benefitted from this kind of exposure and have now gone independent. They include Ferre Gola, a high flying former chief d’ochestra 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 Mere,' 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 and Cafe 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 13 March 2010. He later visited Holland, Bruxelles, Lyon among others. His African performances including at Bukavu‘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’s Africa 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.

EARLY HISTORY: Werrason in Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4 Tout Terrain

The early part of Werrason’s musical career, starting from 1981 was spent in Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4 Tout Terrain, where he was the deputy band leader and the finance director. Initially, between 1981–1985, the band was like a holiday hobby for the members who were all students. In 1985 they begun to curtain raise for then big music performers before they decided to begin recording some of their compositions in 1986. Werrason's musical ability begun to show very early in Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4. In 1988, the band released an album, 'Bouger Bouger' that topped charts in Congo for three years and propelled Werrason and his friends to national fame. In this five song album 'Bouger Bouger' Werrason was credited with composing the song 'Nicky D'. The album had a theme chant called 'mulolo', which was elected the Song of The Year, but which until today it is not clear who between Werrason and JB Mpiana, composed though each of the two claim it was their original idea. In 1991 the group produced another master class titled'Kin e Bouge' an album that was voted 'The album of the year 1991.' In it Werrason composed the song 'Kaskin.' However 1993 was the year that Werrason gained international recognition when he composed the song'Kala Yi Boeing,' which was also the title of the group album, an album which received international acclaim. For ten years (between 1987 and 1997) the band enjoyed incredible success throughout Africa and Europe. As the deputy band leader of Wenge Musica 4x4 tout terrain bon chic bon genre, Werrason was credited with composition of key beats that took the African music scene by storm, bringing in great talents like Ferre Gola to the band and also his energy during live performances.

The Split of Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4 Tout Terrain

In 1995, problems begun to emerge in Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4. Sources of this were, personality clashes, interference from other big bands in Congo that felt threatened by the rise of Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4, disagreements about money and the direction of band and producers and promoters who wished to take advantage of the new stars once they went their separate ways. Band members begun to align themselves around JB Mpiana the band leader and around Werrason, his deputy. The band's tours of Nairobi and later Abidjan revealed growing tensions in the band. In the Nairobi tour where the band was hosted at the grand Marble Arc Hotel, and performed at among others Carnivore and Safari Park, when not on stage performing, Werrason kept a low profile and could only be seen in company of Adolphe and Didier Masela. In the tension filled performance in Ivory Coast's commercial city of Abidjan, Werrason and JB Mpiana could not even share a stage leading to the band doing two part performances with Werrason and JB Mpiana leading each separate session. It is worth noting that apart from Alain Mpela, the musicians that shared the stage with Werrsaon during this tour (Emelia, Ferre Gola, Adolphe, Masella) all later joined Werrason's band. Upon return to Kinshasha,JB Mpiana released his solo album 'Faux De L'Amour' with support of the band and also with participation of Papa Wemba. This followed an example set by another leading light Prince Alain Makaba, who had in previous year, 1995 released a solo album 'Poile ou face' with the support of the group. However it was during the release of 'Faux de L'Amour' at the Grand Hotel Kinshasa in December 1997, that the band disintegrated. Musicians aligned to the two rivals exchanged words on stage, with Blaise Bula, who was then aligned to JB Mpiana sarcastically telling Werrason, "my friend, you dream, and in your dreams, you would like to be Blaise Bula, JB Mpiana Alain Makaba ... it is allowed to dream, my brother." These happened in presence of Papa Wemba who was a guest.. The concert has come to be known today as'le Concert de la Separation.'

After the split of Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4, J.B Mpiana took with him most band members. These were Prince Alain Makaba, Blaise Bula, Alain Mpela, Aimélia Lias, Ficarra, Kusangila, Titina, Al Nzimbi, Theo Bidens, Burkinafaso Mboka Liya, Ekokota and Tutu Calugi. This split brought with it tension between JB Mpiana and Werrason's band. JB Mpiana was the first to release his album titled 'Titanic' in whose cover jacket him and his associates are seen escaping with floaters from a large sinking ship. Observers were quick to link that Titanic to the big band that was the original Wenge Musica BCBG 4x4 which JB now considered a sinking ship. Werrason responded by releasing an album titled, ‘Force de Intervention Rapide’ (force of rapid intervention). As per tradition of competition between the two, when Werrason released his second album, Solola Bien which in the local language meant ‘speak well’ JB Mpiana launched TH (meaning always humble) in an apparent reaction to Werason's growing success. Whereas music rivalry is not a new thing, the musical rivalry between Werrason and JB Mpiana of Wenge Musica BCBG, and later with Koffi Olomide of Quarter Latin International has served to shape Werrason's approach to music. It has inspired him to always try to produce very high quality albums and better live shows so as to remain at the top musically.

Werrason's Music Awards

1999:

Best Congolese Group: Wenge Musica Maison Mere
Best Singer: Werrason Ngiama Makanda
Best Song: Chantal Switzerland by Werrason
Best Animator (Atakalu): Bill “Clinton” Kalonji

2000:

Artist of the year: Werrason
Best Song: Vita-Imana by Ferre Gola
Best Animator (Atakalu): Bill “Clinton” Kalonji

2001:

KORA AWARD Winner: African Artist of the Year
KORA AWARD Winner: Best Artist in Central Africa
Best Congolese Group: Wenge Musica Maison Mere
Best Singer: Werrason Ngiama Makanda
Best Album: Kibuisa Mpimpa
Best Animator (Atakalu): Bill “Clinton” Kalonji

2002:

Best Celebrity: Werrason Ngiama Makanda
Best Song: Blandine by Werrason
Best Animator (Atakalu): Bill “Clinton” Kalonji
Best Dancer: Zina of Wenge Musica Maison Mere
Best Event: Double Zenith Concert by Werrason

2003:

Best Congolese Group: Wenge Musica Maison Mere
Best Animator (Atakalu): Bill “Clinton” Kalonji

2004:

Best Singer: Werrason Ngiama Makanda
Best Album: Alerte Générale

2005:

KORA Award winner Werrason 'Best Artist Central Africa'

Charity

Humanitarian action is part of Werrason’s life and personality. He could never be insensible to the misery of the Shegués (children of the streets) who consider him as their father. He dedicates a part of his income and spare time to schools, hospitals and prisons. He is also the founder of the charity the Werrason Foundation that currently welcome more than 400 “shegues”. The main goal of the foundation is not only to make sure those kids do not hang out in the street by providing them a roof and a warm meal but also social activities and education in order to prepare them to get back to a real social life.

The United Nations have awarded him with the title of Universal Ambassador of Peace. In 2001, WERRASON was received in audience by Pope John Paul II. Since then, he dedicates part of his time to all the UNESCO campaigns against AIDS and all sorts of discriminations.

Discography

Main articles: Werrason album discography and Werrason singles discography

1997: Force d'Intervention Rapide
1999: Solola Bien
2000: Terrain Eza Miné
2001: Kibuisa Mpimpa
2002: A La Queue Leu Leu
2004: Tindika Lokito
2005: Alerte Générale
2006: Témoignage
2007: Sous-Sol
2008: Temps Present-Mayi ya Sika
July 2009: Techno Malewa Sans Cesse
June 2011: Primus 'Diata Bawu'
September 2011 Techno Malewa Suite en Fin

References

External links

Official Website

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