Le Grand MOPAO! Koffi Olomide set to thrill Kenyans at biggest Rhumba concert in Nairobi

MAUREEN WARUINGE ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST

02 November 2023

• The charismatic Congolese star with a distinctive fashion sense expressed regret for his actions and he is extending an olive branch to Kenyans and the authorities.

Celebrated Selfie hitmaker Koffi Olomide alias Mopao Mokonzi is officially coming to Rhumbanise Nairobi on December 8th and 9th.

This time Mopao has promised that the only drama Kenyans will experience will be his smooth powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics and legendary soukous dance.

Speaking to Maina Kageni on Classic 105 on Thursday, November 2, via a phone call, the biggest soukous maestro acknowledged what happened in 2016 when Kenyan authorities detained and subsequently deported him, saying he has made amends.

"Good morning. I'm very fine. I want to greet the authority of Kenya. I want to say good morning to my family in Kenya, Kenya is my family, my heart. I have friends in Kenya, I have sisters."

The charismatic Congolese star with a distinctive fashion sense expressed regret for his actions and he is extending an olive branch to Kenyans and the authorities.

"I can't wait to be in the country. Now it's okay (referring to fixing the situation arising from the incident), Now it's okay, so thank you to the new authority of Kenya.

Thank you to the Immigration and to Radio Africa," Mpoao said glowingly.

"I've missed Kenya. It's a long time, many many years," he noted before Maina asked him how he felt knowing his Kenyan fans were waiting for him, "I'm touched."

The ever-evolving king of Lingala also affirmed his musical connection with Kenya, where he is admired by both the young and old for his skill in incorporating rap skills and muziki ya bakulutu(for the elderly) seamlessly.

"I am coming to Kenya on December 9, so I expect to be in the country for three or four days before the show. I am so excited. I've missed being there to face my fans of Kenya. I have so many friends in this country."

"I want you to be with me. I say thank you to the Kenyan people, they made Koffi Olomide."

An excited Maina Kageni concluded the show by hailing the lyricist and composer man who consistently attracts large audiences to his music shows for his massive contributions to the music industry.

Born on July 13, 1965, Koffi's real name is Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba.

The multi-talented Soukous star can be anyone you need him to be, from singer, dancer, producer, lyricist, composer, bandleader, and the founder of world-acclaimed Quartier Latin International band that graced us with hits like Ultimatum(1997), Force de Frappe, Fois cent(1997) just to mention a few

He is widely known for his flamboyant style and dynamic stage presence and gained prominence in the late 70s with the release of Princesse ya Synza a trio featuring Papa Wemba and King Kester Emeneya.

In 1986, he established and directed the Quartier Latin International, which accompanied him on stage and in producing his albums since 1992, serving as a launching pad for emerging music stars, including Fally Ipupa and Ferré Gola among others,

He is the first African music artist to fill the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy and one of the 12 African musicians listed in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die for his album Haut de Gamme.

Throughout his forty-year career, Koffi has recorded 28 studio albums, including seven under the Latin Quartier banner, one in collaboration with Papa Wemba, and 18 live albums, amounting to an extensive repertoire of over 300 songs.

December 9, is the day to go down memory lane with lyrics like "Ah mingizile, ba yaya mingizile Nge umvuata wayisa, wasi samenuKala i ngangu ngowu mwe bai ka sakane eh." from his evergreen song Loi.

Koffi's youthful fans can also dance to recent headbangers like Papa mobimba ayé ee Papa mobimba ayé éé...from the song Papa Mobimba or Achii his latest collaboration with Tanzanian award-winning musician Diamond Platnumz.