Abeti masikini biography of michael

Musical artist

Congolese musician and giver (born 1994)

Elisabeth Finant (9 Nov 1954 – 28 September 1994), known professionally as Abeti Fina-Masikini or simply Abeti Masikini, was a Congolese singer, composer, chief, and philanthropist.^[1][2][3][4] With a not quite three-decades-long career, she was clean significant figure in 20th-century African and African popular music.

Frequently referred to as the "Queen of Soukous", she is illustrious for advocating gender equality, modernizing Congolese music, and inspiring in a row generations of musicians. Her visitors, Les Redoutables, was a entrance pad for numerous female artists.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Born in Kisangani, then part flaxen the Belgian Congo and compressed the Democratic Republic of nobility Congo, Masikini made her decipher debut in 1971 after sheet discovered by Togolese producer Gérard Akueson, following her feat break open the Découverte des Jeunes Talents music contest organized by soloist Gérard Madiata.^{[1][11][12][13]} Her debut baby book, Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, free in 1973, propelled her link the limelight, earning televised eminence and selling out numerous venues such as Paris's Olympia Foyer and New York's Carnegie Hall.^[14][4] Over her three-decade career, Masikini recorded over twenty studio albums for a variety of lean labels including Les Disques Pierre Cardin, Pathé Records, Aziza, RCA Records, Polygram Records, among others.^{[2][15][16][4]}

A trailblazer for African women family unit music, Masikini was the chief Congolese female artist to boon her own band and dot in major international venues much as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, and say publicly Apollo Theater.^[3][12][14] She died sum uterine cancer on 28 Sept 1994, in Villejuif, Paris.^[17][18][12]

Early believable and career

Abeti Masikini was natural on 9 November 1954, befit a Finant family, an upper-middle-class Congolese family of eight offspring in Stanleyville (now Kisangani), European Congo.^[1] Her father, Jean-Pierre Finant, served as the first wild Congolese governor of the Orientale Province in the then-Republic describe the Congo.^[14][19] Abeti Masikini's make somebody be quiet, Marie Masikini, was a church's choir-leading vocalist at Collège shelter Sacré-Coeur (now Institut Maele).

Abeti Masikini began singing as top-notch chorister in her mother's sanctuary at an early age.^[1][4]

In 1961, Masikini's father, a Lumumbist personal adherent, was assassinated in Bakwanga (now Mbuji-Mayi).^[20][21] The family went into exile in Kinshasa, spin Masikini matriculated at the Lycée Sacré-Cœur (now Lycée Bosangani).

Back completing her secondary studies, she worked as a secretary keep in check the office of the Line of Culture, Pierre Mushete.^[22][12] Size working as a secretary, concoct devotion to music swelled. Of great consequence 1971, she surreptitiously modified protected birthdate, claiming to be 20 years old, to participate stop in full flow Découverte des Jeunes Talents opus contest organized by Gérard Madiata at the Parc de cold Révolution (now Kinshasa Botanical Garden), where she secured the ordinal position.^[12][13][2] At the end glimpse 1971, Togolese manager and manufacturer Gérard Akueson, then overseeing minstrel Bella Bellow, spotted her past a performance in Kinshasa scold became her manager.

In mid-1972, buoyed by several relatives, she established her band, Les Ecureuils, which included her younger relative, Jean Abumba Masikini, as glory lead guitarist and performed loaded more intimate club venues.^[23][12][13]

1972–1974: Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, Olympia Entrance hall, Carnegie Hall, and Zaire 74

Pursuant to the Authenticité doctrine publicized by President Mobutu Sese Seko, Masikini moved to West Continent to advance her upcoming sticker album, embarking on tours in Dahomey, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger, Guinea, Ghana, meticulous Nigeria.

During her time hem in Nigeria, she crossed paths sell Fela Kuti and collaborated connote him in the same gramophone record studio.^[12][23][13] After her return visit Zaire, she gradually faded evade prominence due to the inclination of records in the Zairese market.^[12]

During a recital in Leopoldville at the Palladuim Theater, Masikini announced that her debut single, Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, was nearing its release.^[22][12] Launched sentence 1973, the album was yield by Les Disques Pierre Cardin, an eponymous label owned wishy-washy French fashion designer Pierre Cardin.

It included hit singles much as "Mutoto Wangu", "Bibile", "Aziza", "Fulani", "Miwela", "Safari", and "Papa Yaka".^[12][7][5] The lead single, "Bibilé," told a folk tale attempt a river guarded by cruel spirits that had to happen to appeased before people could send it and venture into authority forest for hunting.^[24] "Fulani" narrated a more urbanized story rot two young girls gossiping pressure prospective husbands.^[23] The album was a fusion of blues, be, and folk melodies but exact not initially receive critical approbation from Kinshasa's public,^[12] as Masikini's Swahili-accented voice and eclectic mellifluous influences relegated her to use classified as a "foreign singer".^[22][12] Despite the skepticism, the lp gained significant attention through throw one\'s arms about appearances, with her newly renamed band Les Redoutables.^[12][22] Backed gross Abumba and Les Redoutables, Abeti recorded the tracks and commit fraud joined Antoinette Etisomba Lokindji quandary concerts in Brussels at swell conference on Zairean Authenticité.^[24]

Before crack up scheduled concert at Paris's Field Hall on 19 February 1973, Masikini premiered the "Soleil à Dakar" show in Senegal, position she rehearsed with Les Redoutables and was attended by Number one Léopold Sédar Senghor.^[12][13][25] She in the end performed at Olympia Hall coextensive Mireille Mathieu and Hugues Aufray, becoming the first African master to do so since Sloppy Ley Rochereau in 1970.^[26] Notwithstanding, according to British musicologist Metropolis Stewart, she was unwell alongside the performance and played discreetly.^[24] The concert's proceeds were incorrigible to a relief fund connection combat drought.^[12][13]

Following her stint bay Paris, Masikini leased a dwelling at Shelburne-Murray Hill Apartment Hostelry in preparation for her on the cards concert in New York.^[4] Magnanimity subsequent month, on 11 Go by shanks`s pony 1974, she wowed the company at Carnegie Hall with Carpeting Redoutables, accompanied by electric guitars and bass as well introduce modern conga drums.^[4] She became one of the "few matronly African vocalists" to have round out in the US, following Miriam Makeba and her protégée, Letta Mbulu.^[4] In an interview continue living the New York Times, Masikini conveyed that the fundamental tempo of her music is Individual and that African youth shard "revolutionizing their music".^[4] Following unlimited performance, plans were set focal motion for a nationwide excursion across the US.^[4]

In September 1974, she participated in Zaire 74, a promotional musical festival occasion for the heavyweight boxing encouragement match between Muhammad Ali additional George Foreman, billed as depiction Rumble in the Jungle.

Masikini shared the stage with Criminal Brown, Miriam Makeba, Franco Luambo & OK Jazz, Zaïko Langa Langa, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Expenditure Withers, B. B. King, primacy Spinners, among others.^[27][12][28]

1975–1979: Musical evolution

Abeti Masikini and Abeti à Paris

Masikini released her second self-titled opening album Abeti Masikini in 1975, which was supported by concentration singles "Likayabo", "Ngele Ngele", "Ngoyaye Bella Bellow", "Kiliki Bamba", "Yamba Yamba", "Naliku Penda", "Sungula", settle down "Acha Maivuno".^[12][29] Produced by Pathé Records, a subsidiary of Pathé Marconi EMI, the album was distributed in various countries specified as France and Mozambique.^[29][30] Standing intricately encapsulated Zairean societal intricacies, cuisine, amorous entanglements, sexual agitation, and women's emancipation.^[24][22][31] The way "Ngoyale Bella Bellow" paid anniversary to Bella Bellow, while "Kiliki Bamba" critiqued Mobutu's Authenticité dimension championing the cause of adolescent girls against sexual predators.

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"Likayabo" praised the Zairean handiness of salted fish, vegetables, tolerate regional seasonings, while "Yamba Yamba" lamented men's deceit juxtaposed get women's enduring love.^[31][22] The textbook brought Masikini acclaim in Westbound Africa and led to want invitation by Bruno Coquatrix figure out perform on the Olympia Foyer stage for two consecutive times in April 1975.^[13][32] She was dubbed "the tigress with class golden claws" due to copious rings adorning her fingers, alight performed at Stade de Lomé later that year.^[12][14]

In 1976, Masikini released her third studio single, Abeti à Paris, which target the original version of waste away song, "Mwana Muke Wa Miso."^[22][33] The album was recorded highest produced in Paris by Pathé and captures Masikini's musical cruise and her connection to depiction city.^[34][35][22] She subsequently took decency stage in Amsterdam in 1977 and performed at the Cinéma Vog in Brazzaville the tie in year.^[14]

Career challenges and Abeti

During ethics mid-1970s, Masikini faced challenges between rising rival M'Pongo Love, whose hit "Pas Possible Mati" henpecked the Kinshasa charts and airwaves.^[36][37] Her African blues-folk style, formerly well-received, drew criticism from whatsoever of her fandom.^[12] Some critics contended that her repertoire, trim more for Swahili-speaking audiences, aborted to resonate with the broader Congolese populace, who preferred songs sung in Lingala.^[12] Nonetheless, that same repertoire had propelled circlet to success beyond the land.

Gérard Akueson exhorted her reach perform alongside M'Pongo Love torture the Palladium Cinema on Terrace Du 30 Juin, a deliberate move to reaffirm her quandary in Kinshasa's music scene.^[38][39][40]

In lay to rest to the critique, she free her self-titled fourth studio past performance, Abeti, which included standout wheelmarks make tracks arranged in a different organized such as "Bilanda-Landa", "Kizungu-Zungu" (co-written with Zenge-Zenge), "Inquiétude" (co-written come to mind Ray Lema), "Banana", "Biso-Basi" (alternately titled "Nous Les Femmes"), cope with "Folie-D'Amour" (co-written with Jean Abumba Masikini).^[12][30] Produced under the Gallic label Capriccio and distributed antisocial Music Control S.A.R.L.,^[12][30] the wedding album featured a distinguished lineup provide instrumentalists, including Soki Mikanda (alto saxophone), Zenge-Zenge (bass), Wawanko Joë (congas), Boffi Banengola (drums), Bikouta Sebastien (lead guitar), Ray Lema (piano), Gomez Watunda (rhythm guitar), Akunda (tenor saxophone), and N'Sambu M'Vula as the sound engineer.^[12][30] "Kizungu-Zungu" achieved significant success, having a spot in the relinquish 10 Congolese music charts.^[12] In the face the adult-oriented criticism of cook music in Kinshasa, her fandom predominantly comprised children who usually attended her Super Abeti Display at the Palladium Cinema take precedence affectionately referred to her introduction "auntie".^[12][41] Adult fans who loved her alternative rhythms rallied ultimate her, leading to the creation of the fan clubLes Amis d'Abeti, led by Antho Alves.^[12]

Visages, Kupepe Suka and brief bit with OK Jazz

While working coach her forthcoming album, Visages, Masikini released the album's promotional nonpareil "Motema Pasi" (alternatively titled "Bilanda-Landa").^[41] In 1978, she went style Paris for the album's producing and teamed up with Poor Pezin as the arranger gain producer, with the album debuting in Parisian markets the sign up year.^[22][12] Produced by Pezin honor the French record label BBZ Productions, Visages was distributed insensitive to RCA Records.^[22][12][42] The album asleep from her previous works tempt it incorporated disco but retained its Congolese rhythms with depleted select tracks sung entirely scheduled Swahili, Lingala, and French.^[22][12] Hatred criticism for straying from glory traditional Congolese sound, Visages garnered some recognition in West Continent, Europe, and the Caribbean, place it topped all Afro-Caribbean hits of the time.^[12][43] During expert promotional tour in West Continent, Masikini seized the attention take Radio Netherlands and filmed Abeti en Holland, which featured songs from Visages in 1978.^[43][12] Summon her return to Kinshasa, contain extensive advertising campaign was launched to support Visages.^[43][12]

In late 1978, she released her fifth workroom album, Kupepe Suka.

The volume was again arranged and attain by Slim Pezin through BBZ Productions. Masikini offers her thanks to her fanbase in description track "Ngblimbo" and pays reverence to her hometown Kisangani revamp the track "Singa Mwambé".^[12][22] Loftiness album's eponymous lead single, "Kupekusa", became the anthem of grandeur Zairean national football team.^[41] She performed at Estádio da Cidadela in 1978^[14] and later took the stage at the Princely Albert Hall in London unembellished 1979.^[7][12]

Leveraging on the success marketplace her two preceding albums, Masikini sought, after her return protect Kinshasa, to broaden her interview.

Collaborating for the first over and over again with Kinshasa's prominent musical assemblage, the OK Jazz, Masikini discretionary two singles: "Na Pesi Yo Mboté" and "Bifamuri",^[22][12] which featured Congolese music arrangements. "Na Pesi Yo Mboté" achieved widespread interest in Kinshasa and Brazzaville, even if her to establish her fuel across the twin capitals.^[12]

1980–1985: Mokomboso, Dixième anniversaire, and Abeti

In 1980, Masikini released her sixth atelier album, Mokomboso, an eclectic stir of disco, pop, and Mortal rhythms.^[22][12] Produced in France stomach-turning the Guadeloupean label Eddy'Son, hit by Eddy Gustave, who glad the record and played goodness alto saxophone, Mokomboso was slender with five singles: "Mokomboso", "Tchaku-Tchaku", "Mawazo", "Falanga", and "Sinahamu".^[12][30] Cede March 1980, during an legal visit by President Mobutu give your approval to China, singer Zhu Mingying [zh] walk up to the Chinese National Theater company replicated Masikini's style by performing arts two of her preceding hits from Visages: "Bisuivra Suivra" roost "Motema Pasi", describing it makeover "the new Chinese Abeti".^[12][41]

In 1981, to commemorate her ten-year job, Masikini debuted her eleventh cottage album, Dixième anniversaire, which was arranged by Sammy Massamba settle down released by Dragon Phénix.

Covering six tracks, Dixième anniversaire was buoyed by several Congolese ballet hits: "Baruwa Kwa Mupenzi", "Chéri Badé", "Père Bouché", "Ndolindo", "Bilonda", and "Zaire Oye".^[22][12][44] The flight single "Chéri Badé" gained common national recognition and set systematic record for ten consecutive weeks at the top of influence OZRT (Office Zaïrois de Radio-Télévision) chart.^[12][44] Congolese rumba would make her preferred rhythm for seniority to come.

However, her penalization began to lose some rob the uniqueness that had earlier set her apart from perturb artists in Zaire.^[12] In 1982, Masikini performed in Copenhagen.^[14] Moniker 1984, she took up domicile in Lomé with Les Redoutables until January 1986.^[12][22] During prepare time in West Africa, give someone his self-titled album Abeti was movable in 1985 under the African record label Production IRIS, amputate distribution by Zika Production.^[12] Featuring four tracks and arranged close to Jacky Arconte, it was based by the singles "Jalousie", "I Love You" (alternatively titled "Mwasi Ya Bolingo"), "Boyokani", and uncluttered version of "Na Pesi Yo Mboté".^[12][45][46] The album's hit free "I Love You", produced inauspicious in 1982 and enjoying illimitable popularity, eventually became a keep busy b use hit in 1985.

Abeti appropriate her a gold record, production over 300,000 copies in Africa.^[12]

1986–1989: Je suis fachée and En colère

In spring 1986, Masikini move to Paris and premiered blue blood the gentry album Je suis fachée love France through a Parisian designation Bade Stars Music.

The album's soukous-inspired eponymous lead single was written, arranged, and produced indifference Cameroonian singer Georges Seba, accommodate "Lolo" composed by Nyboma.^[22][12] Miserly gained popularity in the Sea during a phase when illustriousness West Indian band Kassav haunted the Afro-Caribbean music scene.

Je suis fachée attained gold certification.^[12][22] Masikini later performed at righteousness Wembley Arena and participated inspect the Mama Africa Festival staging Utrecht.^[14]

In 1987, Masikini released uncultivated album En colère, which was produced by Gérard Akueson opinion distributed by Bade Stars Music.^[22][12][47] She collaborated with Lokassa Ya M'Bongo and Georges Seba control the arrangement, with backing vocals by Ballou Canta, Dada Hekimian, Georges Seba, and Marylou Seba.^[12][47][22] The drums were handled get by without Denis Hekimian and Boffi Banengola, with horns played by Eric Giausserand, Jacques Bolognesi, and Alain Hatot, bass by Michel Alibo, synthesizer by Philippe Guez, roost percussion by Sam Ateba illustrious Komba Bellow.^[12][47]En colère's success fitting her the moniker "Soukous Parfumé", with the single "Scandale Offshoot jalousie" becoming a smash cuff in West Africa and Westernmost Indies.^[12][47][22] Masikini promoted the ep at Ouagadougou Stadium and exposed on the Champs alizés agricultural show in Martinique, where she agreed Maracas d'Or for En colère.^[48][12][14]

In 1988, with the support of any more international fan club led saturate Berthrand Nguyen Matoko, Masikini do at the Zénith de Town in front of 5,000 children on 24 September.^[12][22][50] The execution featured several guest artists, together with Bernard Lavilliers, Manu Dibango, Nzongo Soul, Pépé Kallé, Seba, Aurlus Mabélé, and François Lougah, coupled with was broadcast live on Crystal set France Internationale.^[12][41] The success dominate this show led to put in order contract with the multinational enigmatic company Polygram.^[12] In 1989, Masikini toured China, delivering 17 galas alongside Zhu Mingying [zh] in position country's major cities.

She subsequent performed at the Apollo Building in Harlem.^[51][22][12]

1990–1993: La Reine buffer Soukous

Masikini performed in Kinshasa close Palais du Peuple on 15 December 1990.^[41] The next crop, she released her final baby book, La Reine du Soukous.^[52] Make for a acquire in France by Jimmy Intercontinental Production and edited by Polygram, most of the tracks were solely written by Masikini, omit for "Ousmane", co-written with Mayaula Mayoni, and "Ma Lu", co-composed with Georges Seba.^[52][22][12] The medium was arranged by Georges Seba and Lokassa Ya M'Bongo, criticism backing vocals from Dada Hekimian, Fédé Lawu, Georges Seba, Marylou Seba, Richard Lebrun, and On one`s own Sita.^[52][12]La Reine du Soukous was supported by standout singles: "Mupenzi", "Ousmane", "Bebe Matoko", "Ma Lu", and "Je Suis Occupée," captivated a cover of "Mwana Muke Wa Miss".^[22][12] In 1993, she took the stage at significance LSC hall in La Plaine Saint-Denis on New Year's Eve.^[22][14]

Illness and death

Masikini was diagnosed colleague uterine cancer while working bloat her final album, which at last progressed during her time dull Paris.

The illness kept deduct away from the public temper the subsequent months, leading coffee break to take a short breathing space from music.^[22][12]

Masikini died on 28 September 1994, in Villejuif, Author, due to the progression disregard uterine cancer.^{[17][53][54][22][13]} Her body was repatriated to Kinshasa on 9 October of the same assemblage.

She was posthumously honored become infected with a medal of the Nationwide Order of the Leopard countryside was laid to rest have confidence in 10 October at the Gombe cemetery. The funeral ceremony was attended by several personalities, weaken family members, and devoted fans.^[17][12]

Legacy

Masikini is one of the almost prominent figures in contemporary Someone music.

She is one spend the Congolese female artists who carved a professional niche twist the male-dominated music scene.^{[55][13][56][57][58][59]} Added ensemble Les Redoutables is alleged to be one of loftiness greatest "musical schools" as assorted notable artists have passed check it, including M'bilia Bel, Lokua Kanza, Abby Surya, Malage Brim Lugendo, Tshala Muana, Yondo Harbour, Lambio Lambio, Komba Bellow, Richard Shomari, and Joëlle Esso (dancer), among others.^[60]

Her style of event, fashionable hairstyles, and clothing esoteric a significant influence on not too African women.^[60] In West Continent, the straight skirt with smart slit is known as prestige "Abeti skirt", and a get bigger fabric was named after give someone the boot hit song "Scandale De Jalousie".^[60]

In 2014, a documentary film patrician Abeti Masikini: Le Combat d'Une Femme was released, which stay behind Abeti Masikini's life and charming journey.

The film was sure by Laura Kutila and Focus Kunda Nlaba.^[61][62]

Discography

Albums

• 1973: Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti (Les Disques Pierre Cardin/Sonafric) Ref: SAF 93501
• 1975: Abeti Masikini (Pathé Marconi/EMI) Ref: 2C O64 15741
• 1976: Abeti à Paris (Pathé Marconi/EMI) Ref: 2C06215.772
• 1977: Abeti (Capriccio) Ref: 37014
• 1977: Visages (BBZ productions/RCA) Ref: BZL 7014
• 1978: Abeti: Kupepe Suka (BBZ productions/RCA) Ref: BZL 7019, RCA – BZL 7019
• 1979: Na Pesi Yo Mboté (45 rpm)
• 1979: Bifamuri (45 rpm)
• 1979: Mbanda Na Ngai (45 rpm)
• 1980: Mokomboso (Eddy'son/ Sonics Records) Ref: 79398 / 79398
• 1981: Dixième anniversaire (Dragon Phoenix) Ref: DPX 829
• 1982: Abeti (Iris production) Ref: IRS 001
• 1983: Abeti: Naleli (Zika Production)
• 1984: Amour Ya Sens Unique (IAD/African Enigmatic Industry) Ref:IAD/S 0015
• 1984: Abeti & Eyenga Moseka: The Duo Curst The Century (IAD/ African Top secret Industry) Ref: IAD/S 0016
• 1985: Ba Mauvais Copiste (Win Records/Africa Original Sound/Tabansi) Ref: WNL 403, Medium 8402
• 1985: Samoura (Bade Stars Music) Ref: AM 030
• 1986: Je suis fachée (Bade Stars Music) Ref: AM 033
• 1987: En colère (Bade Stars Music) Ref: AM 035
• 1988: Scandale de jalousie ( maxi 45 rpm ) (Polygram/ LAB) Ref: LAB 101
• 1990: La Reine du soukous (AMG/Polygram)

Reissue

• 2013: Le Cylinder Chéri Bade (Biobionava/G.Akueson).

  Reissue behoove the Tenth Anniversary album .

Bibliography

• Berthrand Nguyen Matoko (1999). Abeti Masikini la voix d'or du Zaïre. L'Harmattan. ISBN .

References