Ferre Gola show moved to Nov 27
Ferre Gola, like his equally versatile counterpart, Fally Ipupa, with whom he teamed up during his stint with Koffi, is in the class of the new generation of rumba musicians whose style attracts fans of all ages. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
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“Ferre will first perform in Nairobi and travel the next day for a show in Dar es Salaam,” said Nsana, who has in the past put together several successful concerts by Congolese stars.
Another consideration in changing Ferre’s date was a request by other fans in East Africa that his tour coincide with the second anniversary of the death of his legendary compatriot, Tabu Ley, who died on November 30, 2013 in a Belgian hospital.
In a recent television interview in Kinshasa, Ferre confirmed that he would be travelling to Kenya and Tanzania and would use his shows to honour Tabu Ley.
Nairobi fans of Congolese crooner Ferre Gola will have to wait for another three weeks before his much awaited show in the city.
Organisers have said Ferre will now perform at Bomas of Kenya on November 27 instead of the earlier date of November 7.
This was attributed to various reasons, including the uncertainty over the recent Tanzania general elections. Ferre’s East Africa tour included a show in Dar es Salaam.
Tickets for the Nairobi show are available online . Entry is Sh2,000 (advance), Sh2,500 (gate). A VIP ticket will cost Sh3,000 in advance and Sh3,500 at the gate.
Ferre has a number of hits that have become household and dance hall anthems in East Africa, with the song Kamasutra, being the favourite of many.
But his real standout composition is Vita Imana, in which he uses the allegory of the rivalry of two Kinshasa-based football teams, Vita and Imana, in what is actually a love ballad. “…Lokola ndembo ya Vita na Imana (like a match between Vita and Imana)
Speaking to the Saturday Nation earlier this week, Mr Jules Nsana, the promoter of the top selling Lingala music icon’s tour, said the change in the earlier schedule had been made at the request of Ferre Gola’s Tanzanian fans. They asked that he arrives in Dar es Salaam after the dust has settled on their elections.
“Ferre will first perform in Nairobi and travel the next day for a show in Dar es Salaam,” said Nsana, who has in the past put together several successful concerts by Congolese stars.
ANOTHER CONSIDERATION
Another consideration in changing Ferre’s date was a request by other fans in East Africa that his tour coincide with the second anniversary of the death of his legendary compatriot, Tabu Ley, who died on November 30, 2013 in a Belgian hospital.
In a recent television interview in Kinshasa, Ferre confirmed that he would be travelling to Kenya and Tanzania and would use his shows to honour Tabu Ley.
The Congolese star, who made his name with Werrason’s Wenga Musica Maison Mere before joining Koffi Olomide’s Quartier Latin International, which he later left to go solo, is now expected to arrive in Nairobi on November 24, three days before his big show. He will be accompanied by a 17-member back-up group.
As Ferre delivers his renditions of Tabu Ley’s mega hits in Nairobi, some former members of the late legend’s Afrisa International band, including his former US-based band manager, Mekanisi Modero, will be working on a tribute album to be launched next month.
It has become popular in Congo for younger musicians to perform songs of their older, more illustrious or departed compatriots. Ferre will do a chante of some of Tabu Ley’s popular songs. Tabu Ley’s blockbusters that made him a household name from the 1960s include Mokolo Nakokufa and Savon Omo.
In the 1980s, he did great duets with former dancer-turned singer Mbilia Bel, yielding such big hits as Nadina, Beyanga, Nakei Nairobi and Kamunga.
Ferre Gola, like his equally versatile counterpart, Fally Ipupa, with whom he teamed up during his stint with Koffi, is in the class of the new generation of rumba musicians whose style attracts fans of all ages.
Others include songbirds Barbara Kanam, Cindy Le Coeur and Meje 30. The girls, have, of course, followed in the footsteps of the glass-ceiling breakers Mbilia Bel and Tshala Muana.
In the recent past, Ferre has also enjoyed a good working relationship with his former boss, Koffi Olomide, who mentions him in his latest controversial 13eme Apotre (The 13th Apostle) album. Back in 2004, Ferre composed Insecticide that featured on Koffi Olomide’s album Danger De Mort album.
