Fans of legendary Congolese musician Pepe Kalle Yampanya will next Saturday mark the 27th anniversary of his death.
Speaking to the Saturday Nation from Paris, Lofombo Gode, a bassist and long-serving member of the late musician’s Grand Empire Bakuba, said the band’s former leader would forever be cherished.
“We all owe our musical inspiration to him and we will always cherish him,” he said.
At the same time, Paris-based crooner Nyboma Mwandido said that although there is no major concert planned in memory of Pepe Kallé, fans will celebrate the musician online.
Nyboma featured on Moyibi , one of Pepe Kallé’s standout songs.
Pepe Kalle, who was fondly referred to as ‘Le Éléphant’ because of his massive size giant legs, was not only a singer with a melodious voice but also a gifted performer known for his electrifying stage shows.
One of his most popular songs was Roger Milla , which he sang in praise of the Cameroonian football legend.
In the song, Pepe Kallé extolled Milla’s brilliance at the 1990 Fifa World Cup, where the striker scored four goals and became one of the oldest forwards to score at the age of 38 – well beyond the prime years for most footballers.
In one section of the song, Pepe Kallé even mimics the footballer’s antics on the pitch.
Although not much is heard today of Pepe Kallé’s Grand Empire Bakuba, some former band members remain in the Democratic Republic of Congo while others are based in Europe.
The former band members based in Europe include Djuna Mumbafu Big One (England), Boenng 737 (Belgium), Ebiya Doris (Switzerland), Papy Tex, Jolly Bébé, Desouza Santu, Solo Sita (France), and Dominic Mabwa (DR Congo). Mabwa often teams up with Jolly Bébé and Ayilla Emoro during shows.
Solo Sita is currently in Kinshasa on a musical tour to promote his latest album. In 1984, he became one of the leading members of Empire Bakuba and one of the innovators of the Massassi Calculer dance style with the band.
Other popular tracks by the late Pepe Kallé include Pon Mon Paka Bouger , Tika Makanisi , Gerrant , Bitoto , Zouke Zouke and Likambo .
Earlier in his career, Pepe Kallé performed the lead vocals on Nakomitunaka by Kiamuangana Mateta Verckys.
In the advent of Kwasa Kwasa dance style in the early 1990s, Pepe Kallé was among the musicians at the forefront popularising the trend.
In Kenya, Pepe Kallé is remembered for the many tours he made in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Pepe Kallé also enjoyed a strong fan base in Tanzania, where he released the songs Young Africa and Hidaya , the latter dedicated to a Tanzanian fan.
