Abeti Masikini

Abeti Masikini was born in Kisangani, then part of the Belgian Congo and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Masikini made her public debut in 1971 after being discovered by Togolese producer Gérard Akueson, following her feat in the Découverte des Jeunes Talents music contest organized by singer Gérard Madiata. Her debut album, Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, released in 1973, propelled her into the limelight, earning televised prominence and selling out numerous venues such as Paris's Olympia Hall and New York's Carnegie Hall. Over her three-decade career, Masikini recorded over twenty studio albums for a variety of record labels including Les Disques Pierre Cardin, Pathé Records, Aziza, RCA Records, Polygram Records, among others. A trailblazer for African women in music, Masikini was the first Congolese female artist to lead her own band and perform in major international venues such as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, and the Apollo Theater. She died of uterine cancer on 28 September 1994, in Villejuif, Paris.

Abeti Masikini was born on 9 November 1954, into a Finant family, an upper-middle-class Congolese family of eight children in Stanleyville (now Kisangani), Belgian Congo. Her father, Jean-Pierre Finant, served as the first native Congolese governor of the Orientale Province in the then-Republic of the Congo. Abeti Masikini's mother, Marie Masikini, was a church's choir-leading vocalist at Collège du Sacré-Coeur (now Institut Maele). Abeti Masikini began singing as a chorister in her mother's church at an early age. In 1961, Masikini's father, a Lumumbist party adherent, was assassinated in Bakwanga (now Mbuji-Mayi). The family went into exile in Kinshasa, where Masikini matriculated at the Lycée Sacré-Cœur (now Lycée Bosangani). After completing her secondary studies, she worked as a secretary in the office of the Minister of Culture, Pierre Mushete. While working as a secretary, her devotion to music swelled. In 1971, she surreptitiously modified her birthdate, claiming to be 20 years old, to participate in Découverte des Jeunes Talents music contest organized by Gérard Madiata at the Parc de la Révolution (now Kinshasa Botanical Garden), where she secured the third position. At the end of 1971, Togolese manager and producer Gérard Akueson, then overseeing singer Bella Bellow, spotted her during a performance in Kinshasa and became her manager. In mid-1972, buoyed by several relatives, she established her band, Les Ecureuils, which included her younger brother, Jean Abumba Masikini, as the lead guitarist and performed in more intimate club venues.

Pursuant to the Authenticité doctrine promulgated by President Mobutu Sese Seko, Masikini moved to West Africa to advance her upcoming album, embarking on tours in Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger, Guinea, Ghana, and Nigeria. During her time in Nigeria, she crossed paths with Fela Kuti and collaborated with him in the same recording studio. After her return to Zaire, she gradually faded from prominence due to the absence of records in the Zairean market. During a recital in Kinshasa at the Palladuim Theater, Masikini announced that her debut album, Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, was nearing its release. Launched in 1973, the album was produced by Les Disques Pierre Cardin, an eponymous label owned by French fashion designer Pierre Cardin. It included hit singles "Mutoto Wangu", "Bibile", "Aziza", "Fulani", "Miwela", "Safari", and "Papa Yaka". "Bibilé" told a folk tale about a river guarded by malevolent spirits that had to be appeased before people could cross it and venture into the forest for hunting. "Fulani" narrated a more urbanized story of two young girls gossiping about prospective husbands. The album was a fusion of blues, soul, and folk melodies but did not initially receive critical acclaim from Kinshasa's public, as Masikini's Swahili-accented voice and eclectic musical influences relegated her to being classified as a "foreign singer". Despite the skepticism, Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti gained significant attention through television appearances, with her newly renamed band Les Redoutables. Backed by Abumba and Les Redoutables, Abeti recorded several records and then joined Antoinette Etisomba Lokindji for concerts in Brussels at a conference on Authenticité. Before her scheduled concert at Paris's Olympia Hall on 19 February 1973, Masikini premiered the "Soleil à Dakar" show in Senegal, where she rehearsed with Les Redoutables and was attended by President Léopold Sédar Senghor. She subsequently performed at Olympia Hall alongside Mireille Mathieu and Hugues Aufray, becoming the first African artist to do so since Tabu Ley Rochereau in 1970. However, according to British musicologist Gary Stewart, she was unwell during the performance and played discreetly. The concert's proceeds were dedicated to a relief fund to combat drought. Following her stint in Paris, Masikini leased a residence at Shelburne-Murray Hill Apartment Hotel in preparation for her upcoming concert in New York. The subsequent month, on 11 March 1974, she wowed the audience at Carnegie Hall with Les Redoutables, accompanied by electric guitars and bass as well as modern conga drums. She became one of the "few female African vocalists" to have performed in the US, following Miriam Makeba and her protégée, Letta Mbulu. In an interview with the New York Times, Masikini conveyed that the fundamental rhythm of her music is African and that African youth are "revolutionizing their music". Following her performance, plans were set in motion for a nationwide tour across the US. In September 1974, she participated in Zaire 74, a promotional musical festival event for the heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, billed as the Rumble in the Jungle. Masikini shared the stage with James Brown, Miriam Makeba, Franco Luambo & OK Jazz, Zaïko Langa Langa, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Bill Withers, B. B. King, the Spinners, among others.

Masikini released her second self-titled debut album Abeti Masikini in 1975, which was supported by eight singles "Likayabo", "Ngele Ngele", "Ngoyaye Bella Bellow", "Kiliki Bamba", "Yamba Yamba", "Naliku Penda", "Sungula", and "Acha Maivuno". Produced by Pathé Records, a subsidiary of Pathé Marconi EMI, the album was distributed in various countries such as France and Mozambique. It intricately encapsulated Zairean societal intricacies, cuisine, amorous entanglements, sexual turbulence, and women's emancipation. The track "Ngoyale Bella Bellow" paid tribute to Bella Bellow, while "Kiliki Bamba" critiqued Mobutu's Authenticité while championing the cause of young girls against sexual predators. "Likayabo" praised the Zairean dish of salted fish, vegetables, and regional seasonings, while "Yamba Yamba" lamented men's deceit juxtaposed with women's enduring love. The album brought Masikini acclaim in West Africa and led to an invitation by Bruno Coquatrix to perform on the Olympia Hall stage for two consecutive days in April 1975. She was dubbed "the tigress with the golden claws" due to numerous rings adorning her fingers, and performed at Stade de Lomé later that year. In 1976, Masikini released her third studio album, Abeti à Paris, which included the original version of her song, "Mwana Muke Wa Miso." The album was recorded and produced in Paris by Pathé and captures Masikini's musical journey and her connection to the city. She subsequently took the stage in Amsterdam in 1977 and performed at the Cinéma Vog in Brazzaville the same year.

During the mid-1970s, Masikini faced challenges amidst rising rival M'Pongo Love, whose hit "Pas Possible Mati" dominated the Kinshasa charts and airwaves. Her African blues-folk style, previously well-received, drew criticism from some of her fandom. Some critics contended that her repertoire, tailored more for Swahili-speaking audiences, failed to resonate with the broader Congolese populace, who preferred songs sung in Lingala. Nonetheless, this same repertoire had propelled her to success beyond the country. Gérard Akueson exhorted her to perform alongside M'Pongo Love at the Palladium Cinema on Boulevard Du 30 Juin, a strategic move to reaffirm her place in Kinshasa's music scene. In response to the critique, she released her self-titled fourth studio album, Abeti, which included standout tracks arranged in a different style such as "Bilanda-Landa", "Kizungu-Zungu" (co-written with Zenge-Zenge), "Inquiétude" (co-written with Ray Lema), "Banana", "Biso-Basi" (alternately titled "Nous Les Femmes"), and "Folie-D'Amour" (co-written with Jean Abumba Masikini). Produced under the French label Capriccio and distributed by Music Control S.A.R.L., the album featured a distinguished lineup of 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. "Kizungu-Zungu" achieved significant success, securing a spot in the top 10 Congolese music charts. Despite the adult-oriented criticism of her music in Kinshasa, her fandom predominantly comprised children who regularly attended her Super Abeti Show at the Palladium Cinema and affectionately referred to her as "auntie". Adult fans who favored her alternative rhythms rallied behind her, leading to the establishment of the fan club Les Amis d'Abeti, led by Antho Alves.

While working on her forthcoming album, Visages, Masikini released the album's promotional single "Motema Pasi" (alternatively titled "Bilanda-Landa"). In 1978, she went to Paris for the album's production and teamed up with Slim Pezin as the arranger and producer, with the album debuting in Parisian markets the same year. Produced by Pezin for the French record label BBZ Productions, Visages was distributed by RCA Records. The album departed from her previous works as it incorporated disco but maintained its Congolese rhythms with some select tracks sung entirely in Swahili, Lingala, and French. Despite criticism for straying from the traditional Congolese sound, Visages garnered some recognition in West Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean, where it topped all Afro-Caribbean hits of the time. During a promotional tour in West Africa, Masikini seized the attention of Radio Netherlands and filmed Abeti en Holland, which featured songs from Visages in 1978. Upon her return to Kinshasa, an extensive advertising campaign was launched to support Visages. In late 1978, she released her fifth studio album, Kupepe Suka. The album was again arranged and produced by Slim Pezin through BBZ Productions. Masikini offers her gratitude to her fanbase in the track "Ngblimbo" and pays homage to her hometown Kisangani with the track "Singa Mwambé". The album's eponymous lead single, "Kupekusa", became the anthem of the Zairean national football team. She performed at Estádio da Cidadela in 1978 and later took the stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1979. Leveraging on the success of her two preceding albums, Masikini sought, after her return to Kinshasa, to broaden her audience. Collaborating for the first time with Kinshasa's prominent musical band, the OK Jazz, Masikini contributed two singles: "Na Pesi Yo Mboté" and "Bifamuri", which featured Congolese music arrangements. "Na Pesi Yo Mboté" achieved widespread success in Kinshasa and Brazzaville, allowing her to establish her rage across the twin capitals.

In 1980, Masikini released her sixth studio album, Mokomboso, an eclectic mix of disco, pop, and African rhythms. Produced in France by the Guadeloupean label Eddy'Son, run by Eddy Gustave, who arranged the record and played the alto saxophone, Mokomboso was supported with five singles: "Mokomboso", "Tchaku-Tchaku", "Mawazo", "Falanga", and "Sinahamu". In March 1980, during an official visit by President Mobutu to China, singer Zhu Mingying of the Chinese National Theater troupe replicated Masikini's style by performing two of her preceding hits from Visages: "Bisuivra Suivra" and "Motema Pasi", describing it as "the new Chinese Abeti". In 1981, to commemorate her ten-year career, Masikini debuted her eleventh studio album, Dixième anniversaire, which was arranged by Sammy Massamba and released by Dragon Phénix. Comprising six tracks, Dixième anniversaire was buoyed by several Congolese rumba hits: "Baruwa Kwa Mupenzi", "Chéri Badé", "Père Bouché", "Ndolindo", "Bilonda", and "Zaire Oye". The breakout single "Chéri Badé" gained widespread national recognition and set a record for ten consecutive weeks at the top of the OZRT (Office Zaïrois de Radio-Télévision) chart. Congolese rumba would become her preferred rhythm for years to come. However, her music began to lose some of the uniqueness that had previously set her apart from other artists in Zaire. In 1982, Masikini performed in Copenhagen. In 1984, she took up residence in Lomé with Les Redoutables until January 1986. During her time in West Africa, her self-titled album Abeti was released in 1985 under the Gabonese record label Production IRIS, with distribution by Zika Production. Featuring four tracks and arranged by Jacky Arconte, it was supported by the singles "Jalousie", "I Love You" (alternatively titled "Mwasi Ya Bolingo"), "Boyokani", and a version of "Na Pesi Yo Mboté". The album's hit single "I Love You", produced early in 1982 and enjoying immense popularity, eventually became a sleeper hit in 1985. Abeti earned her a gold record, selling over 300,000 copies in Africa.

In spring 1986, Masikini relocated to Paris and premiered the album Je suis fachée in France through a Parisian label Bade Stars Music. The album's soukous-inspired eponymous lead single was written, arranged, and produced by Cameroonian singer Georges Seba, with "Lolo" composed by Nyboma. It gained popularity in the Caribbean during a phase when the West Indian band Kassav dominated the Afro-Caribbean music scene. Je suis fachée attained gold certification. Masikini later performed at the Wembley Arena and participated in the Mama Africa Festival in Utrecht. In 1987, Masikini released her album En colère, which was produced by Gérard Akueson and distributed by Bade Stars Music. She collaborated with Lokassa Ya M'Bongo and Georges Seba on the arrangement, with backing vocals by Ballou Canta, Dada Hekimian, Georges Seba, and Marylou Seba. The drums were handled by Denis Hekimian and Boffi Banengola, with horns played by Eric Giausserand, Jacques Bolognesi, and Alain Hatot, bass by Michel Alibo, synthesizer by Philippe Guez, and percussion by Sam Ateba and Komba Bellow. En colère's success earned her the moniker "Soukous Parfumé", with the single "Scandale De jalousie" becoming a smash hit in West Africa and West Indies. Masikini promoted the album at Ouagadougou Stadium and appeared on the Champs alizés show in Martinique, where she received Maracas d'Or for En colère. In 1988, with the support of her international fan club led by Berthrand Nguyen Matoko, Masikini performed at the Zénith de Paris in front of 5,000 people on 24 September. The performance featured several guest artists, including Bernard Lavilliers, Manu Dibango, Nzongo Soul, Pépé Kallé, Seba, Aurlus Mabélé, and François Lougah, and was broadcast live on Radio France Internationale. The success of this show led to a contract with the multinational record company Polygram. In 1989, Masikini toured China, delivering 17 galas alongside Zhu Mingying in the country's major cities. She later performed at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

Masikini performed in Kinshasa at Palais du Peuple on 15 December 1990. The next year, she released her final album, La Reine du Soukous. Produced in France by Jimmy International Production and edited by Polygram, most of the tracks were solely written by Masikini, except for "Ousmane", co-written with Mayaula Mayoni, and "Ma Lu", with Georges Seba. The album was arranged by Georges Seba and Lokassa Ya M'Bongo, with backing vocals from Dada Hekimian, Fédé Lawu, Georges Seba, Marylou Seba, Richard Lebrun, and Solo Sita. La Reine du Soukous was supported by "Mupenzi", "Ousmane", "Bebe Matoko", "Ma Lu", and "Je Suis Occupée", and a cover of "Mwana Muke Wa Miss". In 1993, she took the stage at the LSC hall in La Plaine Saint-Denis on New Year's Eve.

Masikini was diagnosed with uterine cancer while working on her final album, which eventually progressed during her time in Paris. The illness kept her away from the public in the subsequent months, leading her to take a short hiatus from music. Masikini died on 28 September 1994, in Villejuif, France, due to the progression of uterine cancer. Her body was repatriated to Kinshasa on 9 October of the same year. She was posthumously honored with a medal of the National Order of the Leopard and was laid to rest on 10 October at the Gombe cemetery. The funeral ceremony was attended by several personalities, her family members, and devoted fans. Between 27 September and 9 October 2004, a major tribute event was held at the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hôtel to mark ten years since her death, bringing together Koffi Olomide, Meiway, Youssou N'Dour, Ray Lema, Lokua Kanza, Manu Dibango, Amy Koïta, Mbilia Bel, Patience Dabany, Pierrette Adams, Sam Mangwana, Pierre Akendengué, King Mensah, Monique Séka, Tshala Muana, Papa Wemba, Werrason, Angélique Kidjo, Aurlus Mabélé, Ismaël Lô, Charlotte Mbango, Abby Surya, King Kester Emeneya, Yondo Sister, Passi, Diblo Dibala, Mireille Mathieu, Awa Maïga, JB Mpiana, Bana OK, and others. The ceremony was organized by the Abeti Masikini Foundation alongside Akweson Worldwide and Shabani Records. That same month, Kinshasa commemorated her legacy by inaugurating Abeti Masikini Avenue.

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 Record Industry) Ref:IAD/S 0015 1984: Abeti & Eyenga Moseka: The Duo Of The Century (IAD/ African Record Industry) Ref: IAD/S 0016 1985: Ba Mauvais Copiste (Win Records/Africa New Sound/Tabansi) Ref: WNL 403, ANS 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)

2013: Le Tube Chéri Bade (Biobionava/G.Akueson). Reissue of the Tenth Anniversary album.