Werrason

Werrason worked across singer and musician. This article rests on 2 scholarly references drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Werrason • Birth Name — Noel Ngiama Makanda • Alias — * Roi De La Forêt • Phénomène • Igwe • Ambassadeur De La Paix • Vieux N'Soné • Émérite • Grand Formateur • Papa Formidable • Ya Ngiama • Ya Père Noël • Born — 25 December 1965 • Birthplace — Kikwit, Kwilu District, Congo-Leopoldville (modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) • Instrument — Vocals, multiple instruments, percussion • Genre — * Congolese rumba • ndombolo • soukous • Occupation — * Singer • songwriter • guitarist • record producer • arranger • dancer • choreographer • Years Active — 1981–present • Past Member Of — Wenge Musica • Website — Werrason Official Website

Werrason was born Noël Ngiama Makanda on 25 December 1965 in Kikwit, Bandundu Province. He grew up in Kinshasa and began singing at the age of 12 in the choir of the Baptist Community of Congo church in Kikwit. During his youth, he also excelled in martial arts, earning the nickname "Tarzan" after winning a competition, which later evolved into his stage name, "King of the Forest" (Roi de la Forêt). In 1979, he co-founded the band Celio Stars with school friends, serving as a vocalist alongside Aimé Buanga and Didier Masela on guitar, Machiro Kifaya and Papy Sanji on vocals, and Kija Brown. In 1981, the band was renamed Wenge Musica. While the original lineup remained, new members soon joined, including vocalists Dede Masolo, Wes Koka, and Anicet Pandu; guitarists Alain "Docteur Zing" Mwanga, Alain Makaba, and Christian Zitu; and drummers Ladins Montana, Maradona, and Evo Nsiona. In late 1982, singer JB Mpiana joined the band and brought vocalist Blaise Bula with him. Wenge Musica quickly rose to prominence, and Werrason stood out as a multi-talented artist, excelling in songwriting, dancing, and live performances. Despite the band's international success, Wenge Musica split in 1997. Werrason, along with Adolphe Dominguez and Didier Masela, formed one faction, while JB Mpiana took the majority of the remaining musicians to establish Wenge BCBG. The split was emotionally challenging for Werrason, and he found it hard to move past initially. However, the strong support from his fandom inspired him to persevere. In 1998, Werrason's faction established Wenge Musica Maison Mère (WMMM), based in Zamba Playa, Kinshasa. With the assistance of musicians such as Sankara de Kunta and Zacharie Babaswe, he conducted a nationwide search to recruit young talent. The band released its first album, Force d'Intervention Rapide, on 28 November 1998. His track "Chantal Switzerland" became a standout hit, and Bill Clinton Kalonji earned recognition as the best atalaku.

• Illustration — JB Mpiana (middle, dressed red and green) in 2007

The feud between Werrason and JB Mpiana began after the disbandment of Wenge Musica in December 1997. Werrason went on to establish Wenge Musica Maison Mère, while JB Mpiana formed Wenge BCBG. According to Claude Kamanga Mutond, a correspondent for the Congolese newspaper Le Phare, Werrason's success with his new band transformed him into a national icon. His popularity stirred heated debates among fans in the streets and in the press, often sparking confrontations with supporters of JB Mpiana and Wenge BCBG. Kamanga noted that the once-brotherly musicians had become enemies, and their fandoms mirrored this enmity. On 6 June 2001, tensions between their respective atalaku, Gentamycine from Wenge BCBG and Sankara de Kunta from Wenge Musica Maison Mère, nearly turned violent during an encounter at the Interconnect agency while they were handling customs matters. Witnesses saw the pair trade insults, and the situation almost escalated into a fight before bystanders managed to intervene. A few days earlier, during a concert by Adolphe Dominguez's Wenge Tonya Tonya at Collège Saint Georges in Kintambo, Papy Kakole and Thierry "Synthé" of Wenge Musica Maison Mère allegedly tried to disrupt the show by performing provocatively atop their cars near the venue. In response, Didier Lacoste of Wenge Tonya Tonya retaliated by organizing performances in the neighborhoods of the two agitators. The discord extended beyond the musicians themselves; on 29 May, the family home of Richard Mukena, a Wenge BCBG singer, was pelted with stones by enraged supporters of Wenge Musica Maison Mère. They believed Mukena had caused the arrest of the Wenge Musica Maison Mère's popular atalaku Bill Clinton. However, investigations later revealed that the arrested individual was Joli Molanda, a Wenge Maison Mère fan, who had been detained following a complaint filed by Mukena for misconduct. To ease tensions, the police released Molanda.

On 8 July 2001, three members each from Wenge Musica Maison Mère and Wenge BCBG engaged in a heated exchange of insults on the television program Boulevard des Stars on Raga TV, which escalated into a showdown between Werrason and JB Mpiana. This rivalry frequently manifests through verbal assaults, metaphorically known as mabanga (stones), sharp, cutting words flung by the musicians themselves. Musically, Werrason marked a significant achievement with his sold-out concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy on 16 September 2000 and subsequently released the album Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon). Meanwhile, JB Mpiana launched his album TH (Toujours Humble) and was working on a new project titled Internet. While TH (Toujours Humble) 's debut "caused massive traffic jams", Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon) 's release was met with a more moderate reception. The competition between these albums and the artists' ongoing feud fuel the verbal attacks and personal barbs that affect their fans and sometimes lead to physical altercations off-screen. The rivalry also mirrors ethnic and regional loyalties, with fans from Kongo Central and Bandundu generally supporting Werrason, whereas JB Mpiana drew most of his followers from the Kasaï provinces. JB Mpiana's supporters largely occupied the affluent western communes of Kinshasa, while Werrason's base was among the working-class areas, especially Masina, where JB Mpiana once narrowly avoided an assault. The local press capitalized on the animosity, used it to drive sales and audience numbers. Numerous short-lived but profitable music magazines and television programs sprang up, thriving on the controversy.

On 26 January 2002, during a state dinner at the Grand Hôtel de Kinshasa marking President Joseph Kabila's first year in office, the two musicians shook hands in front of the public, an act many media outlets hailed as a landmark reconciliation. Yet the positive gesture was undermined by Werrason's fandom, who began circulating unfounded claims. Shortly afterward, JB Mpiana slipped and fell on the stairs at the Atmosphère nightclub. Rumors spread that Werrason had caused the fall through "mystical" means, an allegation used to question the sincerity of the reconciliation. Others compared the situation to political peace efforts that fail to deliver absolute unity, implying the handshake lacked meaning. JB Mpiana later addressed the matter on television, confirming that he had fallen and expressing gratitude to those who helped him. He emphasized that he sees Werrason as a brother, with their only rivalry being professional and amicable. He condemned attempts to inflame tensions and said he forgave anyone who had wished him harm.

In 2000, Werrason founded the Werrason Foundation, which provides provides support to orphans and at-risk children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, running a farm that accommodates over 400 young people. The foundation also offers assistance to street children, schools, prisons, and hospitals. Recognized as an "Ambassador For Peace" and "people's singer" by the United Nations Global Compact, Werrason was received by Pope John Paul II in 2001. He also champions UNESCO's campaigns against HIV/AIDS and discrimination.

In September 2021, the Parisian prefecture announced the cancellation of a large concert of Werrason which was to be held at the Zénith of Paris, citing "risks of serious disturbances to the public order and of attacking the safety of the spectators", in particular with threats of the demonstrations of radical opponents to the regime in place. Werrason has expressed his anger towards France.

• 2001: Kibuisa Mpimpa • 2005: Témoignage • 2008: Simply The Best Of, Vol. 1 • 2015: Sans Poteau • 2017: 7 Jours de la Semaine

• 2013: "I Found a Way" (feat. Mohombi) • 2014: "Block Cadenas" • 2017: "Diemba (Balançoire Générique)" • 2019: "Formidable" • 2020: "Yeke Yeke" (feat. Bikorine & But Na Filet) • Featured in • 2021: "RDV" (Picolcrist bil feat. Werrason)

Werrason was born on 25 December 1965 in Kikwit. Werrason held the nationality of Democratic Republic of the Congo. Recorded child: Gladie Ngiama and Exaucée Ngiama. Recorded sibling: Patrice Ngoy Musoko. Werrason worked as singer and musician. Active from 1981. Werrason played the drum kit and the voice.

• Year — Event — Prize — Recipient — Result — Ref. • 2001 — Kora Awards — Best Male Artist of Africa — Himself • Kora Awards — Best Male Artist of Central Africa — Himself • Kora Awards — Best Arrangement of Africa — Himself • Association des Chroniqueurs de Musique du Congo — Best Artist — Himself • Best Album — Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération dragon) • Best Song — "Blandine" • Best Composer — Himself • Best Orchestra — Wenge Musica Maison Mère • 2002 — Event of the Year — 2002 Zénith Paris concert • 2003 — Kora Awards — Best Male Artist of Central Africa — Himself • 2004 — Best Central African Male — (with Félix Wazekwa) • Best Male African Artist — Himself • 2005 — Best Male Artist of Central Africa — Himself • 2024 — Mundi Music Awards — Best Legendary Artist of the Year — Himself • 2024 — Mundi Music Awards — Best Phenomenal Artist — Himself • 2026 — AFRIMA — Best African Dance/Choreography — "Tout se paie ici bas"