Madilu System
Encyclopedia
Jean de Dieu Makiese popularly known as Madilu System, was a soukous
singer and songwriter
, born in Léopoldville
, Belgian Congo
- what is today known as Kinshasa
, Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz
which dominated the Congolese scene from 1960s through the 1980s.
. Madilu later formed his own band known as "Orchestre Bakuba Mayopi".
However, it was not until Madilu teamed up with Franco, that he became a Congolese
and International star. Franco is the one who nicknamed him Madilu System, a name that stuck. Madilu's first hit with TPOK Jazz was “Mamou (Tu Vois),” which became a hit in 1984. That was followed by Madilu's own composition for the band, “Pesa Position.” Then came “Mario” and “Reponse de Mario” in 1985 and perhaps the best of the Franco-Madilu duets, “La Vie des Hommes” in 1986.
Following the death of Franco, TPOK Jazz stopped making music for one year. Then the group came together again with Madilu as one of the leaders. In the years that followed, he was a key participant in several of the band’s reunions, both on-stage and in the studio. Madilu went on to establish a lucrative solo career. He relocated his residence to Paris
, France
and later, Geneva
, Switzerland
, while maintaining a large fan base in his hometown of Kinshasa
.
At the beginning of August 2007, Madilu travelled to Kinshasa to shoot videos for his new songs. He collapsed on Friday, August the 10th 2007. He was taken to the University Hospital in Kinshasa, where he died the next morning.
Soukous
Soukous is a dance music genre that originated in the two neighbouring countries of Belgian Congo and French Congo during the 1930s and early 1940s, and which has gained popularity throughout Africa...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, born in Léopoldville
Leopoldville
Leopoldville may refer to:* The capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, today known as Kinshasa* SS Leopoldville, a troopship sunk in 1944...
, Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
- what is today known as Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
(DRC). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz
OK Jazz
TPOK Jazz, originally known as OK Jazz, was a rumba band in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, from June 1956 until December 1993.-Location:...
which dominated the Congolese scene from 1960s through the 1980s.
Music career
Beginning as a teenager in 1969, Madilu sang with "Orchestre Symba", "Orchestre Bambula", headed by Papa Noel, and with "Festival des Maquisards", led by Sam MangwanaSam Mangwana
Sam Mangwana, born February 21, 1945, is a Congolese musician, born to a Zimbabwean migrant father and an Angolan mother. He is the frontman of his bands Festival des maquisards and African All Stars....
. Madilu later formed his own band known as "Orchestre Bakuba Mayopi".
However, it was not until Madilu teamed up with Franco, that he became a Congolese
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
and International star. Franco is the one who nicknamed him Madilu System, a name that stuck. Madilu's first hit with TPOK Jazz was “Mamou (Tu Vois),” which became a hit in 1984. That was followed by Madilu's own composition for the band, “Pesa Position.” Then came “Mario” and “Reponse de Mario” in 1985 and perhaps the best of the Franco-Madilu duets, “La Vie des Hommes” in 1986.
Following the death of Franco, TPOK Jazz stopped making music for one year. Then the group came together again with Madilu as one of the leaders. In the years that followed, he was a key participant in several of the band’s reunions, both on-stage and in the studio. Madilu went on to establish a lucrative solo career. He relocated his residence to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and later, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, while maintaining a large fan base in his hometown of Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
.
At the beginning of August 2007, Madilu travelled to Kinshasa to shoot videos for his new songs. He collapsed on Friday, August the 10th 2007. He was taken to the University Hospital in Kinshasa, where he died the next morning.