Youlou Mabiala
Encyclopedia
Gilbert Youlou Mabiala popularly known as Prince Youlou, is a soukous
recording artist, composer
and vocalist, in the Republic of the Congo
(Congo-Brazzaville). He was once a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz
which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.
, a suburb of Brazzaville
, the capital of the Republic of the Congo
. He began his music career in Brazzaville with local groups. In 1963, he joined the musical band TPOK Jazz, in Kinshasa
(Leopoldville
), as a vocalist and composer. After initial stage jitters, he settled in under the tutelage of Vicky Longomba
.
Youlou Mabiala is credited with composing the following songs for the band, among others:
In 1972, Youlou was one of the musicians who defected from OKJazz to form the band known as Lovy du Zaïre, led by Vicky Longomba. Youlou then went on to form Somo-somo, with Jean Kwamy Munsi, Diatho Lukoki, Master Mwana Congo and Nona Simon.
He returned to OKJazz in 1975 and released the hit Kamikaze which was popular in Africa and among the African Diaspora
in Europe
and North America
. In 1977, Youlou left OKJazz for good.
, Michel Boyibanda
and others. They performed mainly in Brazzaville
. In the 1980s, he sang with the band Kamikaze Loningisa, releasing the song Djeliba, among others.
On 15 August 2004, while taking part in the National Independence celebrations at the Présidence de la République hotel in Pointe-Noire
, Republic of the Congo
, Youlou Mabiala suffered a cerebral vascular accident (stroke). After initial stabilization in a hospital in Brazzaville, he was airlifted to a facility in Paris
, France
. Following discharge from hospital, he remained in France for rehabilitation.
. It is reported that it was his father-in-law, who nicknamed him Prince.
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...
recording artist, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and vocalist, in the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
(Congo-Brazzaville). 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 music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.
Music career with OKJazz
Youlou Mabiala was born in LinzoloLinzolo
Linzolo is a small town and suburb of Brazzaville in the Pool Department of the Republic of Congo.-History:The town of Linzolo, located 20 km south of Brazzaville and the Livingstone Falls on the Cataractes plateau on the west side of the river, was the chosen site between 1881 and 1883 for the...
, a suburb of Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, the capital of the Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
. He began his music career in Brazzaville with local groups. In 1963, he joined the musical band TPOK Jazz, in Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
(Leopoldville
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...
), as a vocalist and composer. After initial stage jitters, he settled in under the tutelage of Vicky Longomba
Vicky Longomba
Vicky Longomba was a singer and a founding member of Tout puissant OK Jazz, a Congolese rumba group.He later formed his own group, Lovy du Zaire....
.
Youlou Mabiala is credited with composing the following songs for the band, among others:
- Kamikaze
- Asumani
- Ledi
- Massi
- Lekwey (credited to both Franco & Youlou)
In 1972, Youlou was one of the musicians who defected from OKJazz to form the band known as Lovy du Zaïre, led by Vicky Longomba. Youlou then went on to form Somo-somo, with Jean Kwamy Munsi, Diatho Lukoki, Master Mwana Congo and Nona Simon.
He returned to OKJazz in 1975 and released the hit Kamikaze which was popular in Africa and among the African Diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In 1977, Youlou left OKJazz for good.
Music career post OKJazz
After he left TPOK Jazz in May 1977, Youlou formed Trois Frères with Loko Massengo, Mose Fan FanMose Fan Fan
Mose Se Sengo is a guitarist, composer, band-leader from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is one of the pioneers of Congolese Soukous....
, Michel Boyibanda
Michel Boyibanda
Michel Boyibanda, is a soukous recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . He was once a member of the soukous band TPOK Jazz, led by François Luambo Makiadi, which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1950s through the 1980s.-See also:* Franco Luambo...
and others. They performed mainly in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
. In the 1980s, he sang with the band Kamikaze Loningisa, releasing the song Djeliba, among others.
On 15 August 2004, while taking part in the National Independence celebrations at the Présidence de la République hotel in Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire
Pointe-Noire is the second largest city in the Republic of the Congo, following the capital of Brazzaville, and an autonomous department since 2004. Before this date it was the capital of the Kouilou region . It is situated on a headland between Pointe-Noire Bay and the Atlantic Ocean...
, Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
, Youlou Mabiala suffered a cerebral vascular accident (stroke). After initial stabilization in a hospital in Brazzaville, he was airlifted to a facility in 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...
. Following discharge from hospital, he remained in France for rehabilitation.
Personal details
Prince Youlou Mabiala is married to one of the daughters of the late François Luambo MakiadiFrancois Luambo Makiadi
François Luambo Luanzo Makiadi was a major figure in twentieth century Congolese music, and African music in general. He is widely referred to as Franco Luambo or, simply, Franco. Known for his mastery of rumba, he was nicknamed the "Sorcerer of the Guitar" for his seemingly effortlessly fluid...
. It is reported that it was his father-in-law, who nicknamed him Prince.
External links
Photos
See also
- Franco Luambo Makiadi
- Sam MangwanaSam MangwanaSam 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....
- Josky Kiambukuta
- TPOK Jazz
- List of African musicians