[4][5][6] Known for his Lingala deep lyrics and baritone voice, he is regarded as an influential figure in soukous and Congolese rumba music and one of the most prominent lyricists of his generation.
[11][12][13] In 1999, Wazekwa formed his backing band, Cultur'A Pays Vie, and then released his fourth studio album, Sponsor, followed by Signature (2001) and Yo Nani?
[17][18][19] Wazekwa gained widespread recognition with his breakout ndombolo-infused single, "Fimbu," which debuted in September 2015 in support of the Congolese national football team, nicknamed Les Léopards.
[31][32][33] After graduating from high school with a French baccalaureate from the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa, Wazekwa pursued economics studies at Paris 8 University Vincennes-Saint-Denis in 1985.
[32] Thereafter, he became an autodidact and augmented his knowledge through reading, which gave him an interest in literary polymaths like Henry Nelson and Paul Valéry, alongside contemporary writers like Jean d'Ormesson and Michel Serres.
He quickly garnered attention from Koffi Olomidé, who incorporated Wazekwa's compositions into his projects between 1991 and 1993, notably featured in albums such as Haut De Gamme - Koweit, Rive Gauche, and Noblesse Oblige.
[40] Released in December 1995, Tétragramme, a blend of Congolese rumba and soukous, was produced under the French label Sun Records and arranged by Wazekwa and Didier Milla, featuring vocal performances by Luciana Demingongo, Madilu System, Nyboma Mwan'dido, Papa Wemba, Shimita, and Yakini Kiese, with backing vocals by Abby Surya, Patricia Aubou, and Valérie Colau.
Tétragramme was met with widespread critical acclaim, leading to Wazekwa being honored with the Best Revelation of the Year from ACMCO (Association des Chroniqueurs de Musique du Congo).
[43] The track "Biléi Ya Mobóla" metaphorically addresses the concept of love while drawing attention to the struggles of underprivileged people who are left with nothing but bones to eat.
[31][30][46] Ikonola Isibangi played the congas, Komba Bellow handled the drums, Ambroise Voundi managed the audio mixing, Thierry Galion led the programming, and Nono Manzanza featured as an atalaku.
[40] Prior to the release of his fifth studio album, Signature, in mid-June 2001,[31][49] Wazekwa attended the Union des Musiciens du Congo convocation at the Vévé-Center in Kinshasa, which aimed to conceive a patriotic song.
[59][40] In February 2006, Wazekwa made his debut American tour with shows in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York, including a notable appearance at Harvard University during a symposium on Congolese culture.
[59] However, in 2007, Cultur'A Pays Vie experienced consecutive departures of several key members who joined the Quartier Latin International led by Wazekwa's former collaborator and rival, Koffi Olomidé.
[63] In an interview with Nico Kalambay of Radio Okapi on 8 June 2009, Wazekwa announced that his tenth studio album, Mémoire ya Nzambe, was nearing completion.
[70] In May 2012, during an interview with Radio Okapi, Wazekwa announced his forthcoming eleventh studio album, Adamu Na Eva (Adam and Eve).
[14] He also told the press that the choice of the album's name stemmed from a desire to affirm the uniqueness of the human race despite variances in complexion, ethnicity, and dialect.
[14] By July 2013, Wazekwa proclaimed that Adamu Na Eva was in its conclusive phases of production, having completed the visual accompaniments, and was in pursuit of reputable distribution entities both domestically in Kinshasa and internationally to avoid falling into the hands of corrupt producers.
[16] Wazekwa subsequently supported Adamu Na Eva with a live performance alongside Cultur'A Pays Vie at the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hôtel on 30 November, followed by a concert in Kongo Central Province at the Ledya Hotel in Matadi.
[20] The term fimbu in Lingala denotes a type of whip, historically emblematic of Belgian colonial subjugation in the expansive Central African subregion, and persists in contemporary use despite prohibitions on corporal punishment.
[1][79] On 1 April 2017, Wazekwa released the audio for "Debout Africains", a remixed version of "Fimbu" with an educational theme promoting African unity.
[83] In December 2019, Wazekwa released his thirteenth studio double album titled Article 23, which included guest appearances by Barbara Kanam and Héritier Watanabe.
[88] On 14 July 2021, he debuted "Kilelo", a cover compilation of the most successful songs of notable Congolese musicians, including JB Mpiana, Werrason and Jossart N'Yoka Longo.
[89][90] On 17 March 2022, Wazekwa released the single "Leopards Fimbu International" in support of Les Léopards during the play-off phase for the 2022 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers.
[93] Wazekwa participated in the sixth anniversary of Papa Wemba's passing alongside his family, A'Salfo, Reddy Amisi, Cathérine Kathungu Furaha, and Viva la Musica.
[94] On 25 June, Wazekwa published the single "Épaisseur",[95] followed by "Entrepreneuriat" featuring Jossart N'Yoka Longo, which urges Congolese people to engage in entrepreneurial activities.
[99] He subsequently performed at Stade des Martyrs with Fabregas Le Métis Noir, becoming one of the few Congolese artists to grace the stage at the venue.
[100][101][102] On 30 September, Wazekwa performed alongside Ferré Gola, JB Mpiana, Werrason, Héritier Watanabe, and Fabregas Le Métis Noir at Stade Tata Raphaël during the "Célébrons le Héros" mega musical event, which expressed gratitude to President Félix Tshisekedi for the successful organization of the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie held in Kinshasa.