Following Wenge Musica's disbandment in 1997 due to internal disputes between Ngiama and JB Mpiana, the band split into Wenge Musica Maison Mère, led by Ngiama, and Wenge BCBG by JB Mpiana.[3][14][15] In December 1999, Wenge Musica Maison Mère released the ndombolo-infused albumSolola Bien!, which achieved gold certification and experienced immediate success across Africa and its diaspora in France.[16][17][18] In September 2000, Wenge Musica Maison Mère became the second African act to perform and sell out thePalais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy followingKoffi Olomidé earlier that year.[19][20][21] With a career spanning nearly four decades, Werrason has produced numerous successfulstudio albums, including seven with Wenge Musica, nine with Wenge Musica Maison Mère, and four solo studio albums. Notable solo releases includeKibuisa Mpimpa (2001),Témoignage (2005),Sans Poteau (2015), and7 jours de la semaine (2017).[22][23][3]
Aside from music, Ngiama is known for his humanitarian work. He founded the Werrason Foundation in 2000, a non-profit organization that aids orphans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[5][24][25] Recognized as an "Ambassador For Peace" and "people's singer" by theUnited Nations Global Compact,[24][26] Ngiama is an advocate forUNESCO's initiatives againstAIDS anddiscrimination.[5]
Werrason was born Noël Ngiama Makanda on 25 December 1965 inKikwit,Bandundu Province. He grew up inKinshasa and began singing at the age of 12 in the choir of theBaptist Community of Congo church in Kikwit.[27][28] During his youth, he also excelled inmartial arts, earning the nickname "Tarzan" after winning a competition, which later evolved into his stage name, "King of the Forest" (Roi de la Forêt).[27]
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.[29] In 1981, the band was renamedWenge Musica.[30] 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.[31] 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.[27] 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.[32] The split was emotionally challenging for Werrason, and he found it hard to move past initially. However, the strong support from hisfandom inspired him to persevere. In 1998, Werrason's faction establishedWenge Musica Maison Mère (WMMM),[32] 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.[33][28][27] His track "Chantal Switzerland" became a standout hit, andBill Clinton Kalonji earned recognition as the bestatalaku.[34]
Their second studio album,Solola Bien!, was released on 10 December 1999, under JPS Production, a Cameroonian label based inParis and founded by Jean Pierre Saah, with distribution handled by Musisoft Distribution.[35][36] Produced and arranged by Maïka Munan, the album achieved widespread success in theAfrican music scene, earning a gold record in France with over 100,000 copies sold in Paris and millions across Africa.[35][37][38] The hit single "Augustine" was later named one of the "Five songs that made the Congo dance" byJeune Afrique magazine.[39]Solola Bien! solidified Wenge Musica Maison Mère's status as one of Africa's top music groups, leading to concerts in the DRC and across the continent, and shortly afterward, Werrason became the sole leader of the band following the departure of Adolphe Dominguez and Didier Masela.[35][40]
On 16 September 2000, Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère sold-out thePalais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris (nowAccor Arena), becoming only the second African acts to achieve this milestone afterKoffi Olomide's performance earlier that same year in February. That day, Aimelia Lias, a vocalist from the rival band Wenge BCBG, joined Wenge Musica Maison Mère on stage to sing.[41][42][43] Soon after, Werrason began working on his debut solodouble album,Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon), a project he had started during the production ofSolola Bien!.[44][35] During the production phase, they toured multiple European cities including Paris,Brussels,Rome, andGeneva. By May 2001, the French-language Congolese newspaperLe Phare reported that the album was nearing completion.[45] Having finished recording in France, the band was preparing to return to Kinshasa after nearly nine months abroad.[45][44] Their itinerary initially included a stop inNairobi, but this was reportedly delayed due to growing internal friction within the band. Around this time, key members, Serge Mabiala, Japonais Okito, Jus d'Été, and Flamme Kapaya, were allegedly dissatisfied and considering leaving.[45] The source of the tension stemmed from Werrason's decision to handle the musicians' financial shares ("quote-parts") in Kinshasa rather than overseas, which displeased some of them. This sparked a rebellion within the band, and several disgruntled members were seen heading toRoissy Airport in Paris, apparently intending to pursue other opportunities.[45] Although Werrason managed to ease the dispute temporarily, discontent persisted. Reports indicated that Jus d'Été and Serge Mabiala planned to stay only untilKibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon) was released, believing that leaving earlier might damage their popularity and lessen their share of the album's success.[45] Meanwhile, Werrason,Héritier Watanabe, and other loyalists intensified rehearsals to prepare for potential exits and maintain the band's stability.[45]
Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon) was officially released on 21 June in Paris through JPS Production.[49][50][51] The record, divided into two volumes with 17 tracks, blendedndombolo andCongolese rumba with stylistic influences frommakossa,charanga, andsalsa.[50][52]Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon) features guest appearances fromManu Dibango,Nathalie Makoma, and Al Nzimbi. Among its standout songs was "Croix Rouge", a collaboration with Manu Dibango and Nathalie Makoma that delivered a message of peace andnon-violence. Other notable tracks included "Destin Ya Moto", dedicated to businessman Didi Kinuani; "Obiang", reportedly written in honor ofTeodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's presidentTeodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is a close friend of Werrason.[50] It was also supported by "Opération Dragon", "13 Ans", "Ntima Mbote", "Un Prince au Congo", "Fleur d'Amour", "Waka Waka", "Kibuisa Mpimpa", "Blandine", "Tave", "Le Grand Monsieur", "Le vent du soir", "Annie", "Nakoyamba yo", and "Evidemment".[50] Songs from the album quickly became popular across the continent, helping to popularize the Koyimbiko shout by the band'satalaku, Celeo Scram, and a dance move where the arm follows the movement of the hips, reminiscent of driving a car.[53][54] To promoteKibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon), Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère performed on 15 July at a fair inLemba's Salongo garden, organized by the foundation of the lateBernardin Mungul Diaka.[55] They subsequently appeared at the third edition of the Pan-African Music Festival (Festival panafricain de musique; FESPAM) on 6 August at the Palais du Parlement in Brazzaville,[56] before touring to Nairobi,Mombasa, andNakuru for concerts that had been postponed twice in July and continuing their tour with a performance inBangui.[57][58][59][60] In November,Radio France Internationale named themusic video for "Opération Dragon" the Best African Video,[53] and on 3 November inSun City, South Africa, Werrason won twoKora Awards: Best Male Artist of Africa and Best Male Artist of Central Africa, becoming the first artist to achieve two awards in a single ceremony before,[61][62][63][64] and also received a nomination for Best Arrangement of Africa.[65] He presented these awards to PresidentJoseph Kabila on 22 November at thePalais de la Nation.[66]
Later that year, Werrason delivered consecutive performances atZénith Paris. He toured Europe includingLondon,Amsterdam, Brussels,Dublin, Rome, andStockholm. During his world tour, performed with other African artists including Manu Dibango at theParis Olympia,Passi,Doc Gynéco, Benji and Akil. In January 2005, theGombe-based Cabinet EXPERTS released a Kinshasa-wide survey identifying leading public personalities of 2004 across ten categories; Werrason topped the music category with 28% of respondents citing him, well ahead of JB Mpiana, L'Or Mbongo,Koffi Olomidé,Félix Wazekwa, José Nzita, andPapa Wemba.[67] Werrason also collaborated withShaggy.[68][69] In the same year, Werrason performed a concert atStade des Martyrs, which was attended by over 100,000 people.[70] In March 2010, he returned to Zénith Paris with Wenge Musica Maison Mère.[71]
On 15 February 2025, Werrason made a triumphant return to the European stage after a 14-year hiatus with a sold-out concert at Arena Grand Paris.[72][73][74] The event attracted a vast audience and featured Wenge Musica Maison Mère and their dancers, with performances of iconic hits such as "Solola Bien" and "Techno Malewa".[75] Former bandmates, includingBill Clinton Kalonji andHéritier Watanabe, joined him on stage,[75] and alive album featuring 12 selected songs from the night was later released on 16 April.[76] On 27 February, he took part in a peaceful march in Paris, denouncing theM23 campaign in eastern DRC alongside members of theCongolese diaspora.[77] He later performed at Brussels'Couleur Café festival on 28 June.[78][79] On July 18, he was part of the closing event of the firstWorld Music and Tourism Festival (Festival Mondial de la Musique et du Tourisme) at thePalais du Peuple in Kinshasa, organized by the Congolese government with assistance fromUN Tourism.[80]
On 18 October, Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère sold-out theAdidas Arena in Paris.[81][82][83] As reported by theAgence congolaise de presse (ACP), the concert brought a wave of nostalgia, accentuated by high-energy renditions of their biggest hits. Special guests included former bandmates Manda Chante, Deplick Pomba, and Brigade Sarbaty.[84]
The feud between Werrason and JB Mpiana began after the disbandment ofWenge 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 newspaperLe Phare, Werrason's success with his new band transformed him into anational icon.[85] 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 theirfandoms mirrored this enmity.[85] On 6 June 2001, tensions between their respectiveatalaku, 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.[86] 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 inKintambo, 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.[86] 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.[86] They believed Mukena had caused the arrest of the Wenge Musica Maison Mère's popularatalakuBill 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.[86]
Media, musical competition, and ethnic/fanbase divisions
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 programBoulevard des Stars on Raga TV, which escalated into a showdown between Werrason and JB Mpiana.[87] This rivalry frequently manifests throughverbal assaults, metaphorically known asmabanga (stones), sharp, cutting words flung by the musicians themselves.[87] Musically, Werrason marked a significant achievement with his sold-out concert at thePalais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy on 16 September 2000 and subsequently released the albumKibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon).[87] Meanwhile, JB Mpiana launched his albumTH (Toujours Humble) and was working on a new project titledInternet.[87] WhileTH (Toujours Humble)'s debut "caused massive traffic jams",Kibuisa Mpimpa (Opération Dragon)'s release was met with a more moderate reception.[51] 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.[87] The rivalry also mirrors ethnic and regional loyalties, with fans fromKongo Central andBandundu generally supporting Werrason, whereas JB Mpiana drew most of his followers from theKasaï provinces.[85] JB Mpiana's supporters largely occupied the affluent westerncommunes of Kinshasa, while Werrason's base was among the working-class areas, especiallyMasina, 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.[85]
On 26 January 2002, during a state dinner at the Grand Hôtel de Kinshasa marking PresidentJoseph 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.[88] 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.[88][89] 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.[88]
In 2000, Werrason founded the Werrason Foundation, which provides provides support toorphans and at-risk children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, running a farm that accommodates over 400 young people.[27][25] The foundation also offers assistance to street children, schools, prisons, and hospitals.[27][25] Recognized as an "Ambassador For Peace" and "people's singer" by theUnited Nations Global Compact,[24][26] Werrason was received byPope John Paul II in 2001. He also championsUNESCO's campaigns againstHIV/AIDS anddiscrimination.[27][5]
In September 2021, the Parisian prefecture announced the cancellation of a large concert of Werrason which was to be held at theZénith 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.[90]
^abcAyorinde, Michael (February 2011)."Werrason: un seigneur à Paris" [Werrason: a lord in Paris].Afrique magazine (in French). Paris, France. RetrievedOctober 21, 2024.
^abcdefNkutu, Jean-Pierre (May 18, 2001)."Congo-Kinshasa: Werrason in Kinshasa next Monday" [Congo-Kinshasa: Werrason in Kinshasa next Monday].Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. RetrievedOctober 23, 2025.
^abcdNkutu, Jean-Pierre (July 6, 2001)."Congo-Kinshasa: "Kibwisa Mpimpa": tout va bien, sauf le son..." [Congo-Kinshasa: "Kibwisa Mpimpa": everything is fine, except the sound...].Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. RetrievedOctober 23, 2001.
^Mpiutu, Miguel Jegou (November 12, 2020)."Mignon Abraham: "Je suis le créateur de la danse Koyimbiko"" [Mignon Abraham: "I am the creator of the Koyimbiko dance"].Mbote (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. RetrievedNovember 20, 2025.
^Kanka, Joseph (November 9, 2001)."Afrique: Koras 2001 a Sun City: Werrason n°1 d'Afrique" [Africa: Koras 2001 in Sun City: Werrason No. 1 in Africa].Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. RetrievedAugust 15, 2025.
^Mande, Ordi (February 17, 2025)."Paris s'incline devant le Roi de la Forêt" [Paris bows to the King of the Forest].Mbote (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. RetrievedAugust 2, 2025.
^abKanka, Joseph (November 9, 2001)."Afrique: Koras 2001 a Sun City: Werrason n°1 d'Afrique" [Africa: Koras 2001 at Sun City: Werrason n°1 in Africa].Lephareonline.net/ (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. RetrievedMay 18, 2024.
