Very disturbing news from Paris. We have lost an amazing musician to stroke,a legend and pioneer. I still don’t know whether to believe it ..we shall remember your sweet guitar melodies Paul Mansiamina M’Foko aka Bopol or Don Paolo
(Brief history)
{Mansiamina was born 26 July 1949, in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo) as Paul Mansiamina Mfoko (or M’Foko Mansiamina).
1969 to c.1980: Zaire, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo
From 1969 to 1978 Bopol was based in Zaire and played in a series of bands. He joined many of the leading Congolese musicians of the past and next generations. After that time, he moved to West Africa for a few years.
After completing secondary school, in 1969 he joined Orchestre Bamboula (led by Papa Noel and also including Madilu System; Pepe Kalle; Bozi Boziana; and Wuta Mayi, then known as Blaise Pasco, with whom Bopol would work for decades). Orchestre Bamboula was chosen to represent Zaire in the 1969 Festival of African Music in Algeria.The band broke up, however, shortly after its return from Algiers.
After that Bopol led a revival of Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo. He then joined Dr Nico’s African Fiesta Sukisa in 1970. In 1971 he co-founded Orchestre [or L’Orchestre or Orchestra] Continental, which included Blaise Pasco (later Wuta Mayi), and Josky. From 1973 to 1976 he joined Afrisa, led by Tabu Ley.Another report, however, says that Bopol and Wuta Mayi joined Franco and TPOK Jazz from 1974.In 1975, Bopol and Wuta had a joint band, or “activity,” called Orchestre Mamumay, which released at least two records.In 1976 he started the group Ya Toupas, with Ray Lema and Félix Manuaku Waku.Ya Toupas either supported or included the singer Mpongo Love. Bopol continued to work musically with her until her death in 1990. For example, Bopol played rhythm guitar on her 1987 album Partager, and three of its six songs (including the title track) were written by him.
In 1978 he moved to West Africa – Lome, Togo, and Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – and joined Sam Mangwana’s African All-Stars.Other Congolese musicians in that band included Syran Mbenza, Ringo Moya, and many others. The original version of that band only lasted about a year, though, then split in two, with one group (including Mangwana, Bopol, and Syran Mbenza) moving to Abidjan, and another staying in Lome.
REST IN PERFECT PEACE. .THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC , THANK YOU.
