1. Koffi Olomide's career experienced a resurgence in 1990, when he signed a record deal with SonoDisc.
96 Facts About Koffi Olomide
1. 2.
Koffi Olomide has won six Kora Awards, four of which in the 2002 edition, for his album Effrakata.
3.
Koffi Olomide's father is Congolese, while his mother is of Sierra Leonean and Congolese descent.
4.
At the age of seven, Koffi Olomide became known for the song "Soso ameli Ngando", which subsequently became his epithet.
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Koffi Olomide grew up in Kinshasa's Lemba commune until his family relocated to Lingwala in 1973.
6.
Koffi Olomide recorded his debut single, "Onia", while on leave in Kinshasa.
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Koffi Olomide then returned to Europe in search of work.
8.
Koffi Olomide subsequently commenced work on his debut solo studio album, Ngounda, recording it at Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta's Veve studio in Kinshasa, before heading to Brussels to finish production.
9.
Koffi Olomide described this as his "first experience in a professional studio".
10.
Ngounda received mixed reviews, and Koffi Olomide began working on his second studio album, Lady Bo, which was released in 1984 and featured King Kester Emeneya as a guest artist.
11.
Koffi Olomide composed and wrote all the tracks, while Raf Verlinden managed the engineering, and Popolipo provided guitar and bass.
12.
Koffi Olomide wrote and composed all tracks and collaborated with other musicians, including Popolipo on bass and electric guitars, Meridjo Belobi on drums, and Manzeku Djerba on percussion, along with vocalists Carlyto Lassa, Debaba, and General Defao.
13.
Later that year, Koffi Olomide established the group Quartier Latin International.
14.
At the start of 1987, rumors spread that Koffi Olomide had succumbed to AIDS in Europe.
15.
In mid-1987, Koffi Olomide released his fifth studio album, Rue D'Amour, which was later reissued in CD format in 1992 by Sonodisc under the title Golden Star dans Stephie.
16.
In 1990, Koffi Olomide released his eighth studio album, Les prisonniers dorment.
17.
Around this period, Stern's Africa compiled several of Koffi Olomide's widely acclaimed hit songs into Tcha Tcho, a style-blending album.
18.
On 1 June 1992, Koffi Olomide released Quartier Latin's debut studio album, Pas de faux pas, through SonoDisc.
19.
Koffi Olomide performed during Denis Sassou Nguesso's presidential campaign in Congo.
20.
On 14 August 1993, Koffi Olomide performed at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, premiering his forthcoming album, Noblesse Oblige, which was officially released in September 1993 by SonoDisc.
21.
That year, Koffi Olomide toured Kenya and performed at Safari Park Hotel.
22.
The album's triumph gave rise to Koffi Olomide's fandom dubbing themselves "koffiettes" and "koffiphiles".
23.
On 22 November 1994, Koffi Olomide released Quartier Latin's second studio album through SonoDisc, Magie, accompanied by music videos shot in the United States and Paris.
24.
Koffi Olomide subsequently performed at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and at FNAC Forum.
25.
In December 1994, Koffi Olomide won two consecutive African Music Awards at the Palais des Congres at the Hotel Ivoire in Ivory Coast, for "Best Male Singer" and "Best Video Clip".
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Koffi Olomide engaged sound engineers such as Maika Munan and Yves Delaunay, with Quartier Latin contributing backing vocals and some animation sessions.
27.
That same year, Koffi Olomide embarked on his first tour to Zimbabwe.
28.
On 29 August, Koffi Olomide sold out the Olympia Hall in Paris, becoming the first Congolese artist to do so since Tabu Ley Rochereau in 1970 and Abeti Masikini in 1973.
29.
Koffi Olomide performed a few tracks from his previous albums and engaged in a dance-off with the Haitian band Tabou Combo.
30.
Koffi Olomide performed alongside Ami Koita, Youssou N'Dour, Aicha Kone, and Georges Ouedraogo.
31.
Koffi Olomide appeared at the Harare International Conference Center in Zimbabwe that month.
32.
In September 1998, Koffi Olomide was awarded Best Male Artist of Central Africa at the Kora Awards.
33.
In December 1998, Koffi Olomide released Quartier Latin's fourth record, Droit de Veto, through Sono Africa, a branch of SonoDisc, and it was distributed by Musisoft Distribution, part of the French record label Musisoft.
34.
In February 1999, Koffi Olomide held a concert in Tanzania and later went on a tour in Kenya in August.
35.
Koffi Olomide additionally voiced his concern about the violence of the Second Congo War impacting eastern DRC and his hope that Kenyans would not endure similar strife.
36.
On 19 February 2000, Koffi Olomide became the first African solo artist to perform at a sold-out Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, with 17,000 tickets sold solely through word-of-mouth promotion.
37.
On 26 December 2000, Koffi Olomide released Quartier Latin's fifth studio album, Force de Frappe.
38.
Koffi Olomide began recording his album Effrakata while on tour in France and the US.
39.
Koffi Olomide was awarded the "Kouyate Souri Kanta" for his performance.
40.
On 12 February 2005, Koffi Olomide took part in a Valentine's Day celebration with Quartier Latin at Maisha Park in Kinshasa, inviting musicians Tshala Muana and Madilu System onstage.
41.
In September 2006, Koffi Olomide began recording Quartier Latin's seventh studio album, Danger de Mort, at Ndiaye studio in Kinshasa, while producing an advertising single titled "Swi" for Bracongo.
42.
Koffi Olomide supported the album with a live show at Radio Television Groupe Avenir on 27 May 2007, followed by a performance at the Zenith de Paris on 13 October 2007.
43.
Koffi Olomide later teamed up with Youssou N'Dour on the single "Festival" and then toured Paris with various artists who had contributed to the album, such as Lokua Kanza, Olivier Tshimanga, Guillain Tamba, Mbetenge Claude Francois, Philippe Guez, Flavien Makabi, Binda Bass Simbu, and others.
44.
In March 2009, Koffi Olomide participated in the World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar, Senegal, alongside Manu Dibango, Issa Hayatou, Aicha Kone, Salif Keita, Akon, Pape Diouf, and Sepp Blatter.
45.
On 17 October 2009, Koffi Olomide performed at the Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel in tribute to Franco Luambo, with a lineup of former OK Jazz members and contemporary rumba artists, including Malage de Lugendo, Papa Noel Nedule, Wuta Mayi, Edo Nganga, Michel Boyibanda, Jossart N'Yoka Longo, Bozi Boziana, Manda Chante, Papa Wemba, Tshala Muana, M'bilia Bel, Simaro Lutumba, and Bana Ok.
46.
Koffi Olomide directly accused Les Combattants, a group of demonstrators against artists supporting president Joseph Kabila, of being behind the piracy.
47.
Koffi Olomide alleged that they aimed to tarnish his musical career by disseminating all the songs across the internet.
48.
Koffi Olomide declared that 13eme Apotre would be his career's 20th and final album.
49.
Koffi Olomide told Radio Okapi and La Prosperite that he sees himself as Jesus' thirteenth apostle and named the album accordingly.
50.
Koffi Olomide expressed his belief that Black apostles are needed and referred to Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr.
51.
Koffi Olomide signed a copy of the album for President Joseph Kabila, per the latter's request.
52.
Koffi Olomide told the press that he was actively working on an eponymous lead single.
53.
Koffi Olomide issued the single on 8 March 2017, on International Women's Day.
54.
Koffi Olomide was scheduled to perform in Johannesburg on 28 June 2019, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, and in Cape Town on 30 June, at the Shimmy Beach Club.
55.
Koffi Olomide subsequently visited the European Parliament in Brussels in January 2020 to present his foundation, Freres de Terre, which assists disadvantaged populations in the DRC.
56.
Koffi Olomide was slated to perform at Paris La Defense Arena on 13 February 2021, but the event was postponed to 27 November 2021.
57.
On 21 November 2021, Koffi Olomide was the recipient of the Legend Award at the All Africa Music Awards.
58.
Koffi Olomide then held two concerts in Goma, DRC, to commemorate Quartier Latin's 35th anniversary, with proceeds going to "victims of rebel attacks and natural disasters".
59.
On 25 November 2022, Koffi Olomide released the first volume of his album Legende Ed.
60.
On 3 February 2023, Koffi Olomide reconciled with his erstwhile rival Felix Wazekwa, collaborating on the Congolese rumba-infused single "Eau Pure", marking the end of a protracted feud that had characterized the Congolese music scene.
61.
Seven months later, on 21 June 2024, Koffi Olomide finally released the second volume of Legende Ed.
62.
On 18 January 2025, Koffi Olomide released "Eputsha Hippodrome" with band member JR 33, a remix of his 2004 song "Eputsha", from the album Monde Arabe, which initially featured Fally Ipupa and Ferre Gola.
63.
Koffi Olomide experimented with a fusion of Congolese rumba and trap music on Legende Ed.
64.
In May 2005, Koffi Olomide stirred up controversy while marketing his album Monde Arabe by adopting the sobriquet "Benedict XVI".
65.
Koffi Olomide filed a complaint against Papa Wemba at the Ngaliema Peace Court in Kinshasa for "damaging his reputation".
66.
In early November 2017, Koffi Olomide was verbally attacked by Ferre Gola during a YouTube interview.
67.
Koffi Olomide filed a complaint against Ferre Gola for insult and defamation.
68.
On 6 July 2024, during an appearance on the program Le Panier, the Morning Show, hosted by journalist Jessy Kabasele Mbuyi at Radio-Television nationale congolaise, Koffi Olomide made contentious statements regarding the ongoing Kivu conflict in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, between Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and Congolese government forces.
69.
Koffi Olomide's remarks were deemed "denigrating and demobilizing" towards the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel et de la Communication, as per the directive of the president of the CSAC, Christian Bosembe Lokando.
70.
Koffi Olomide was tried at the Tribunal de Paix de Gombe.
71.
All parties agreed that Koffi Olomide did go to the hotel to claim his debt from Lubaki.
72.
Ultimately, the judge adjudicated the charge of assault and battery against Koffi Olomide, doling out a sentence of three months, which was suspended after the court found the accusation of "malicious destruction" unproven, particularly regarding the alleged destruction of the door lock to the room where Lubaki was staying.
73.
In July 2016, while on a concert trip in Kenya, Koffi Olomide was caught on camera kicking one of his female dancers.
74.
Koffi Olomide was arrested five days later at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, allegedly for the same unpunished action.
75.
Koffi Olomide was jailed for five days without judgement and released with no explanation.
76.
On 28 December 2012, Koffi Olomide reportedly assaulted Rwandan photojournalist Jean Nepomuscene Ndayisenga at a gig held at the Taj Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka, Zambia.
77.
Koffi Olomide was alleged to have kicked Ndayisenga in the face as he tried to take photographs of the singer after a performance at the venue.
78.
The issue resurfaced in July 2018, when it was publicized that Koffi Olomide was slated to perform in Lusaka and Kitwe.
79.
On 21 September 2018, Koffi Olomide was expected to appear before a judge, but he failed to attend the court session.
80.
Koffi Olomide was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence in absentia, as he did not attend court in France.
81.
On 25 October 2021, Koffi Olomide appeared at the Versailles Court of Appeal in Paris.
82.
On 3 May 2003, sixteen people were reported dead at the Stade de l'Amitie in Cotonou, Benin, during Koffi Olomide's performance, caused by crowd crush.
83.
Koffi Olomide later paid tribute to the victims with his single "Les Martyrs du Tchatcho".
84.
Koffi Olomide has been married three times and has several children with different women.
85.
Koffi Olomide subsequently had three children with his second wife, Stephanie Godee.
86.
Koffi Olomide began dating his third wife, Aliane, a former French model, in the early 1990s, in Paris.
87.
Koffi Olomide has been featured on numerous fashion and lifestyle magazine covers, including Vogue, Grazia, and Vanity Fair.
88.
Koffi Olomide was named L'Oreal Paris Ambassador for France in 2020 and a national ambassador for UNICEF on International Women's Day in 2022.
89.
Koffi Olomide was alleged to have had an extramarital relationship with a soprano vocalist in his band, Cindy Le Coeur, since 2013, while still married to Aliane.
90.
In 2020, Koffi Olomide expressed his interest in becoming the chief of staff for Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi after Vital Kamerhe's legal issues.
91.
Koffi Olomide was tasked with representing Congolese culture beyond its borders.
92.
In March 2024, Koffi Olomide announced his candidacy in the senatorial elections in the Sud-Ubangi constituency, which were scheduled to take place on 21 April 2024.
93.
Koffi Olomide is one of the most popular African musicians of all time.
94.
Koffi Olomide has helped boost the careers of numerous up-and-coming artists, some of whom originally played in his Quartier Latin ensemble and later went solo, such as Fele Mudogo, Sam Tshintu, Suzuki Luzubu 4x4, Soleil Wanga, Bouro Mpela, Fally Ipupa, Montana Kamenga, and Ferre Gola.
95.
Koffi Olomide has won six Kora Awards, four of them in a single evening, for his album Effrakata, making him the only African artist to achieve this milestone.
96.
Koffi Olomide is the only Congolese solo artist whose work is featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.