43 Facts About M'bilia Bel

M'bilia Bel's music is a blend of traditional Congolese rumba, soukous, rap, and zouk, with lyrics that often delve into themes of love, politics, hedonism, militancy, jealousy, sentimentality, and education.

M'bilia Bel gained significant recognition after joining Tabu Ley Rochereau's Afrisa International in 1981, debuting with the 1982 hit "Mpeve Ya Longo" from the album Bel Ley.

M'bilia Bel was born Marie-Claire Mboyo Moseka on 10 January 1959 in what was formerly known as the Belgian Congo, to Mbala Mbondi and Mboyo Mbilia.

M'bilia Bel's father, Mbala Mbondi, known as "Louis XIV", was a charanga dancer in Bumba, Mongala Province.

M'bilia Bel completed six years of primary school and pursued studies in Humanities, which she did not finish.

M'bilia Bel initially engaged in singing as a backup vocalist within the Catholic parish spanning 12 neighborhoods in the N'Djili commune.

M'bilia Bel subsequently rejoined Les Redoutables in 1979 at Abeti's behest but once more exited in 1980 to pursue academic aspirations, enrolling in an institution in Gombe for executive secretarial training.

M'bilia Bel co-wrote and performed on Afrisa International's album Eswi Yo Wapi, which was produced in France and subsequently distributed across various African nations, including Kenya and Zaire.

The album's eponymous single won Best Song, and M'bilia Bel was awarded as the Best New Artist.

In 1985, M'bilia Bel performed with Afrisa International on two albums: Boya Ye, released in the UK by Sterns, and La Beaute D'Une Femme.

M'bilia Bel took center stage, overshadowing other Afrisa International artists, including Ndombe Opetum, who had returned from OK Jazz.

M'bilia Bel departed from Afrisa International to pursue a solo career, citing the lack of transparency in management and the conflation of professional and personal relationships.

M'bilia Bel briefly collaborated with a Gabonese producer in Libreville before relocating to Paris, where she joined forces with guitarist Rigo Star Bamundele.

In 1988, M'bilia Bel debuted with her solo studio album Phenomene, which includes six songs.

In 1989, M'bilia Bel teamed up with Rigo Star and Madilu System for a trio album project called Exploration, which blended Congolese rumba, soukous, and rap.

M'bilia Bel then worked with Rigo Star on a joint album titled Ironie, which came out in 1993.

That same year, M'bilia Bel was awarded the Best Singer of the Year by the ACMCO.

M'bilia Bel reconstituted her orchestra and dance group with Kembo Idrissa, who accompanied her in her VIP productions and rehearsed with Zaiko Langa Langa at Kimpwanza bar in the Kasa-Vubu commune.

In October 2001, M'bilia Bel announced to Le Phare that her upcoming album Welcome was in the conclusive phases of production and slated for debut on 15 November.

M'bilia Bel subsequently took part in the Empire Fondation orchestra's concert at Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel on November 30 and appeared at Empire Foundation's debut concert at the LSC in Paris on 27 March 2003.

In July 2003, M'bilia Bel won ACMCO's Best Singer of 2002 in their annual referendum, and in December, Welcome's breakout single "Douceur" earned her the Best Central Africa Female accolade at the Kora Awards in Sun City.

From 27 September to 9 October 2004, M'bilia Bel performed at Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel for the commemorative events marking the tenth anniversary of Abeti Masikini's death.

Later that year, M'bilia Bel released her ten-track album Belissimo, which was produced by Syllart Productions and distributed by Stern's Africa in the UK.

M'bilia Bel further promoted the album with a tour spanning Dubai, Ethiopia, Zambia, Namibia, and Tanzania.

In 2006, M'bilia Bel collaborated with Kenyan singer Suzanna Owiyo on the single "Kokoka", which earned them a nomination for Best Collaboration at the 7th edition of Kisima Music Awards.

In October 2007, M'bilia Bel embarked on a tour of Kenya, headlining two concerts, one of which was the Luo Sigalagala event organized by the GoDown Arts Centre.

In September 2009, M'bilia Bel was part of the opening song for the 29th SADC summit, which was recorded in Kinshasa with other Congolese artists and subsequently played at the summit's opening ceremony.

In early December 2010, M'bilia Bel announced that her upcoming thirteen-track album, The Queen, was nearing completion.

M'bilia Bel supported the album with a sold-out performance at Nuit de la Francophonie hosted at Stade des Martyrs on 10 October 2012 as part of the events planned for the 14th summit of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

M'bilia Bel then went on to perform in Golungo Alto, Cuanza Norte Province of Angola, and followed it up with a show at Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel to celebrate Tshala Muana's 35-year music career.

On 21 September 2014, M'bilia Bel teamed up with Didier Awadi, Hanisha Solomon, Naledi Ya Tshwane, Ray-Son, Simply Chrysolite, and Femi Kuti for a pro bono performance at Warner Theatre in Washington for PAD's Stop Africa Land Grab Concert, aimed at raising awareness about the massive land acquisitions in Africa by foreign investors, which often lead to food shortages and conditions that allow the Ebola virus to thrive.

In December 2014, M'bilia Bel released a maxi-single titled Royaume d'amour, with recording done in Brazzaville and Libreville and production by Claudi Nyere.

M'bilia Bel commenced work on her 18-track double album Signature 8646 in mid-2016.

M'bilia Bel then performed at Kisumu's Victoria Railway Club, alongside Kenyan artists Lady Maureen and Madanji Perimeter.

In January 2018, M'bilia Bel appeared on Tshala Muana's Congolese rumba-inspired song "Don De Dieu".

M'bilia Bel subsequently performed at the second International Rumba Festival at Beatrice Hotel in Kinshasa, which paid tribute to her late husband and mentor, Tabu Ley Rochereau.

On 31 January 2019, M'bilia Bel made a guest appearance on Ninita's single "Pardonne-moi", which Ninita described as her most successful collaboration in an interview with Les Depeches de Brazzaville.

M'bilia Bel's set included popular 1980s tracks "Mpeve Ya Longo" and "Yamba Ngai".

On 3 February 2021, M'bilia Bel released the maxi-single Big Mama as a gesture to console her fandom following the event's delay.

M'bilia Bel was summoned to the podium by Odinga, where her 1984 smash hit "Nakei Nairobi" was played.

M'bilia Bel then encouraged Nyeri residents to vote for Odinga and Martha Karua.

In November 2022, M'bilia Bel collaborated with Werrason, Reddy Amisi, Rebo Tchulo, Jeannot Bombenga, Heritier Watanabe, Awilo Longomba, Sista Becky, Poison Mobutu, Mianda Kabamba and Samarino on "Allons Tous Nous Faire Enroler", a song composed for CENI's campaign to raise awareness among the population about the identification and enrollment operation for the 2023 Democratic Republic of the Congo general election.

M'bilia Bel was set to perform at Santamaria Bullring on 30 June 2024 as the main act on the second day of the Festival Vive La Salsa with other co-headliners.