DRC’s Ferre Gola set to dazzle Nairobi, Mombasa fans

He will be performing alongside Kenyan pop artist Victoria Kimani. Gola, who was to hold a concert on 9 December at the Alchemist Bar in Westlands, Nairobi missed his connecting flight from Amsterdam and had to postpone the gig. His band eventually performed without him and the organizers waived the entry fee.

From his home country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gola whose full name is Hervé Gola Bataringe brings to Nairobi a genre of music that is gaining popularity with revelers and music lovers. The artist is part of the new crop of lingala musicians giving a contemporary twist to the music of pioneers such as Franco, Tabu Ley and Papa Wemba. A youthful and charismatic entertainer, he is often pitted against Fally Ipupa.

He will be arriving on Wednesday 8pm courtesy of Kenya-based Congolese promoter, Jules Nsana of Nsana Promotions. Nsana took a hit earlier this year after Koffi Olomide was a no-show, following his deportation for assaulting a woman in his team at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi.

Gola who is visiting Kenya for the fifth time first performed in Nairobi as a member of the original Wenge Musica in 1997. When the band split into Werrason’s Wenge Musica Maison Mère and JB Mpiana’s Wenge BCBG, Gola cut his teeth as the deputy to and composer for Werrason. He composed the hit ‘Vita-Imana’ in the bestselling album, Solola Bien. Gola was also Koffi Olomide’s understudy in the Quartier Latin International.

He is expected to redeem himself after his last Nairobi show in November 2015 at the same venue drew mixed reactions. Some fans complained that he and his 17-member band put up a show dogged by sound hitches and unruly fans.

Advance tickets are available for KSh2 000 (Kenya shillings) for regular and KSh4 000 VIP.

See the video for Ferre Gola’s ‘100 Kilos’ below.