P. James

P. James (birth name: James Panu Panu) is a Congolese musician (singer, songwriter, composer), actor, and director. Born on March 27, 1992, in Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo (former Western Kasaï, now Central Kasaï), he hails from a family deeply rooted in music.

From an early age, James was immersed in the world of music. In 2002, he made his stage debut with the religious choir *Arc-en-ciel*, where he performed for many years. In 2010, while preparing for his final school exams, James entered the first season of the nationally renowned *Vodacom Superstar* music competition. Despite being one of the 16 selected contestants, he was eliminated in the first round.

Undeterred by this setback, and armed with his high school diploma, James pursued his passion for live performance. Influenced by a variety of musical genres, he collaborated with numerous Kinshasa-based musical groups, such as *Cartel Yolo*, *Washiba*, *Jafrozz*, and *Rainbow Band*. Notably, he performed with Rainbow Band at the 2015 *Jazz Kif* festival.

Between 2014 and 2016, James worked closely with Congolese rapper *Lexxus Legal*, accompanying him on stages at prominent festivals, including *Peace One Day* in Goma (DRC), *Visa for Music* in Rabat (Morocco), *Salem Addis Festival* in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), *Festival International de la Francophonie* in Kinshasa (DRC), and others in Paris, France.

In 2016, P. James participated in the inaugural season of *The Voice Afrique Francophone*, a highly acclaimed continental competition. Under the mentorship of renowned Cameroonian singer Charlotte Dipanda, James reached the quarterfinals, leaving a lasting impression with his performances.

Charlotte Dipanda later signed him to her label *PharEmpire*, giving him the platform to fully pursue his musical aspirations. In 2018, James released the music video for “Mambo,” a track from his upcoming album *Yoka*. By 2019, he began self-producing, releasing the single “Posés” and placing second in the *Vodacom Best of the Best* national competition, further cementing his place in the music industry.

Since 2020, P. James has consistently released singles, including “Nako Bala Yo,” “Zonga,” “Nakati te,” and his 2022 hit “Djudja.” He is currently working on his highly anticipated album *Yoka*, set for release in 2025