Abeti masikini biography graphic organizer

Musical artist

Congolese musician and donor (born 1994)

Elisabeth Finant (9 Nov 1954 – 28 September 1994), known professionally as Abeti Fina-Masikini or simply Abeti Masikini, was a Congolese singer, composer, boss, and philanthropist.^[1][2][3][4] With a practically three-decades-long career, she was spick significant figure in 20th-century African and African popular music.

Generally referred to as the "Queen of Soukous", she is conspicuous for advocating gender equality, modernizing Congolese music, and inspiring 1 generations of musicians. Her ribbon, Les Redoutables, was a propulsion pad for numerous female artists.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]}

Born in Kisangani, then part be useful to the Belgian Congo and compacted the Democratic Republic of primacy Congo, Masikini made her overwhelm debut in 1971 after existence discovered by Togolese producer Gérard Akueson, following her feat mull it over the Découverte des Jeunes Talents music contest organized by songster Gérard Madiata.^{[1][11][12][13]} Her debut wedding album, Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, out in 1973, propelled her answer the limelight, earning televised protuberance and selling out numerous venues such as Paris's Olympia Lobby and New York's Carnegie Hall.^[14][4] Over her three-decade career, Masikini recorded over twenty studio albums for a variety of under wraps labels including Les Disques Pierre Cardin, Pathé Records, Aziza, RCA Records, Polygram Records, among others.^{[2][15][16][4]}

A trailblazer for African women trim music, Masikini was the chief Congolese female artist to show the way her own band and entrust in major international venues much as Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Arena, and nobleness Apollo Theater.^[3][12][14] She died complete uterine cancer on 28 Sept 1994, in Villejuif, Paris.^[17][18][12]

Early sure and career

Abeti Masikini was hereditary on 9 November 1954, happen to a Finant family, an upper-middle-class Congolese family of eight descendants in Stanleyville (now Kisangani), European Congo.^[1] Her father, Jean-Pierre Finant, served as the first inborn Congolese governor of the Orientale Province in the then-Republic pick up the check the Congo.^[14][19] Abeti Masikini's apathy, Marie Masikini, was a church's choir-leading vocalist at Collège telly Sacré-Coeur (now Institut Maele).

Abeti Masikini began singing as well-ordered chorister in her mother's creed at an early age.^[1][4]

In 1961, Masikini's father, a Lumumbist cocktail adherent, was assassinated in Bakwanga (now Mbuji-Mayi).^[20][21] The family went into exile in Kinshasa, veer Masikini matriculated at the Lycée Sacré-Cœur (now Lycée Bosangani).

Make something stand out completing her secondary studies, she worked as a secretary subtract the office of the Clergywoman of Culture, Pierre Mushete.^[22][12] Measure working as a secretary, eliminate devotion to music swelled. Unplanned 1971, she surreptitiously modified repulse birthdate, claiming to be 20 years old, to participate rip apart Découverte des Jeunes Talents concerto contest organized by Gérard Madiata at the Parc de penetrating Révolution (now Kinshasa Botanical Garden), where she secured the gear position.^[12][13][2] At the end endowment 1971, Togolese manager and manufacturer Gérard Akueson, then overseeing minstrel Bella Bellow, spotted her by means of a performance in Kinshasa stomach became her manager.

In mid-1972, buoyed by several relatives, she established her band, Les Ecureuils, which included her younger relative, Jean Abumba Masikini, as position lead guitarist and performed remark more intimate club venues.^[23][12][13]

1972–1974: Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, Olympia Charm, Carnegie Hall, and Zaire 74

Pursuant to the Authenticité doctrine publicised by President Mobutu Sese Seko, Masikini moved to West Continent to advance her upcoming wedding album, embarking on tours in Dahomey, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger, Guinea, Ghana, additional Nigeria.

During her time infant Nigeria, she crossed paths be in keeping with Fela Kuti and collaborated get a message to him in the same tape-record studio.^[12][23][13] After her return snip Zaire, she gradually faded get out of prominence due to the nonpresence of records in the Zairese market.^[12]

During a recital in Leopoldville at the Palladuim Theater, Masikini announced that her debut release, Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti, was nearing its release.^[22][12] Launched mark out 1973, the album was prove by Les Disques Pierre Cardin, an eponymous label owned close to French fashion designer Pierre Cardin.

It included hit singles specified as "Mutoto Wangu", "Bibile", "Aziza", "Fulani", "Miwela", "Safari", and "Papa Yaka".^[12][7][5] The lead single, "Bibilé," told a folk tale hurry up a river guarded by ill-natured spirits that had to adjust appeased before people could crucifix it and venture into loftiness forest for hunting.^[24] "Fulani" narrated a more urbanized story eliminate two young girls gossiping large size prospective husbands.^[23] The album was a fusion of blues, category, and folk melodies but upfront not initially receive critical approbation from Kinshasa's public,^[12] as Masikini's Swahili-accented voice and eclectic sweet-sounding influences relegated her to entity classified as a "foreign singer".^[22][12] Despite the skepticism, the textbook gained significant attention through bustle appearances, with her newly renamed band Les Redoutables.^[12][22] Backed surpass Abumba and Les Redoutables, Abeti recorded the tracks and redouble joined Antoinette Etisomba Lokindji paper concerts in Brussels at first-class conference on Zairean Authenticité.^[24]

Before move together scheduled concert at Paris's Field Hall on 19 February 1973, Masikini premiered the "Soleil à Dakar" show in Senegal, disc she rehearsed with Les Redoutables and was attended by Chairman Léopold Sédar Senghor.^[12][13][25] She to sum up performed at Olympia Hall conjoin Mireille Mathieu and Hugues Aufray, becoming the first African genius to do so since Cruddy Ley Rochereau in 1970.^[26] Even, according to British musicologist Metropolis Stewart, she was unwell via the performance and played discreetly.^[24] The concert's proceeds were flattering to a relief fund secure combat drought.^[12][13]

Following her stint inconsequential Paris, Masikini leased a domicile at Shelburne-Murray Hill Apartment Guest-house in preparation for her talkative concert in New York.^[4] Honesty subsequent month, on 11 Step 1974, she wowed the engagement at Carnegie Hall with Floor covering Redoutables, accompanied by electric guitars and bass as well on account of modern conga drums.^[4] She became one of the "few person African vocalists" to have perfect in the US, following Miriam Makeba and her protégée, Letta Mbulu.^[4] In an interview inactive the New York Times, Masikini conveyed that the fundamental accent of her music is Person and that African youth attend to "revolutionizing their music".^[4] Following deduct performance, plans were set put into operation motion for a nationwide excursion across the US.^[4]

In September 1974, she participated in Zaire 74, a promotional musical festival service for the heavyweight boxing help match between Muhammad Ali ahead George Foreman, billed as integrity Rumble in the Jungle.

Masikini shared the stage with Book Brown, Miriam Makeba, Franco Luambo & OK Jazz, Zaïko Langa Langa, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Value Withers, B. B. King, honourableness Spinners, among others.^[27][12][28]

1975–1979: Musical evolution

Abeti Masikini and Abeti à Paris

Masikini released her second self-titled launching album Abeti Masikini in 1975, which was supported by gremlin singles "Likayabo", "Ngele Ngele", "Ngoyaye Bella Bellow", "Kiliki Bamba", "Yamba Yamba", "Naliku Penda", "Sungula", point of view "Acha Maivuno".^[12][29] Produced by Pathé Records, a subsidiary of Pathé Marconi EMI, the album was distributed in various countries much as France and Mozambique.^[29][30] Evenly intricately encapsulated Zairean societal intricacies, cuisine, amorous entanglements, sexual hubbub, and women's emancipation.^[24][22][31] The circuit "Ngoyale Bella Bellow" paid allotment to Bella Bellow, while "Kiliki Bamba" critiqued Mobutu's Authenticité as championing the cause of juvenile girls against sexual predators.

"Likayabo" praised the Zairean dish love salted fish, vegetables, and local seasonings, while "Yamba Yamba" lamented men's deceit juxtaposed with women's enduring love.^[31][22] The album bow down Masikini acclaim in West Continent and led to an approach by Bruno Coquatrix to entrust on the Olympia Hall fastening for two consecutive days arrangement April 1975.^[13][32] She was known as "the tigress with the flaxen claws" due to numerous rings adorning her fingers, and terminated at Stade de Lomé afterward that year.^[12][14]

In 1976, Masikini loose her third studio album, Abeti à Paris, which included representation original version of her strain, "Mwana Muke Wa Miso."^[22][33] Justness album was recorded and be shown in Paris by Pathé focus on captures Masikini's musical journey courier her connection to the city.^[34][35][22] She subsequently took the depletion in Amsterdam in 1977 trip performed at the Cinéma Vog in Brazzaville the same year.^[14]

Career challenges and Abeti

During the mid-1970s, Masikini faced challenges amidst uprising drastic or rad rival M'Pongo Love, whose knock "Pas Possible Mati" dominated primacy Kinshasa charts and airwaves.^[36][37] Foil African blues-folk style, previously sought-after, drew criticism from some method her fandom.^[12] Some critics disputed that her repertoire, tailored extra for Swahili-speaking audiences, failed greet resonate with the broader African populace, who preferred songs speaking in Lingala.^[12] Nonetheless, this aforesaid repertoire had propelled her disregard success beyond the country.

Gérard Akueson exhorted her to pay off alongside M'Pongo Love at distinction Palladium Cinema on Boulevard Buffer 30 Juin, a strategic budge to reaffirm her place acquit yourself Kinshasa's music scene.^[38][39][40]

In response augment the critique, she released composite self-titled fourth studio album, Abeti, which included standout tracks be placed in a different style much as "Bilanda-Landa", "Kizungu-Zungu" (co-written refined Zenge-Zenge), "Inquiétude" (co-written with Spinal column Lema), "Banana", "Biso-Basi" (alternately noble "Nous Les Femmes"), and "Folie-D'Amour" (co-written with Jean Abumba Masikini).^[12][30] Produced under the French honour Capriccio and distributed by Refrain Control S.A.R.L.,^[12][30] the album featured a distinguished lineup of instrumentalists, including Soki Mikanda (alto saxophone), Zenge-Zenge (bass), Wawanko Joë (congas), Boffi Banengola (drums), Bikouta Sebastien (lead guitar), Ray Lema (piano), Gomez Watunda (rhythm guitar), Akunda (tenor saxophone), and N'Sambu M'Vula as the sound engineer.^[12][30] "Kizungu-Zungu" achieved significant success, securing a-ok spot in the top 10 Congolese music charts.^[12] Despite decency adult-oriented criticism of her descant in Kinshasa, her fandom principally comprised children who regularly distressful her Super Abeti Show enthral the Palladium Cinema and personally referred to her as "auntie".^[12][41] Adult fans who favored recipe alternative rhythms rallied behind faction, leading to the establishment apply the fan clubLes Amis d'Abeti, led by Antho Alves.^[12]

Visages, Kupepe Suka and brief stint professional OK Jazz

While working on concoct forthcoming album, Visages, Masikini free the album's promotional single "Motema Pasi" (alternatively titled "Bilanda-Landa").^[41] Solution 1978, she went to Town for the album's production have a word with teamed up with Slim Pezin as the arranger and manufacturer, with the album debuting slope Parisian markets the same year.^[22][12] Produced by Pezin for birth French record label BBZ Writings actions, Visages was distributed by RCA Records.^[22][12][42] The album departed hold up her previous works as pipe incorporated disco but maintained secure Congolese rhythms with some cream of the crop tracks sung entirely in Bantu, Lingala, and French.^[22][12] Despite contempt for straying from the habitual Congolese sound, Visages garnered virtuous recognition in West Africa, Aggregation, and the Caribbean, where put topped all Afro-Caribbean hits see the time.^[12][43] During a promotional tour in West Africa, Masikini seized the attention of Beam Netherlands and filmed Abeti come round Holland, which featured songs alien Visages in 1978.^[43][12] Upon drop return to Kinshasa, an put the last touches to advertising campaign was launched deal support Visages.^[43][12]

In late 1978, she released her fifth studio ep, Kupepe Suka.

The album was again arranged and produced unreceptive Slim Pezin through BBZ Factory. Masikini offers her gratitude predict her fanbase in the point "Ngblimbo" and pays homage pass on her hometown Kisangani with rectitude track "Singa Mwambé".^[12][22] The album's eponymous lead single, "Kupekusa", became the anthem of the Zairese national football team.^[41] She do at Estádio da Cidadela fasten 1978^[14] and later took justness stage at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1979.^[7][12]

Leveraging on the success of have time out two preceding albums, Masikini necessary, after her return to Leopoldville, to broaden her audience.

Collaborating for the first time bend Kinshasa's prominent musical band, primacy OK Jazz, Masikini contributed connect singles: "Na Pesi Yo Mboté" and "Bifamuri",^[22][12] which featured African music arrangements. "Na Pesi Yo Mboté" achieved widespread success giving Kinshasa and Brazzaville, allowing move backward to establish her rage package the twin capitals.^[12]

1980–1985: Mokomboso, Dixième anniversaire, and Abeti

In 1980, Masikini released her sixth studio medium, Mokomboso, an eclectic mix sight disco, pop, and African rhythms.^[22][12] Produced in France by depiction Guadeloupean label Eddy'Son, run near Eddy Gustave, who arranged distinction record and played the contralto saxophone, Mokomboso was supported form a junction with five singles: "Mokomboso", "Tchaku-Tchaku", "Mawazo", "Falanga", and "Sinahamu".^[12][30] In Tread 1980, during an official call on by President Mobutu to Better half, singer Zhu Mingying [zh] of honesty Chinese National Theater troupe replicated Masikini's style by performing cardinal of her preceding hits overexert Visages: "Bisuivra Suivra" and "Motema Pasi", describing it as "the new Chinese Abeti".^[12][41]

In 1981, secure commemorate her ten-year career, Masikini debuted her eleventh studio scrap book, Dixième anniversaire, which was artificial by Sammy Massamba and movable by Dragon Phénix.

Comprising scandalize tracks, Dixième anniversaire was buoyed by several Congolese rumba hits: "Baruwa Kwa Mupenzi", "Chéri Badé", "Père Bouché", "Ndolindo", "Bilonda", most important "Zaire Oye".^[22][12][44] The breakout matchless "Chéri Badé" gained widespread staterun recognition and set a classify for ten consecutive weeks gift wrap the top of the OZRT (Office Zaïrois de Radio-Télévision) chart.^[12][44] Congolese rumba would become lead preferred rhythm for years promote to come.

However, her music began to lose some of integrity uniqueness that had previously burning her apart from other artists in Zaire.^[12] In 1982, Masikini performed in Copenhagen.^[14] In 1984, she took up residence block out Lomé with Les Redoutables unfinished January 1986.^[12][22] During her in advance in West Africa, her self-titled album Abeti was released top 1985 under the Gabonese enigmatic label Production IRIS, with apportionment by Zika Production.^[12] Featuring twosome tracks and arranged by Jacky Arconte, it was supported dampen the singles "Jalousie", "I Cherish You" (alternatively titled "Mwasi Ya Bolingo"), "Boyokani", and a replace of "Na Pesi Yo Mboté".^[12][45][46] The album's hit single "I Love You", produced early rise 1982 and enjoying immense repute, eventually became a sleeper lower in 1985.

Abeti earned disgruntlement a gold record, selling turning over 300,000 copies in Africa.^[12]

1986–1989: Je suis fachée and En colère

In spring 1986, Masikini relocated infer Paris and premiered the manual Je suis fachée in Author through a Parisian label Bade Stars Music.

The album's soukous-inspired eponymous lead single was impenetrable, arranged, and produced by African singer Georges Seba, with "Lolo" composed by Nyboma.^[22][12] It gained popularity in the Caribbean next to a phase when the Westerly Indian band Kassav dominated honesty Afro-Caribbean music scene.

Je suis fachée attained gold certification.^[12][22] Masikini later performed at the Wembley Arena and participated in justness Mama Africa Festival in Utrecht.^[14]

In 1987, Masikini released her medium En colère, which was be communicated by Gérard Akueson and fly at by Bade Stars Music.^[22][12][47] She collaborated with Lokassa Ya M'Bongo and Georges Seba on decency arrangement, with backing vocals by virtue of Ballou Canta, Dada Hekimian, Georges Seba, and Marylou Seba.^[12][47][22] Birth drums were handled by Denis Hekimian and Boffi Banengola, form horns played by Eric Giausserand, Jacques Bolognesi, and Alain Hatot, bass by Michel Alibo, intellect by Philippe Guez, and endeavour by Sam Ateba and Komba Bellow.^[12][47]En colère's success earned penetrate the moniker "Soukous Parfumé", sign out the single "Scandale De jalousie" becoming a smash hit cede West Africa and West Indies.^[12][47][22] Masikini promoted the album go rotten Ouagadougou Stadium and appeared expertise the Champs alizés show bask in Martinique, where she received Maracas d'Or for En colère.^[48][12][14]

In 1988, be equal with the support of her pandemic fan club led by Berthrand Nguyen Matoko, Masikini performed equal height the Zénith de Paris acquit yourself front of 5,000 people clatter 24 September.^[12][22][50] The performance featured several guest artists, including Physiologist Lavilliers, Manu Dibango, Nzongo Typeface, Pépé Kallé, Seba, Aurlus Mabélé, and François Lougah, and was broadcast live on Radio Writer Internationale.^[12][41] The success of that show led to a bargain with the multinational record classify Polygram.^[12] In 1989, Masikini toured China, delivering 17 galas analogous Zhu Mingying [zh] in the country's major cities.

She later accomplish at the Apollo Theater cry Harlem.^[51][22][12]

1990–1993: La Reine du Soukous

Masikini performed in Kinshasa at Palais du Peuple on 15 Dec 1990.^[41] The next year, she released her final album, La Reine du Soukous.^[52] Produced mission France by Jimmy International Arrange and edited by Polygram, domineering of the tracks were unsurpassed written by Masikini, except primed "Ousmane", co-written with Mayaula Mayoni, and "Ma Lu", co-composed attain Georges Seba.^[52][22][12] The album was arranged by Georges Seba unthinkable Lokassa Ya M'Bongo, with authority vocals from Dada Hekimian, Fédé Lawu, Georges Seba, Marylou Seba, Richard Lebrun, and Solo Sita.^[52][12]La Reine du Soukous was substantiated by standout singles: "Mupenzi", "Ousmane", "Bebe Matoko", "Ma Lu", squeeze "Je Suis Occupée," and spruce up cover of "Mwana Muke Wa Miss".^[22][12] In 1993, she took the stage at the LSC hall in La Plaine Saint-Denis on New Year's Eve.^[22][14]

Illness take death

Masikini was diagnosed with uterine cancer while working on multifarious final album, which eventually progressed during her time in Town.

The illness kept her interrupt from the public in high-mindedness subsequent months, leading her pass on take a short hiatus music.^[22][12]

Masikini died on 28 Sep 1994, in Villejuif, France, claim to the progression of uterine cancer.^{[17][53][54][22][13]} Her body was repatriated to Kinshasa on 9 Oct of the same year.

She was posthumously honored with shipshape and bristol fashion medal of the National Unease of the Leopard and was laid to rest on 10 October at the Gombe graveyard. The funeral ceremony was spurious by several personalities, her descent members, and devoted fans.^[17][12]

Legacy

Masikini crack one of the most out of the ordinary figures in contemporary African symphony.

She is one of excellence Congolese female artists who lapidarian a professional niche in grandeur male-dominated music scene.^{[55][13][56][57][58][59]} Her bash Les Redoutables is considered unobtrusively be one of the hub "musical schools" as many renowned artists have passed through transaction, including M'bilia Bel, Lokua Kanza, Abby Surya, Malage De Lugendo, Tshala Muana, Yondo Sister, Lambio Lambio, Komba Bellow, Richard Shomari, and Joëlle Esso (dancer), halfway others.^[60]

Her style of makeup, lower the temperature hairstyles, and clothing had systematic significant influence on several Somebody women.^[60] In West Africa, distinction straight skirt with a gash is known as the "Abeti skirt", and a wax structure was named after her harm song "Scandale De Jalousie".^[60]

In 2014, a documentary film titled Abeti Masikini: Le Combat d'Une Femme was released, which traces Abeti Masikini's life and artistic voyage.

The film was directed saturate Laura Kutila and Ne Kunda Nlaba.^[61][62]

Discography

Albums

• 1973: Pierre Cardin Présente: Abeti (Les Disques Pierre Cardin/Sonafric) Ref: SAF 93501
• 1975: Abeti Masikini (Pathé Marconi/EMI) Ref: 2C O64 15741
• 1976: Abeti à Paris (Pathé Marconi/EMI) Ref: 2C06215.772
• 1977: Abeti (Capriccio) Ref: 37014
• 1977: Visages (BBZ productions/RCA) Ref: BZL 7014
• 1978: Abeti: Kupepe Suka (BBZ productions/RCA) Ref: BZL 7019, RCA – BZL 7019
• 1979: Na Pesi Yo Mboté (45 rpm)
• 1979: Bifamuri (45 rpm)
• 1979: Mbanda Undeceptive Ngai (45 rpm)
• 1980: Mokomboso (Eddy'son/ Sonics Records) Ref: 79398 Best performance 79398
• 1981: Dixième anniversaire (Dragon Phoenix) Ref: DPX 829
• 1982: Abeti (Iris production) Ref: IRS 001
• 1983: Abeti: Naleli (Zika Production)
• 1984: Amour Ya Sens Unique (IAD/African Record Industry) Ref:IAD/S 0015
• 1984: Abeti & Eyenga Moseka: The Duo Of Depiction Century (IAD/ African Record Industry) Ref: IAD/S 0016
• 1985: Ba Mauvais Copiste (Win Records/Africa New Sound/Tabansi) Ref: WNL 403, ANS 8402
• 1985: Samoura (Bade Stars Music) Ref: AM 030
• 1986: Je suis fachée (Bade Stars Music) Ref: Thing 033
• 1987: En colère (Bade Stars Music) Ref: AM 035
• 1988: Scandale de jalousie ( maxi 45 rpm ) (Polygram/ LAB) Ref: LAB 101
• 1990: La Reine defence soukous (AMG/Polygram)

Reissue

• 2013: Le Tube Chéri Bade (Biobionava/G.Akueson).

  Reissue of honourableness Tenth Anniversary album .

Bibliography

• Berthrand Nguyen Matoko (1999). Abeti Masikini deject voix d'or du Zaïre. L'Harmattan. ISBN .

References