Koffi Olomide

Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba (born July 13, 1956), known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, and the founder of Quartier Latin International. Often referred to as the "King of Ndombolo," he is noted for his explosive high notes, deep baritone, and offbeat voice. Agbepa is considered one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Congolese and African popular music. His lyrics often explore themes of love, politics, technology, success, infidelity, religion, chicanery, and disillusionment. Through his stage performances, he introduced the slower style of the soukous known as Tcha Tcho and popularized a flamboyant fashion subculture called La Sape alongside Papa Wemba.

Emerging as a ghostwriter for various artists in the Zairean music industry, he gained prominence in 1977 with the release of "Princesse ya Synza," a trio featuring Papa Wemba and King Kester Emeneya. In 1986, he established and directed the Quartier Latin International, which accompanied him on stage and in producing his albums since 1992, serving as a launching pad for emerging artists, including Fally Ipupa, Jipson Butukondolo, Deo Brondo, Montana Kamenga, Bouro Mpela, Ferré Gola, Marie-Paul Kambulu, Eldorado Claude, Djuna Fa Makengele, Soleil Wanga, Laudy Demingongo Plus-Plus, Éric Tutsi, and among others. His career experienced a resurgence in 1990 when he signed a record deal with SonoDisc.

With a nearly five-decades-long career, he is the first African artist to sold-out the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy and one of the 12 African artists whose album Haut de Gamme was featured in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Throughout his forty-year career, Agbepa has recorded 28 studio albums, including seven under the Latin Quarter banner, one in collaboration with Papa Wemba, and 18 live albums, amounting to an extensive repertoire of over 300 songs.

He has won seven Kora Awards, including an illustrious quartet during the 2002 Kora Awards for his album Effrakata, including the Best Male Artist of Central Africa, Best Video of Africa, Best Arrangement of Africa, and the Jury Special Award. In 2013, he founded his label, Koffi Central. On October 13, 2015, he released 13ième apôtre, a quadruple album comprising forty songs, which he proclaimed to be his final album before later resurfaced with Nyataquance (2017), Légende Millénium (2021), and Légende Éd. Diamond (2022).