Awilo Longomba featuring Jocelyne Béroard - "Coupé Bibamba" (1998 Congolese mega-hit record video, information, & comments))

Awilo Longomba, August 8, 2020
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Total views for this video as of April 2, 2023 at 11:50 AM = 526,241
Note: This is one of multiple YouTube videos of this song. The view count for all of these videos is well past 3 million.

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of Awilo Longomba's 1998 mega "Coupe Bibamba".

This post presents information about Awilo Longomba and Jocelyne Beroard as well as information about the "Coupé Bibamba" record. In addition, This post includes selected comments from this YouTube video's discussion thread.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Awilo Longomba for his musical legacy. Thanks also to Jocelyne Béroard for her musical legacy and thanks to all those who are associated with the "Coupé Bibamba" song and video. Also, thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. 
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/04/what-sability-other-nigerian-pidgin.html for the pancocojams post entitled "What "Sability" & Other Nigerian Pidgin English Words Mean In Ayra Starr's Hit 2023 Afrobeats Song "Sability".That song samples Awilo Longomba's mega-hit "Coupé Bibamba"

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INFORMATION ABOUT AWILO LONGOMBA 
Excerpt #1
From https://sonichits.com/video/Awilo_Longomba/coupe_bibamba
"Awilo Longomba was born in Kinshasa (formally, Léopoldville). His father was from the Mongo region of the Ecuador and his mother was also from the Ecuador region of Ngombe and Congo Brazzaville. His father, Vicky Longomba, was the famous lead singer and founder of “Tout puissant OK Jazz” during the golden age of Congolese rumba, had a big influence on our artist. Since childhood, Awilo spent every waking moment in the music scenes attending his father’s rehearsals. Very quickly his passion for music grew, and instead of going to classes, he started drumming for various groups of Kinshasa, including “l’orchestre de Lita Bembo. He joined the orchestra “Viva La Musica” led by the great Papa Wemba as a drummer, and Awilo had his real first taste of live performance on his first international tour in Europe and to Japan in 1985 and 1986.

As the fever he caught during his tour grew stronger, he decided to pursue his artistic carrier and moved to France. His reputation as one of the best drummers in France spread very quickly. This allowed him to collaborate on numerous records and toured worldwide with several African artists such as Tshala Muana, Oliver Ngoma, Kanda Bongo Man just to name a few.

But Awilo’s ambition didn't stop there. In 1992 he decided to leave “Viva La Musica” and formed his own group “La Nouvelle Génération” of which he became the leader. This new band became very popular in Europe and produced several albums.

In 1995, the career of Awilo, the singer, took off and he left “La Nouvelle Génération”. He released his first solo album “Moto Pamba” in which he was the composer, the lead singer and of course the drummer. The Techno-Soukous star was born. His success couldn’t be ignored! He finally put the drums down and decided to concentrate on his singing and started touring in East Africa and in Europe. This first CD landed him the “Best Central Africa Artist Awards” at the KORA AWARDS 1996 and 1997 (All Africa Music Awards, held in Sun City, South Africa)"...

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE7MgLdyc8o [summary]
"Awilo Longomba is a Congolese musician who was a drummer in Viva la Musica, Stukas, Nouvelle Generation and Loketo. In 1995, he finally quit drumming for singing and released his first album Moto Pamba ....

His second CD, Coupe Bibamba (1998) made him known throughout Africa, Europe and America. This was followed by Kafou Kafou (2001) and an album, Mondongo (2004), which features Japponais, Dally Kimoko, Caen Madoka, Djudjuchet, Josky Kiambukuta and Simaro Lutumba. He is also credited as an atalaku (animateur) on some soukous records. Awilo now lives in London City, United Kingdom and is married to Paradis Kacharelle and they have a son called Lovy Believe Church Awilo Longomba."
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The English meaning of the French word "animateur" when used in this context, is "group leader", "host", "organizer". (These meanings are from various online dictionary sites). 

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Excerpt #3
From https://africa.businessinsider.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-these-classic-songs-tell-the-african-story-better-than-most/cl6fvz1 "These classic songs tell the African story better than most", written by Berlinda Entsie,  July 24, 2017
"In 1998, Awilo Longomba, a popular Congolese musician, released the song “Coupe Bibamba,” which propelled him to the top of the African music industry. It is one of the most-played lingala songs in Africa. Even today, if this song doesn’t play, it is not a party."

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "COUPE BIBAMBA"
Pancocojams Editor's Note: I haven't found a complete English translation of this song. Here are two excerpts about this song: 
Excerpt #1
From https://sonichits.com/video/Awilo_Longomba/coupe_bibamba
"His [Awilo Longomba] second round in the studio validated his popularity. He released “Coupé Bibamba”, in 1998 with the collaboration of Jocelyne Bérouard. The controversial title cut “Coupé Bibamba” that denounces poverty in Africa with catchy song lines: Comment tu t'appelles? Je m'appelle... Coupé Coupé Bibamba! The title hits the number 1 spot on the African and European charts very quick and stayed for several weeks. Several titles from the same CD followed."...

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Excerpt #2
From https://www.ipsnews.net/2000/09/arts-entertainment-music-nigeria-central-african-rhythm-takes/
"Central African Rhythm Takes Country Storm" by IPS Correspondents by By Toye Olori LAGOS, Sep 26 2000 
" A crowd of students and some unemployed youths gather in front of a car-wash centre near the University of Lagos here. Shuffling their feet they wriggle their waists and move to the beat of the Makossa music blaring from overhead loudspeakers.

For the past year the fast rhythm ‘Makossa, Soukous or Kwansakwansa’ beats, originating in East and Central African nations, have been making waves all across Nigeria.

The fast beat Central African musicians making waves in Nigeria, include Koffi Olumide, Papa Wemba, Awilo Mogonba and Albachino Offensive Generale.

However, the musician who made Makossa popular among Nigerians is Awilo Logonba, whose album “Coupe Bibamba” has taken the country by storm.

The track, ‘Coupe Bibamba’, with its lyrics “Comon ci ta pelle? Je ma pelle. Coupe coupe bibamba”, in French and a mixture of a Cameroonian dialect, has been bastardised by his non-French speaking fans and given meanings in their native Yoruba language spoken widely in the southwest and the pidgin English spoken generally in Nigeria and West Africa.

“I buy kulikuli dey no give me change o. If you no give me change e go turn to wahala. O ma te, gbogoyin ma te” (I bought kulikuli – a delicacy made from groundnut – you refused to give me change, if you don’t give me my change, you will be disgraced. Yes you will be disgraced)."...

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INFORMATION ABOUT JOCELYN BEROARD
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jocelyne_B%C3%A9roard
"Jocelyne Béroard (born 12 September 1954) is a Martinican singer and songwriter. She is one of the lead singers of the Zouk and Compas band Kassav'. As a solo artist, she helped create zouk Beton, a music genre started by Kassav'. The main members are from Guadeloupe and Martinique.

Béroard was born in Fort-de-France, Martinique, and studied in France, attending the National School of Fine Arts in Paris, before beginning to work with Caribbean artistes as a background singer in 1980.[1] She has served as a lead singer of Kassav' since 1983. She has also recorded several albums as a solo artist. In 1986, she won a Gold Disc for her album Siwo (the all-time biggest seller for an album by a female in the West Indies).[2] In 1987, she recorded a duet with Philippe Lavil, the hit single "Kolé séré", which peaked at number four in France. In 1999, she was made a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur.[3]"...

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS YOUTUBE VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XWIPGBeY8M [This is the discussion thread for the video that is embedded in this pancocojams post.] 

1.Nnamdi Nnake, 2020
"A whole generation of Nigerians grew up with this song. Awilo the Legend ❤"

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Reply
2. Lukman Adegoke, 2022
"When I was growing up I thought awilo is Nigeria musician not until I grown up I realized is not Nigerian"

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Reply
3. ivy crystal, 2022
"Pretty much all Africa"

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4. AL-Kinani, 2020
"Awilo is unrepeatable legend , Love from Sudan 🇸🇩"

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5. Misgana Tessema, 2020
"Every Ethiopian who goes to Gym knows this song!"

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6. afunah dixy, 2020
"Uganda's second National Anthem!"

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Reply
7. Awilo Longomba, 2020
"Big up to all my Ugandan fans"

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8. Nabwile linet, 2020
"I like your music since but that snake noooo"

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Reply
9. Reuben Aanomah, 2020
"Its a royal python."

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10. Franck Fendi, 2020
"Awilo tu es parmi les grands en Afrique merci pour la bonne humeur 😄😄😎💪🏽👍🏽"
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Google translate from French to English:
"Awilo you are among the greats in Africa thank you for the good mood 😄😄😎💪🏽👍🏽"

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11. Atuhurire Solomon, 2020
"I was 8 years I used to dance this on my grand father's disco those days in Uganda great memories

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12. Nicholas Chigozie, 2021
"I loved this song more than food 16 yrs ago. Still love it even though I don't know it's meaning. These guys were first to dance in erotic ways back in those days..."

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12. Isaac Machara, 2021
"But what was the use of a snake in this song💯"

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Reply 
13. beautyesthetics, 2021
"In order to show his power...."

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14. Sarah Gachugi, 2021
"This song is so nostalgic taking us all the way back👌👌👌👌Trully an African classic!!!!"

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15. Nwasokwu Emmanuel, 2023
"Here again after ayra starr sampled this legendary song on her SABILITY........ Great song🎶"

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16. Henry Echeozor, 2023
"We didn't understand a single  word from this masterpiece  but we loved it with every fibre in us

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This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

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