Congolese musicians' source of revenue, Libanga

Congolese rhumba sensations Werrason , Koffi Olomide, Fally Ipupa and JB Mpiana are household names in many an African country. Although these musicians would fill a 40,000 capacity stadium in many an African capital, their source or revenue is basically through album release concerts, shows, brand campaigns and promotions and ”Libanga”. Unsurprisingly, they do not get money from album sales.  A Congolese artiste will not make more than 1000 dollars from CD sales because of the copyright infringement and advent in technology: CDs of their albums are bootlegged and sold for less than a dollar on the streets of Kinshasha with the artistes not getting a cent. The Congolese musicians have resorted to “Libanga” to make money from their albums. According to a Lubumbashi based Congolese author, Patrick Mudekereza, the only prominent musician who is not part of this system of money making is Lokua Kanza.

What is “Libanga”? “Libanga” is a Lingala word that loosely translates to “small stone”. “Libanga” is a form of praise singing where an artiste gets up to 10,000 dollars to mention a businessman’s names in his songs. The author further adds that an artiste can mention up to 10 businessmen in a song making close to 100,000 dollars from one song. Mudekereza poses a rhetoric question, “Where do you think the artistes get the money for their expensive cars and houses?” Adam Bombole, business man Didi Kinuani, night club chain owner Kayembe Kaloji, whose praises have been sang in numerous songs, pay for their cars and houses through the “Libanga” system.  

Bana Ba Congo, a pressure group of young Congolese in the diaspora who recently put pressure on Werrason’s fans to abandon his concert in Europe after vandalising the star’s tour venue, are organizing a boycott against Congolese superstars who receive money from “Libanga?”

What moral authority do Bana Ba Congo have to deny the Congolese musicians a source to put food on the table for their extended families?

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