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Doudou Copa

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Doudou Copa
Birth nameBienvenu Dominique Elenga Laka
Born (1974-12-03) December 3, 1974 (age 50)
Owando, Cuvette Department, Republic of the Congo
GenresCongolese rumba
Occupations
  • Singer
  • dancer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • bandleader
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active1994–present

Bienvenu Dominique Elanga Laka (born 3 December 1974), professionally known as Doudou Copa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, and composer. Celebrated for his velvety vocals and his mastery of the rumba style, Copa rose to fame as a pivotal member of the legendary Congolese group Extra Musica. Over the years, he has transitioned into a successful solo artist and one of the finest vocalists in Congolese music, earning accolades for his career activities including his studio albums Échafaudage (2005), Independance Day (2007), Evolution (2010), Menu (2013), Posso (2016) and Loin des Barreaux (2019). Known affectionately as "De Mi Amor", he has left an indelible mark on the music industry with his poignant lyrics and emotionally resonant compositions. Copa's sound is defined by his ability to blend rumba and other global music sounds.

Early life and career

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1974–1993: Childhood, seminary and music debut

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Bienvenu Dominique Elenga Laka was born on December 3, 1974, in Owando, a town in the Cuvette department of the Republic of Congo. His mother was named Marie Atipo, former vocalist from the vocal group Les Jeunes Cousins.[1] From an early age, Copa admired Congolese rumba, listening to artists such as Pamelo Mounk'a, Madilu System, Youlou Mabiala, and much later Koffi Olomide.[2] Despite his love for music, young Copa initially envisioned a different future for himself and aspired to become a Catholic priest. He spent several years as a seminarian, which earned him the name "l'Abbé Doudou".[3]

1994–2004: Extra Musica

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In 1994, Copa was invited by his friend Guy-Guy Fall, a co-founder of the band Extra Musica, to join them.[4] Extra Musica, formed in 1993, was at the forefront of an emerging generation of youth Congolese bands. Copa joined as a backing vocalist and made his debut with the band on their debut album, Les Nouveaux Missiles (1995), which garnered wide success. As the group gained momentum, Copa's vocal abilities evolved, and he began taking on larger roles in subsequent projects. In Confirmation (1996), he delivered his first solo vocal performances and his voice had remarkably evolved.[5]

In 1997, Extra Musica released Ouragan, an album that solidified their reputation as one of the leading groups in Africa. The album featured dynamic rhythms and harmonies, with Copa contributing many verses once again. In June 1998, Extra Musica faced its first major split, with several key members—Quentin Moyascko, Régis Touba, Durell Loemba and Pinochet Thierry—departing to form Extra Musica International.[6][7] In December of the same year, the group released their most successful album to date, État-Major. For the first time, Copa contributed both as a vocalist and songwriter, giving his first composition for the band, "Écart", a melancholic song about a man's heartbreak and the unraveling of his marriage.[8]

Doudou's verse is the most remarkable. Copa continued to shine on subsequent albums, including Shalaï (1999), where he composed "Zineba" and delivered standout performances on tracks like "Horizon 2000", a soulful rumba classic composed by Roga Roga. Doudou had toured the United States, Canada, France, Belgium and a large part of the African continent as a member of the band, notably participating to their infamous concert at the Zenith Paris in February 2001. His artistry flourished further on Trop c'est Trop (2001), which featured his celebrated slow rumba composition "Zongi Sanga". Copa also contributed lead vocals to many songs, including "Gambala". His performance on this album earned him the "Meilleur chanteur de la République du Congo" award in 2002.[9]

By 2004, tensions began to rise within Extra Musica, particularly between Copa and the band's leader Roga Roga.[10] These conflicts culminated in Copa's departure on November 28, 2004, after contributing to the group's seventh album released in the same year, Obligatoire.[4] His final composition with the band, "L'Oublier", widely misnamed as "Gyrophare", became a hit despite the underlying discord within the group.

2005–present: Solo career

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2005–2012: Échafaudage to Evolution

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In January 2005, Doudou Copa launched his solo career by forming Groupe Doudou Copa, an ensemble of talented musicians and vocalists including Walo Boss Tino, Ben Mambriki, Tsaku Le Prince, Zao Fils[5] and Abidjan Ngotima. His debut album, Échafaudage,[9] was released in late 2005 under Sonima Music. Featuring hits like "L'Or Noir, Libala and Makoko (featuring Guy Roger, Kevin Mbouandé and former Extra Musica colleagues, Oxy Oxygène and Papy Bastin), the album received high acclaim, establishing Copa as a promising solo artist. In 2006, he took part in the compilation Il Fallait O'zala on the Tamaris label, alongside Madilu System. On this compilation, he performed the tracks "O.N.E." and "Affaire Ya Poukou", penned by the producer Eddy Ngombé.[11] The following year, he contributed to the compilation Terre sacrée: Les plus belles voix congolaises, by performing "Vertus" and "Terre sacrée" featuring Ferré Gola.[8]

Copa's second album, Independence Day, released in October 2007,[12] demonstrated his versatility by incorporating global music influences while retaining the essence of Congolese rumba. To promote the album, Doudou performed at the Théâtre Mohammed V in Casablanca.[13] Independance Day was voted "Meilleur album de l'année" at the 4th edition of the Tam-Tam d'Or in 2008. He continued in this artistic direction with the release of his third studio album, Evolution, issued in 2010 through Régis Production.[5] The album, including reggae and R&B infusions in certain tracks, spawned several hits, including "Eyala", "Palado" and "Emery Alcatel". During the 10th edition of the Tam-Tam d'Or in 2011, Copa received 4 nominations: Evolution in the best album category, "Eyala" and "Palado" in the best song category and "Eyindi" in the best video clip category.[14]

2013–present: Menu, Posso, imprisonment, resurgence

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In 2013, Copa released Menu, his fourth studio album, which further cemented his status as one of Africa's premier vocalists. The track list includes hits such as "Pondu Ya Limbondo", regarded as one of Copa's biggest classics, or also "Madesu", written by Groupe Doudou Copa's conductor, Walo Boss Tino.[15][16] Menu was awarded "Meilleur album de l'année" at the 9th Edition of the Tam-Tam d'Or on March 22, 2014.[17][2] Beyond music, Copa has contributed to social causes. In 2015, in partnership with the Family Health Department and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), he released "La Fistule Stop", a song aimed at raising awareness about obstetric fistula.[18] On November 15, 2016, Doudou released his fifth album, Posso, through TPT Production.

On February 15, 2019, Copa released his sixth studio album Loin des Barreaux, which included introspective songs such as the lead single "Cellule 128", written during his 2017 incarceration in France.[19] The album was presented during a concert on May 18, 2019 at the Espace Airtel City, Pointe-Noire.[20] In November 2019, Doudou Copa was nominated in the first edition of the Pool Malebo Music Awards category for "Meilleur Chanteur" which he won.[21] In 2020, Copa suffered a stroke that temporarily impaired his speech, forcing him to pause his career. After a remarkable recovery, he returned with the EP Boloss (2021). In December 2023, he released "Nado Nado", the lead single from his forthcoming seventh album, Jerusalem.[22] Meanwhile, he had announced the release of an EP entitled Gauche-Droite for December 2024.

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On December 14, 2017, Doudou Copa was sentenced to ten months in prison in the Maison d'arrêt de Seine-Saint-Denis, Villepinte for a domestic violence charge dating back to 2010. By a multiplication of circumstances, he was unable to respond to several summons, leading to his immediate arrest.[23] With the help of music-related personalities, he was released in June 2018, he issued a public apology during a press conference on July 19, 2018 after his return to Brazzaville, also announcing a stage production for August 11 dubbed Doudou Chante La Femme, and vowed to learn from his mistake.[24] His subsequent album, Loin des Barreaux (2019), featured deeply personal tracks inspired by his time in incarceration, notably with the song "Cellule 128". Copa was initially meant to release Sentimental, an EP which he was preparing before his incarceration.[24]

Personal life

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Copa has fathered 3 children, including Tanya.

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Échafaudage (2005)
  • Independence Day (2007)
  • Evolution (2010)
  • Menu (2013)
  • Posso (2016)
  • Loin des Barreaux (2019)

Extended-plays

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  • Boloss (2021)
  • Gauche-Droite (TBA)

References

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  1. ^ "Portrait : Bernard Bouka, un artiste musicien atypique | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  2. ^ a b "Doudou Copa de Mi Amor, gardien de la rumba congolaise | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  3. ^ Congo Mokili TV (2022-01-10). CONGOMOKILI:"Doudou Copa"s'explique; j'étais prisonnier et clarifie la situation autour de sa santé. Retrieved 2024-12-11 – via YouTube.
  4. ^ a b Kiese, Mboka (2004-12-02). "Musique : Doudou Kopa a quitté le groupe Extra Musica". Congopage (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  5. ^ a b c "Couleurs tropicales - Le couleurs tropicales show - Invité : Doudou Copa". RFI (in French). 2010-04-23. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  6. ^ L.M, Azzangot Demeyo (2020-02-01). Extra-Musica: une légende (in French). Luzabusu Editions. ISBN 979-10-94983-83-6.
  7. ^ Obenga, Théophile (2010). Histoire générale du Congo des origines à nos jours: Le Congo et son Avenir (in French). L'Harmattan. ISBN 978-2-296-54367-6.
  8. ^ a b "Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique / Congo : Doudou Copa". www.musiques-afrique.net. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  9. ^ a b Kiese, Mboka (2005-01-20). "Extra Musica: Doudou Kopa en solo". Congopage (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  10. ^ AfricaNews (2018-03-30). "Congo: les acteurs culturels appelés à soutenir le musicien Doudou Copa incarcéré en France". Africanews (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  11. ^ Africa international (in French). Africa S.A. 2006.
  12. ^ doudoukopa. "ENFN Dans Les Bacs Depuis Ce Matin - Doudou Copa de Mi Amor " Mr Evolution "". Doudou Copa de Mi Amor " Mr Evolution " (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  13. ^ Kiese, Mboka (2007-12-06). "Doudou Copa de mi Amor " Nzeke ", à Casablanca le 29 décembre". Congopage (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  14. ^ "10e édition des Tam-Tams d'or : cinq catégories primées | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". adiac.netisse.eu. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  15. ^ lasemaineafricaine (2024-12-11). "MUSIQUE : Walo Boss Tino en promotion de son "Rubis" | La Semaine Africaine" (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  16. ^ "Musique : Doudou Copa perd son chef d'ochestre | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  17. ^ "Tam-Tam d'or : les meilleurs de la musique congolaise primés | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  18. ^ "Doudou Copa engagé dans la lutte contre la fistule obstétricale". UNFPA République du Congo. 23 May 2015.
  19. ^ "Musique : Doudou Copa présente "Loin des barreaux " dans la ville océane | Le Courrier de Kinshasa". www.lecourrierdekinshasa.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  20. ^ "Musique : l'album "Loin des barreaux " présenté officiellement à Brazzaville | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  21. ^ "Pool Malebo Music Awards : après 4 ans de trêve, une 2e édition annoncée". Music In Africa (in French). 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  22. ^ "Musique : Doudou Copa annonce " Jérusalem " pour la fin de l'année | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  23. ^ Jacques, SIKA Jean (2018-03-29). "Le chanteur congolais Doudou Copa en prison à Paris". Les Echos du Congo Brazzaville (in French). Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  24. ^ a b "Doudou Copa de Mi Amor : " Je demande pardon à toutes les femmes " | adiac-congo.com : toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
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