Youlou Mabiala

Gilbert Youlou Mabiala (born 3 March 1947), popularly known as Prince Youlou, is a Congo music recording artist, composer and vocalist, in the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). He was once a member of the Congo Music band TPOK Jazz which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Youlou Mabiala
Birth nameYoulou Mabiala
Also known asGilbert Youlou Mabiala
Born (1947-03-06) 6 March 1947
GenresSoukous
Occupation(s)Composer, vocalist
Years active1960-2008
Associated actsTPOK Jazz
Somo Somo
Trois Frères
Lovy du Zaïre
Kamikaze Loningisa,

Music career with OKJazz

Youlou Mabiala was born in Linzolo, a suburb of Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. He began his music career in Brazzaville with local groups. In 1963, he joined the musical band TPOK Jazz, in Kinshasa (Leopoldville), as a vocalist and composer. After initial stage jitters, he settled in under the tutelage of Vicky Longomba.

Youlou Mabiala is credited with composing the following songs for the band, among others:

  • Celine
  • Kamikaze
  • Asumani[1]
  • Ledi
  • Massi
  • Lekwey (credited to both Franco & Youlou)

In 1972, Youlou was one of the musicians who defected from OKJazz to form the band known as Lovy du Zaïre, led by Vicky Longomba. Youlou then went on to form Somo-somo, with Jean Kwamy Munsi, Diatho Lukoki, Master Mwana Congo and Nona Simon.

He returned to OKJazz in 1975 and released the hit Kamikaze which was popular in Africa and among the African diaspora in Europe and North America. In 1977, Youlou left OKJazz for good.

Music career post OKJazz

After he left TPOK Jazz in May 1977, Youlou formed Trois Frères with Loko Massengo, Mose Fan Fan, Michel Boyibanda and others. They performed mainly in Brazzaville. In the 1980s, he sang with the band Kamikaze Loningisa, releasing the song Djeliba, among others.[2]

On 15 August 2004, while taking part in the National Independence celebrations at the Présidence de la République hotel in Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo, Youlou Mabiala suffered a cerebral vascular accident (stroke).[3] After initial stabilization in a hospital in Brazzaville, he was airlifted to a facility in Paris, France. Following discharge from hospital, he remained in France for rehabilitation.[4]

Personal details

Prince Youlou Mabiala is married to one of the daughters of the late François Luambo Makiadi.[5]

See also

References
  1. Siddikh, Aboubacar (30 June 2008). "Asumani (Youlou Mabiala) - T.P. O.K. Jazz Télé Zaire 1975". Youtube.com. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  2. Tyler, Calamitous (17 November 2010). "Youlou Mabiala avec L'Orchestre Kamikaze Loningisa - Djeliba". Youtube.com. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  3. Ngaira, Amos (11 October 2010). "Franco's Legend Lives On As Fans Mark 21st Anniversary". Daily nation via In2eastafrica.net. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  4. Ngaira, Amos (31 August 2013). "Return of The Prince of Congolese Music". Daily Nation Mobile. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  5. Ngaira, Amos (30 May 2012). "The Rise And Fall of TPOK Jazz". Africa Review. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
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