A decade of melodies for Christian Bella

Dar es Salaam. Many East Africans have danced to the rhythms of Congolese beats from the days when Tabuley, Mbilia Bel and co pitched camp in Kenya and the likes of King Kiki coming to Dar es Salaam; it has always been some unending love affair. 

The main reason for this exodus was the political and economic upheaval in Kinshasa that did not spare the music industry, with recording studios forced to shut down and record pressing plants unable to keep their doors open due to the lack of vinyl.

This was the precursor of what was to come over the next decades, even with the unrivaled popularity of Congolese music.

Survivors of the older generation of rumba such as Sam Mangwana have been critical of the modern sound, describing the current state of Congolese music as a crisis point. 

But according to Koffi Olomide, this is all part of the evolution of music and that Congolese sounds are still the most influential across Africa. Those who came after them have toed a similar line leaving behind a legacy that is rather unmatched in the industry; their music is modern yet rooted in tradition, cosmopolitan but authentically African. 

This weekend one of the later day arrivals of Congolese musicians Christian Bella celebrates 10 years in the industry since his breakthrough.

 The scene of this celebration has been set at a beachside venue, Escape One in Dar es Salaam.

“It has been a long journey full of all sorts of pain but finally I can see the light somewhere,” he told The Beat

Introduced to the Tanzanian audience as Christian Bella aka King of melody, the versatile artiste made his breakthrough with a hit single ‘Yako Wapi Mapenzi’ which he sang with Congolese dominated outfit Akudo Band.

 The single came at a time when Bella was considering calling it a day because he thought it was a perfect timing for him to join Koffi Olomide’s band which had experienced a massive defection. 

“It had always been my dream to join Koffi Olomide and when I heard that the band had disintegrated I thought my opportunity had finally come,” Bella told the Beat in an earlier interview.

The single did not only change his resolve to join Koffi but it propelled him to unequalled fame as they gave fellow Congolese outfit FM Academia a run for their money in the years that followed with other hits such as ‘Safari Sio Kifo’ further cementing his position.

Though there were claims that the original ‘Yako Wapi Mapenzi’ belonged to another Congolese musician this didn’t stop Christian Bella from gaining a large following around the city and beyond.

But just like other Congolese bands in the country, the changing times and the emergence of a strong competition from a new crop art that was labeled Bongo Flava, these artistes found the going rather tough.

Some were dissolved, whereas others stayed on playing sounds that could no longer lure the youthful audiences to their shows in the city.

Something had to be done, it was time for reinvention, because it was either he goes down with the band or follow the tide. Christian Bella chose the latter, first he quite Akudo Band and went into a self imposed exile in Sweden before launching a solo career.

On his return in 2013, he launched a new band called Malaika and the response was phenomenon as he went on to release hit after hit.

In his attempt to create a unique brand, he recruited some hot properties such as  Chesco Vuvuzela, Adaya, Babu Bomba ,Petit Mauzo, Pilu, Mico Bella, Yanick Soslo and Kadogoo Machine.

Though it was a strong team, it is still believed that this band is as good as it is because of Christian Bella’s strength as a solo artiste and sometimes it is difficult to draw the line between him and the band. 

By 2014, Christian Bella aka king of melodies had become a household name with songs such as ‘Nakuhitaji’, ‘Usilie’, ‘Msaliti’, ‘Hanitaki Tena’, ‘Amerudi’and ‘Nani Kama Mama’.

In the follow up to this success, he was nominated in several categories at the Kilimanjaro Music Awards in 2015.

Bella did not stop there, the release of Nashindwa further cemented his position and that of Malaika Band in an industry where bands barely survive a year. He knew the secret of survival in the game and if he couldn’t beat Bongo Flava he had to join them in a way.

His blending of some of his hits and collaboration with Bong Flava singers drew criticism from the conservative circles of dance music.

They accused him of diluting dance music with Bongo Flava but this was to produce some of the hits that even his critics are fond of such as Nani Kama Mama featuring Ommy Dimpoz.

Others were Nagharamia featuring Ali Kiba, Subira Featuring Kassim Mganga, Ukimuona (Remix) originally done by Diamond, and Aacha Kabisa a collabo with Koffi Olomide.

The sharp tongued criticism was met by a soft reply: I am not doing Bongo Flava,I am taking some of the good things from there which is not bad at all.

It was part of the evolution, one that had started by his ancestors.

This has worked, as his compatriots struggle for shows; Bella is among the best selling artistes in Tanzania today.

His growth has seen him sign mega deals with telecom giants such as MIC Tanzania (Tigo).

His show tomorrow, could be a manifestation just how much the dance music can sell with some proper branding, management and marketing as the case seems to work for him