30/07/2025
𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐋𝐔 𝐒𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌 𝐎𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚
Born on May 28, 1950, in Kisantu, Jean de Dieu Bialu Makiese, known as Madilu System, is a musician who has played in several Kinshasa orchestras before landing in Afrisa International, led by the great Tabu Ley Rochereau. But in this orchestra, he is very uncomfortable because he is aware that his fellow musicians, starting with the orchestra's boss himself, do not take him seriously as a singer. During concerts, he is rarely allowed to sing; he is not taken on the orchestra's tours.
But one day, he is booked for a trip abroad. Upon arriving at Ndjili airport, he is told he will not be leaving. Without any explanation. Saddened, he returned home, convinced he was a cursed artist. It was only afterward that he learned why he had been kicked off the trip. When he joined his fellow musicians from Afrisa International, he was giving off a strong odor of poor-quality perfume. Arriving at the airport, some of his colleagues complained to Tabu Ley that Madilu was giving off a very strong scent. They explained that he had certainly spent the night at a witch doctor's house to bewitch them in order to achieve greater success than everyone else. This is what prompted Tabu Ley to kick him off.
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐊 𝐉𝐚𝐳𝐳 𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚
It was then that he realized he had no future in Afrisa, which had abandoned him in Kinshasa. He then decided to knock on the door of Afrisa's rival orchestra, OK Jazz, led by Franco Luambo Makiadi, known as the Grand Master. Two OK Jazz figures, whom Franco greatly respected, reportedly pleaded his case: the first was the great singer Dalienst. This nickname is an anagram of his real name, Daniel Ntesa. It is unknown how Madilu came to know Dalienst. Madilu's second advocate was Lutumba Simaro himself. Beyond the enormous singing potential he had detected in Madilu, Lutumba Simaro was related to him. Indeed, Madilu's mother, Hélène Nkelani, Simaro Lutumba's wife, was Madilu's mother's younger sister, and therefore his maternal aunt. This is why Madilu called Lutumba "Tata Leki" (uncle or uncle).
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮, 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭-𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧
Madilu thus became a musician for OK Jazz, but he realized that Luambo only reluctantly agreed to hire him, probably to please his partners, Dalienst and Lutumba. But personally, he wasn't convinced of Madilu's singing talent. The latter would relive almost the same painful scenes he had experienced in Afrisa: he wasn't often allowed to sing, he didn't travel with the other musicians when they went on tour. Once, he was taken to Pointe-Noire (Congo-Brazzaville). All the orchestra's musicians were housed in a local hotel. Madilu and the technicians were housed in a school.
Madilu endured all these humiliations.
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩.
In 1983, Luambo Makiadi moved to Europe. He was with Josky Kiambukuta. He had contracts to honor. He sent Kinshasa a list of 14 people he needed for his European tour: 10 musicians and 4 dancers. Of the 10 musicians, he mentioned the names of two singers: Dalienst and Madilu, the unloved one. The latter couldn't believe his eyes when he saw his name on the list of those chosen to play in Europe.
On the day of departure, everyone arrived at Ndjili airport. But an incredible thing happened that day. They were informed that the Air Zaire flight had been canceled because the plane had broken down. The flight was postponed until the next day. Disappointed, Madilu decided to wait for the trip at Building 1,2,3 in Luambo Makiadi. He was afraid of being replaced on the travel list if he returned home. The next day, as planned, the musicians arrived again at Ndjili airport. And for the second time, they were informed that the flight had been canceled. This time, it wasn't a breakdown, but rather the Presidency of the Republic that requisitioned the Air-Zaire plane for President Mobutu's trip within the country. Madilu was now convinced that he was truly cursed. For once, he had the opportunity to go to Europe, but incredible obstacles stood in his way. And to stress him out even more, Madilu learned that Grand Master Luambo, who was growing impatient in Brussels, had sent a message saying that if they didn't come at the next opportunity, he would simply cancel the trip. Because he had deadlines to meet. Fortunately for Madilu, the third time at the airport was the charm: the plane would take them to Brussels without incident.
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩,𝐬 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐭.
Arriving at Zaventem airport, where their boss Luambo was waiting for them, Madilu kneels before the great Master to thank him for choosing him and bringing him to Europe. Luambo asks him to stand. But very quickly, Madilu realizes that the attitude of his colleagues and his boss toward him has not changed. For example, there are three singers performing together: Josky Kiambukuta, Ntesa Dalienst, and Madilu. But during an evaluation meeting, Luambo realizes that the vocal team is lacking; the voices aren't properly aligned. For Luambo, the problem must lie with Madilu. Since Josky and Dalienst are already great, experienced singers, Madilu speaks up.
Courageously, Madilu speaks up. He tries to explain to the Grand Master that the problem lies more with his two colleagues, who don't really get along in their singing.
𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬.
And then, Dalienst takes the floor to support Madilu's point of view. He admits that the problem lies more between him and Josky. Since they don't get along very well, Dalienst admits that he never bothered to learn Josky's songs, and conversely, Josky never made the effort to learn Dalienst's songs. They each progress independently with their own repertoire, while Madilu has mastered both singers' repertoires to perfection. In the end, Dalienst apologizes to his little Josky and asks for reconciliation. The two musicians embrace and decide to behave professionally by learning the entire orchestral repertoire.
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐭.
One day, tired of this lack of consideration, which sometimes manifests itself in outright insults (he was called a bighead), Madilu decides to drop everything and seek asylum in Switzerland. In this escape plan, he finds two accomplices: a certain Matalanza and Seskain Molenga, who would become Zaire's first reggae artist. On the agreed-upon date, they load their luggage into the car. And Madilu realizes he has left his passport in the room. He goes back upstairs, retrieves it, and takes the elevator again. As he exits the elevator, he runs into his boss, Luambo Makiadi, who asks him where he is going.
Madilu tells him he is hungry and is going to the local bakery to buy bread. Luambo tells him there's no need; he has brought back some cabri (grilled goat) and chikwange. And he's looking for someone to eat them with. He suggests that Madilu come back up with him to share this meal. Madilu is surprised. He thinks that this old man never loved me, and today, he's asking me to eat with him! Without further ado, Madilu gets back in the elevator with Uncle Yorgho (Luambo's nickname).
𝐋𝐮𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦.
They both sit down in the room and eat taba and chikwange. At the end of the meal, Franco Luambo takes a guitar that was lying around and tunes it. Then he says this to Madilu: "I found a beautiful melody for a new song. We're going to play it together and record it on a cassette tape so I don't lose it. But I warn you that in the studio, you won't be the one singing it."
He then gives Madilu three or four lines of the song, and Luambo accompanies him on the guitar. At the end, Grand Master retrieves the cassette on which the melody was recorded and says goodbye to Madilu.
𝐋𝐮𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨,𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮,𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞.
He gets out because his wife has come to pick him up in her car. Just then, in the car, Luambo puts on the cassette he just recorded to listen to it again and play the new melody for his wife. Mrs. Luambo likes it very much and asks her husband, "Who is this musician who sings so well?" Surprised, Luambo asks her in turn, "Do you think he sings well?" His wife confirms that he sings very well and wants to know his name. Luambo tells her it's Madilu. Surprised, his wife asks him in turn, "Madilu? Does this musician you don't like sing so well?" The woman then says to her husband, "Let's turn around, I'll go listen to him myself!"
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐮𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐦.
Meanwhile, after Luambo's departure, Madilu has gone downstairs to join his friends with whom he was supposed to flee to Switzerland. There's no one in the parking lot. In fact, when his accomplices saw the Grand Master leaving the building, they fled by starting the car. And while Madilu hangs around on the sidewalk, thinking, he sees Luambo and his wife coming back towards him. Luambo explains that his wife wants to hear him sing. They all go back to the bedroom. Franco goes back to the guitar, starts recording, and Madilu begins to sing. At the end, Luambo's wife gives her verdict: "It's excellent!" And the couple part ways with Madilu.
𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮,𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐋𝐮𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫.
Despite his wife's favorable verdict on Madilu's singing talent, the Grand Master is still not convinced. He then approached other singers, asking them to sing a duet with himself. Josky Kiambukuta was the first to decline the offer. He reminded Luambo that they had both already been imprisoned for a song deemed by the country's authorities to be contrary to public morality. Josky didn't want to take any more risks with this new song about ugly women.
Next, Luambo proposed to Nyboma, who replied that he wasn't available. Finally, he proposed his new song to Wuta Mayi, who didn't even show up for the meeting.
𝐋𝐮𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐚𝐝𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭.
Ultimately, Luambo decided to record the song with Madilu in the studio. Everything went well. But Luambo still had some lingering doubts about Madilu's talent. He then performed one last exercise to reassure himself. He toured the Congolese "nganda" (bars) in Brussels, where he played the cassette to people and asked their opinion of this candidate singer (he didn't give his name) who wanted to join OK Jazz. The audience unanimously told him he was an excellent singer. Convinced, Franco Luambo finally decided to release this new song, titled NON, on the market. And it was a huge success. The general public and Congolese rumba music lovers discovered Madilu's honeyed and soothing voice: It was love at first sight.
𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐮 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚.
A few months later, Luambo Makiadi responded to the success of Simaro Lutumba's song "Maya," sung by the young and talented Charles Ndombasi, aka Carlyto, by releasing a new song that he sang as a duet with Madilu. The new song was titled "Mamou." She's a real bombshell. Madilu, who has spent so many years and so many difficulties climbing the ladder of success, has suddenly taken the elevator to fame and celebrity. Her time has come. Her destiny is beginning to unfold. Her patience, determination, and unwavering faith have finally paid off. Years later, with the song "Ofela," Madilu System, Madilu Multi-System, the great Ninja, will be proclaimed the best singer of the year in the DRC. He enters history and becomes immortal!
To be continued!
