Legendary Congolese musician, Koffi Olomide, has addressed long-standing perceptions of rivalry between himself and fellow music icon Awilo Longomba, clarifying their shared mission to elevate Congolese music on the global stage.
“Awilo was never my rival,” Koffi said in a recent statement. “We were just two Congo brothers destined to put Congo on the musical world map… and we won!”
Comparing their era of dominance to the current influence of Nigerian stars like Wizkid and Davido, Koffi explained, “Many people saw us as rivals because we were in our different worlds doing our thing.
Awilo had the vibe of the club banger, while I took charge of the romantic African French man style. Together, we changed the narrative for Francophone African music.”
The Makossa pioneer expressed gratitude to African audiences, particularly Nigerians, for embracing their music and giving Francophone artists the respect they deserved.
“Thank you, Africa. Thank you, Nigeria. We hope the new generation of African Francophone artists learns from us. One love,” he concluded.
Koffi’s remarks underscore the unity and shared purpose behind their efforts, celebrating their collective achievements as trailblazers in African music.
