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Les Quatre Etoiles (The Four Stars)
(Congo-Kinshasa)
Biography
Les Quatre Etoiles were formed by four prominent singers and instrumentalists,
Nyboma and Wuta Mayi (or Wuta May) as vocalists, Syran M'Benza
on lead guitar and Bopol Mansiamina on rhythm guitar. Being composed of accomplished musicians with
a longstanding career in various other groups as well as in solo performances, Quates Etoiles is often referred to as an African
supergroup. The band was formed when all four members had settled in Paris in the early 1980s. A separate page of this site
is dedicated to Nyboma, but also Wuta Mayi has a long career to show for. He has
been singing in various groups such as Orchestre Jamel National, Orchestre Bamboula,
Orchestre Rock-a-Mambo and Franco's TP OK Jazz. Guitarist Syran M'Benza
has played in Orchestre Somo Somo, Orchestre Lovy du Zaïre and Sam Mangwana's
African All Stars, to name but the most important ones. He also recorded several solo albums. So did Bopol, who has
played with Tabu Ley Rochereau's Afrisa and Orchestre Ya Toupas.
The repertoire of Quatre Etoiles is, apart from new compositions, based on reinterpreting former hits of each of the four members, remoulded in a modern Paris-flavoured soukous using Paris studios and high tech production. One could argue that the music of the Four Stars has become a shallow and commercial version of what has been played before in Kinshasa, but this would not do justice to the songs Quatre Etoiles recorded. As can be expected from Nyboma and Wuta Mayi, the singing is excellent, and the guitar of Syran M'Benza of rare beauty.
The Quatre Etoiles were successful for several years, but as the soukous rage had been long replaced by ndombolo fever, most members regrouped again in the more acoustic approach of the rumba revival band Kékélé, under the artistic direction of producer Ibrahima Sylla.
The repertoire of Quatre Etoiles is, apart from new compositions, based on reinterpreting former hits of each of the four members, remoulded in a modern Paris-flavoured soukous using Paris studios and high tech production. One could argue that the music of the Four Stars has become a shallow and commercial version of what has been played before in Kinshasa, but this would not do justice to the songs Quatre Etoiles recorded. As can be expected from Nyboma and Wuta Mayi, the singing is excellent, and the guitar of Syran M'Benza of rare beauty.
The Quatre Etoiles were successful for several years, but as the soukous rage had been long replaced by ndombolo fever, most members regrouped again in the more acoustic approach of the rumba revival band Kékélé, under the artistic direction of producer Ibrahima Sylla.
Les Quatre Etoiles: Bopol - Nyboma - Syran - Wuta May
Formed: December 1983
Style: Modern Congolese music / rumba / soukous
Discography
| Title | Year | Label | Remarks |
| Live in London | 1996 | B.Mas BMP 960086 | |
| Adama Coly | 1995 | Lusafrica 08728-2 (Mélodie) | |
| Sangonini | 1993 | Syllart 38129-2 / Stern's STCD 1049 | Re-released in 2003 by Stern's as mid-price CD |
| Eti-Edan 1er présente: Les 4 Etoiles | 1991 | Celluloid 66895-2 | Also referred to as Souffrance |
| Kouamé | 1989 | Four Stars Production FS401 | LP |
| Zairean Stars Show In The U.S. | 1988 | Kilimanjaro International KIP 006 | LP |
| Six tubes | 1987 | Syllart SYL 8330 (8736) | LP |
| Dance | 1985 | Tangent TAN 7009 | LP |
| 4 Stars | 1984 | Syllart SYL 8307 | LP |
| Les Quatre Etoiles: 4 grands vedettes de la musique africaine |
1983 | Afro Rythmes AR 00982 | LP |
Sources
www.africanmusiciansprofiles.com/bopol.htm (outdated link);
Bopol Discography on Vibes d'Afrique forum (outdated link).
www.africanmusiciansprofiles.com/bopol.htm (outdated link);
Bopol Discography on Vibes d'Afrique forum (outdated link).
Page added October 2005