Kinshasa, DR Congo | By Michael Wandati | Congolese Rhumba maestro, Koffi Olomide, has announced his candidacy for the Senate in the upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Representing the AFDC-A party, he will contest in the Sud-Ubangi province located in northwest Congo during the polls scheduled for April 22.
At 67 years old, Koffi Olomide, also known as Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, has been active in promoting Congolese culture and was appointed as the ambassador of Congolese culture by President Félix Tshisekedi in 2022.
Known for his blend of Congolese Rhumba, Soukous, and Ndombolo music, Koffi Olomide’s foray into politics has been a long-held aspiration spanning over a decade.
During the tenure of former President Joseph Kabila, Koffi Olomide attempted to align himself with the PPRD party. However, at present, he is affiliated with Bahati Lukwebo’s AFDC-A, which is part of President Tshisekedi’s coalition.
With a career spanning nearly half a century, the singer intends to immerse himself fully in the political landscape of the country.
Koffi, born to a Congolese father and a mother from Sierra Leone, has built his career around performing soulful love songs.
“I have served the Congo. I’ve restored the image of my country, Congo, throughout the world and in Africa with my music. People know how well I’ve done it over the years,” said Koffi Olomide.
“Everywhere I go it’s always the same kind of welcome as what I’ve just seen. And I’d like to thank the people who came to the airport today and left their things behind. Who do you think they came to welcome? The son of the soil,” he added.
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“The son of the soil is in trouble. For the past ten years or so, wherever I go, people tell me they see me serving the Congo in ways other than music. Koffi, you’ve got to become a senator, they’ve even seen me a bit higher than that. I could play one of these roles even without a salary,” he declared.
“When you listen to me speak, I can stick my neck out and it’s obvious: I love my country. I love the Congo and I love the well-being of the Congolese people. It hurts me when I see people in total comfort having fun with billions and people who have nothing to eat for 2, 3, 4 days,” Koffi Olomide added.
“I see mothers in the street in disarray, children in the street when it’s time to go to school. It hurts me. I say this to you sincerely. And if that’s why the people, my brothers and sisters, want to send me into this field – then yes, I say yes. Because I want to be their spokesperson,” he said.
