Mayaula Mayoni
Freddy Mayaula Mayoni (6 November 1946 – 26 May 2010) was a Congolese soukous musician and professional footballer. Born and raised in Kinshasa, he first gained prominence as a left winger for AS Vita Club and was selected for the national team, the Leopards, in 1968. He later played in Dar es Salaam, where his father served as a diplomat, before continuing his studies in Belgium. There, his footballing abilities secured him spells with Royal Charleroi Sporting Club, Racing Jet de Bruxelles, and subsequently in Fribourg, Switzerland.
While in Charleroi, Mayaula began learning guitar and became a member of the band Africana, which was established by Congolese students. In 1975, he returned to Kinshasa and joined TPOK Jazz, led by Franco Luambo, who had previously served as his club president at AS Vita Club. His debut single, "Chérie Bondowe" (1975), achieved significant national success and earned him the accolade of Best Songwriter of the Year. In 1977, he co-founded the trio Mamaki alongside Youlou Mabiala and Josky Kiambukuta, before embarking on a solo career in the mid-1980s. Throughout his career, he composed and performed numerous hit songs, including "Ndaya", "Cicatrice", "Likama" (popularized by M'Pongo Love), "Momie" (1977) with TPOK Jazz, "Nabali Misère" (1979), "Veniuza" (1984), "Mokili Makambo" (1984), "Sauce Ya Bolingo" (1984), "Ousmane Bakayoko" (1992), and "Doudou a Mwen" (1992).
In January 2004, while serving as a cultural officer at the embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Dar es Salaam, Mayaula suffered hemiplegia. He was repatriated to Kinshasa in 2005, and subsequent efforts were made to arrange specialized medical treatment in Europe. He died in Brussels on 26 May 2010, reportedly following cardiac arrest.
Similar Artists