Fally Ipupa

Fally Ipupa is a Congolese musician and dancer from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Born in 1977, he becomes known for tenor vocals and for blending contemporary and traditional Congolese styles, including Congolese rumba, soukous, ndombolo and afrobeats. His songs often address romance, suffering and joy.

Career

Ipupa makes his public musical debut in 1997 with the Kinshasa-based band Talent Latent. In 1999, he joins Koffi Olomide’s Quartier Latin International. He later begins a solo career and signs with Obouo Productions for his debut solo album, Droit Chemin, which reaches gold status after selling more than 100,000 copies within a month.

His second album, Arsenal de Belles Melodies, includes the tracks “Chaise Électrique”, featuring Olivia, and “Sexy Dance”, both of which become signature songs. The album also sells more than 100,000 copies. His third studio album, Power “Kosa Leka”, produces the singles “La vie est belle”, “Ndoki” and “Service”.

Recognition and commercial success

In 2007, Ipupa wins the Césaire de la Musique prize for Best Male Performer and becomes the first Congolese artist to sell out the Olympia Hall in Paris. In April 2008, he receives the Kundé d'Or for Best Central African Artist. He goes on to win two MTV Africa Music Awards in 2010, for Best Francophone Artist and Best Video for “Sexy Dance”.

In 2013, he wins the Trace Urban Music Award for Best African Artist and signs to the French label AZ. His fourth album, Tokooos, becomes his most commercially successful release and is certified gold and platinum by SNEP. It also reaches number five on the French iTunes chart.

His fifth album, Control, debuts at number 10 on the French iTunes chart, while “Canne à sucre” becomes the first Congolese song by a Kinshasa-based artist to enter SNEP’s top 200 most downloaded singles in France, reaching number 91. He releases Tokooos II in 2020 and Tokooos II Gold in 2022.

Profile and wider recognition

Ipupa is often called the “Prince of Rumba”. Forbes ranks him as the sixth richest African musician in 2014, and Jeune Afrique names him among the fifty most influential African artists in 2018. He is also the most-streamed French-speaking artist on Boomplay and the most-followed Congolese artist on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Humanitarian work

He founds the Fally Ipupa Foundation, which supports marginalised groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including victims of sexual violence and disease, as well as orphans.