Jipson Butukondolo

Jean-Pierre Butukondolo Vakalamfumu, known professionally as Jipson Butukondolo, is a composer, vocalist, and entertainer in the band Quartier Latin International. The band is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was founded and is led by Congolese musician Koffi Olomide.[1][2]

Early life and career

Jipson Butukondolo was born Jean-Pierre Butukondolo Vakalamfumu in Matadi, in the Kongo Central province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While growing up there, he was especially drawn to the music of Koffi Olomide and Tabu Ley Rochereau. Because joining Tabu Ley's Orchestre Afrisa International proved difficult, he turned his attention to Koffi's band, Quartier Latin International.[1] His musical career began around 1990, when he performed with small local bands in Matadi. In 1997, he officially became a member of Quartier Latin International. In an interview with the French-language Congolese newspaper Le Phare, he credited fellow singer Bouro Mpela with helping him settle into the band.[1]

For the band's fifth studio album, Force De Frappe, released on 26 December 2000, Butukondolo composed his debut song, "Moprete Lendila", and participated vocally on nearly every track, either as a lead or backing singer.[1] He later admitted to Le Phare that adjusting to Quartier Latin's tcha tcho style was challenging for him.[1] Force De Frappe quickly rose to the top of major radio and television charts and led to tours across France, United States, West Africa, Nairobi, and Mombasa.[3][4]

On 28 March 2003, the band released their sixth album, Affaire d'État, which included Butukondolo's song "Biblia".[5][6][7] This track brought him widespread recognition, with Le Phare noting that he became a media favorite and highly valued by Koffi. He explained that the song was "carefully developed", with significant help from his friend Didier Kadi. Titled "Bible", the song encourages forgiveness of those who cause harm and reflects on human ingratitude.[1] The band's seventh studio album, Danger de Mort, released on 13 October 2006, became Quartier Latin's final album, following the departure of several members. On Danger de Mort, Butukondolo wrote the song "Ba Lobiens".[8][9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Nkutu, Jean-Pierre (5 September 2003). "Congo-Kinshasa: Butukondolo "Jipson" de Quartier Latin: "Le succès récolté par ma chanson est le fruit d'un dur labeur"" [Congo-Kinshasa: Butukondolo "Jipson" of Quartier Latin: "The success of my song is the result of hard work"]. Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  2. ^ PAA (2002). "Kofi Olomide Biography". Pan African Allstars (PAA). Atlanta. Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  3. ^ Kanka, Joseph (20 July 2001). "Congo-Kinshasa: Koffi Olomide aux USA: Première production le 28 juillet en Caroline du Nord" [Congo-Kinshasa: Koffi Olomide in the USA: First performance on July 28 in North Carolina]. Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Congo-Kinshasa: Koffi Olomide et Quartier Latin au Zénith" [Congo-Kinshasa: Koffi Olomide and Quartier Latin at their Zenith]. Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. 13 July 2001. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  5. ^ Kanka, Joseph (4 April 2003). "Congo-Kinshasa: Quartier Latin International: "Affaire d'Etat" dans les kiosques ce samedi" [Congo-Kinshasa: Quartier Latin International: "Affaire d'État" on newsstands this Saturday]. Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  6. ^ Kanka, Joseph (11 April 2003). "Congo-Kinshasa: Quartier Latin International: Koffi Olomide ce samedi au Zénith: "Affaire d'Etat" a conquis les kinois" [Congo-Kinshasa: Quartier Latin International: Koffi Olomide this Saturday at the Zenith: "Affaire d'État" has won over the people of Kinshasa]. Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  7. ^ Kauta, Adjuvant Kribios (7 March 2021). "Il y a 18 ans sortait l'album Affaire d'Etat de Quartier Latin International de Koffi Olomidé" [18 years ago, Koffi Olomidé's album Affaire d'Etat was released by Quartier Latin International]. Kribios Universal (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  8. ^ ""Droit chnemin" de Fally Ipupa mieux que "Danger de mort" de Koffi Olomide!" ["Droit chnemin" by Fally Ipupa is better than "Danger de mort" by Koffi Olomide!]. Digitalcongo.net (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Digital Congo. 7 November 2006. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ Nkutu, Jean-Pierre (8 September 2006). "Congo-Kinshasa: Contradiction avec Koffi - Fally Ipupa - "Je suis toujours dans Quartier Latin"" [Congo-Kinshasa: Contradiction with Koffi - Fally Ipupa - "I'm still in Quartier Latin"]. Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  10. ^ Nkutu, Jean-Pierre (15 September 2006). "Congo-Kinshasa: Après un long passage à vide - Babia grand bénéficiaire des "vides"" [Congo-Kinshasa: After a long period of inactivity - Babia, the main beneficiary of the "gaps"]. Le Phare (in French). Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
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