The following pages feature a comprehensive breakdown of the currently available work of Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica on CD. The first section concentrates on the early career of Wemba, beginning with his contributions to Zaiko Langa Langa, Isifi and Yoka Lokole, through Viva La Musica's formative years and into the orchestras resettlement Europe.
A great many of the recordings made by Wemba between 1970 and 1986 were recorded for, and marketed by local record shops based in and around Kinshasa (similar in concept to the independent record scene in the UK during the 1970's and 1980's).

Pretty much all of Wemba's early works made their original debuts as 45" rpm discs, with one title covering both sides. The small images below show some of the labels actively recording and distributing discs for orchestras during the early 1980's and are included to give a flavour of the then contemporary Zairian music scene.
Click on an image to view a larger version of the photo
As well as the CD discography covering the available work of Papa Wemba, there are many CDs also available by members of Viva La Musica. Within this section we have also attempted to list available work featuring the current and former members of Viva La Musica, such as the solo projects of vocalists Reddy, Stino, Lydjo, Luciana etc (for a short history of each musician go to Galleries Molokai pages).
Also included are details of the two main off shoot orchestras spawned originally from Viva La Musica Victoria Eleison (1982 - present) and La Nouvelle Generation de la Republic Democratic (1992 - present). Other orchestras such as Karawa Musica, Rumba Ray, Nouvelle Ecriture L'an 2000 will be added as and when work becomes available.

We have also included on the page below the available CD recordings of Modogo Gian Franco Ferre - a composer who has contributed a number of great songs to the European based Viva La Musica from the late 1980s to the current day.

Finally in way of an explanation, Papa Wemba and Viva La Musica are also sometimes hired to back lesser known Congolese singers, who are undertaking semi professional careers in music (such recording sessions are known as N’Zong-N’Zing). The finances involved help provide the European based Viva La Musica musicians regular employment, whilst Papa Wemba is touring with Molokai International or back in Kinshasa working with Viva La Musica - Nouvelle Ecriture.

If you wish to purchase any of the CDs listed here, you can try contacting the addresses given within the first discography section (Papa Wemba - 1969-1992)