The Artist

Werrason Ngiama Makanda

Born in Kikwit in the province of Kwilu and raised in Kinshasa, Werrason Ngiama Makanda
is one of the most celebrated icons of Congolese music. In 1981, he co-founded the group
Wenge Musica alongside friends who would go on to reshape the continent’s musical landscape.
After the group’s dissolution in 1997, he launched Wenge Musica Maison Mère (WMMM),
releasing the landmark album Intervention Rapide.

Solola Bien, released in 1999, earned a gold disc in France. In September 2000,
he became the second African artist ever to perform at the Bercy Accor Arena — a milestone
that placed Congolese rumba at the very centre of the global music conversation. A composer,
producer, manager, philanthropist, and Ambassador for the International Red Cross, Werrason
is a living legend of African music.

Beyond the music, the February 2025 concert carried a deeper message. Werrason pledged to
donate 20% of all concert proceeds to displaced populations affected by the conflict in
eastern DRC — a gesture that transformed the night from a performance into a humanitarian act.

The Performance

Rumba, Ndombolo & the Forest Ignited

Accompanied by his full orchestra and dancers, Werrason delivered a masterful performance
blending Congolese rumba, ndombolo and his legendary boundless energy. Spectacular lighting,
electrifying choreographies and constant interaction with the crowd made for a show worthy of
the world’s greatest stages.

The setlist took the audience on a journey through decades of classics — from
Solola Bien to Techno Malewa — touching generations of fans who had grown
up with his music. Patriotic anthems “Croix Rouge” (2001) and “Peuple Congolais Telema” (2012)
brought the most emotional moments of the night, uniting the crowd in a single, resonant voice.

Guest Artists

Brothers Back on Stage

Among his special guests, Werrason welcomed former Wenge Musica Maison Mère alumni whose
appearances brought waves of emotion and nostalgia to a crowd who had grown up on their music.

Partners & Sponsors

Made Possible By

The Arena Grand Paris concert was made possible by the vision of its sponsors and production
partners, united by a shared commitment to celebrating Congolese music on the world stage.

Legacy

A Night That Echoed Across the Congo

The 15 February 2025 concert was not simply a return — it was a reckoning. Werrason arrived
not as a relic of the past but as a living testament to the enduring power of Congolese
rumba. His humanitarian pledge, his patriotic anthems, and his undiminished stage presence
reminded the world why he is called “Le Roi de la Forêt.”

From the forests of Kikwit to the arenas of Paris, Werrason has spent four decades proving
that music is not merely entertainment — it is memory, identity, and, when needed, a cry
for justice. The Arena Grand Paris night was all three.