Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide was born on Friday, August 13, 1956. He is a DR Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. He is also known by a multitude of other names and aliases. He was born in Kisangani, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to a DR Congolese father and his mother comes from Sierra Leone.

Koffi grew up in the city of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a middle-class family, where education was valued. He was a very bright student. He earned a scholarship and went to study in Bordeaux, France where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Business Economics. He is also reported to hold a Masters Degree in Mathematics from the University of Paris.

Upon his return to Congo in the 1970s he joined Papa Wemba’s band, Viva la Musica, at first as a composer and song-writer, and later as a vocalist and lead-singer. He launched his solo career. In 1986, Koffi formed his band known as Quartier Latin, which celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2006.

Since then, he has performed and recorded both with the group and by himself. Over the years, he has built up a faithful fan base internationally, particularly in Africa and Europe. Koffi popularized the slower style of soukous, which he dubbed Tcha Tcho.

Koffi’s music can be quite controversial, taking on current events and topics considered taboo in some conservative societies. He has also participated in the salsa music project Africando. For his effort, Effrakata, released in 2002, Koffi received four Kora Awards on a single night at the annual Kora Awards in South Africa for 2002/2003, including the award for Best African Artist, which he had earlier won in 1998. More recently, he has won the Kora Award for "Best African Artist of The Decade”.

Koffi Olomide is reported to be very intelligent and wealthy. He is married and is a father of seven children: Aristote, Elvis, Minou Miss Univers, Didi Stone Nike, Rocky, Del pirlo Mourhino and Saint James Rolls. Olomide’s father lives in Paris, France. Olomide’s mother lives in Kinshasa and works as a jewellery dealer in the Zando Market in the city. Koffi has an elder brother, Johnny Ko, who also lives in Paris.

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