Papa Wemba Movies
- 2005
George Amponsah's The Importance of Being Elegant documents a subculture of African men who spend their free time acquiring the latest in high fashion, and then engaging in regular dress-up fashion competitions. The recognized leader of this group is Papa Wemba, a singer whose devotion to European designers forms the basis of the group's ideology. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Papa Wemba, Anti-Gigolo, (more)
- 1998
Congolese filmmaker Mweze Ngangura, who made the 1987 La Vie Est Belle with Benoit Lamy, directed this Belgian-French-Congolese comedy about a Congolese king in contemporary Brussels. The title refers to "identity pieces" worn under a business suit to signify regal traditions. Gerard Essomba (the actual grandson of a king) portrays Mani Kongo, King of the Bakongo. Arriving in Brussels on a search for his daughter Mwana-Mwata (Dominique Mesa), King Kongo is unaware that she did time in prison and now dates cabdriver Chaka-Jo (composer Jean-Louis Daulne). In a near miss, King Kongo's ride from the airport is in Chaka-Jo's taxi. Policeman and former colonial administrator Jefke Schengen (Herbert Flack) has Mwana dancing at a club, while Mwana's roommate Safi (Cecilia Kandonda) enters into a romance with royal nephew Mayele (Thilombo Lubambu). Ngangura found some cast members of this film while making his documentary Letter to Makura (1995). The Jean-Louis Daulne music track features soukous singer Papa Wemba in a performance of the title tune. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gerard Essomba, Herbert Flack, (more)
- 1997
Advertising executive Charles Cuvelier (Richard Bohringer) sees a classified ad and decides to check on a luxury apartment. However, he winds up trapped in the building' elevator and has to spend the night there. A psychosexual game begins in the morning when he meets Carole Valmer (German vocalist Ute Lemper), the woman who placed the ad. She leaves after telling him a repairman is coming. While she's out, he tries unsuccessfully to escape. By the second day, it becomes clear to Charles that she's keeping him trapped for her own amusement. Shown at 1997 film festivals (Cannes, Venice). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Starring:
- Richard Bohringer, Ute Lemper, (more)
- 1996
The colorul lives of neighbors living with an impoverished African urban neighborhood, provide the basis of this episodic drama. The neighborhood's central wateringhole is Papa Sandu's. There the people come to gossip, empathize and look for hope. Mother Bavusi and her sons Mike, Kapa and Duka are central characters at the bar. Mike is a mechanic while Kapa is a boxer. Duka resulted from an affair between his mother and Sandu. Most of the ensuing vignettes begin and end in the bar. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Lydia Ewandé, Sidy Camara, (more)
- 1987
Kourou (Papa Wemba) is a poor country boy who travels to the city in this romantic musical comedy. He falls in love with Kabibi (Krubwa Bibi), but her mother arranges her marriage as a second wife to a businessman whose first wife remains childless. When a medium convinces the husband to wait a month to consummate the marriage, Kourou and Kabibi have an opportunity to be reunited. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Papa Wemba
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