It’s almost time! ‘Bobumue Buetu’, the album that brings the musical journey of the Jeunesse Créative project in Mbuji-Mayi to a close, is due for release on 27 May 2026. The 10 young singers, now united under the name ‘Collectif Jeunesse Créative’, who took part in the support programme have put their hearts and souls into it — the result will soon be revealed! The album release will be celebrated by a public concert on 30 May.
Creative Youth in Mbuji-Mayi
In the framework of Jeunesse Créative, an initiative by Enabel in the DRC, Africalia has supported 10 singers from Mbuji-Mayi in the production of an album. The young talents participated in a nine-month programme designed to strengthen their artistic and managerial skills, which equipped them with the tools to shape their singing careers and conquer the national and international music market.
Following auditions in July 2025, 10 of the 28 candidates were selected to embark on the adventure: all promising talents, possessing strong creativity and genuine artistic ambition. Their names are: Percy P7, John Kabasele, Art Fils KAB, Jecolia Mwamba, Arsène Kabuaya, Alvine Foreva, Rebecca La Tigresse, Crédo Chrétien, Clara Light, and Étoile Kalorina.
The music project
In August, the artists embarked on an intensive course of training and collective creation. Through five training modules, they deepened their artistic skills and their knowledge of cultural management.
The first module, dedicated to artistic career management and led by Luc Mayitoukou, allowed them to better understand the professional realities of the music industry and positioning strategies. Under the guidance of Saintrick Mayitoukou, the artists then immersed themselves in musical composition and creation, exploring harmony, rhythm, and emotion. This work continued in October 2025 with a third module focused on musical arrangement, aiming to transform their creative ideas into finished works. December was devoted to strengthening vocal skills, under the guidance of trainer Fredy Massamba. Through in-depth coaching, the artists worked on pitch, breath control, diction, and interpretation, while developing a sense of ensemble through choral work.
This meticulous preparation contributed to the completion of the next phase of the journey: the recording of the twelve tracks that make up the collective album "Bobumue Buetu". Brought together under the name "Collectif Jeunesse Créative" (CJC), the singers gave shape to a common musical project, reflecting their cross-influences.
Finally, in March 2026, Serge Mpatha guided the group on the challenges of communication and artistic image. Participants discussed, in particular, the use of social media, promotional techniques, and the construction of a coherent artist identity.
The album: "Bobumue Buetu"«
The release of the album "Bobumue Buetu" marks the culmination of the music project in Mbuji-Mayi. The album not only showcases the young artists' talent but also demonstrates their dedication and the progress they made throughout the mentoring program. "Bobumue Buetu," which means "our unity" in Tshiluba, is the result of collaborative work, mutual exchange and inspiration, and shared growth. The vision of Africalia and Enabel, who initiated the project—to innovatively strengthen the Kasai music ecosystem—has thus become an audible reality.
Coming soon… stay tuned!
Concert
We'll be celebrating the album release with a special concert where all 10 artists of the Creative Youth Collective will take to the stage together. Join us on May 30, 2026, at 2 PM in Mbuji-Mayi (the exact location will be announced later). We can't wait to see you there! Free admission.
