Английская Википедия:Fally Ipupa

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Fally Ipupa N'simba (born December 14, 1977), known professionally as Fally Ipupa, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist, and producer. Often referred to as the "Prince of Rumba", he is noted for his soulful and mellow tenor vocals, as well as his blend of contemporary and traditional Congolese music genres, including Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. His lyrics often encapsulate universal themes of romance, suffering, and joy.

Ipupa made his public musical debut in 1997 at the age of 20 with the Kinshasa-based band Talent Latent. In 1999, he joined Koffi Olomidé's Quartier Latin International before branching out as a solo artist with his debut solo studio album, Droit Chemin, which attained a gold record after selling over 100,000 copies within one month. In 2007, Ipupa won the Kora Awards for Best Central Africa Artist. In the same year, Ipupa became the first Congolese artist to sell out the Olympia Hall. In 2008, he toured in France, Belgium, Germany, the United States, and Cameroon. In April of the same year, Ipupa won the Kundé d'Or for Best Central Africa Artist. Ipupa's second studio album, Arsenal de Belles Mélodies with chart-toppers like "Chaise électrique" and "Sexy Dance," became some of his signature songs. The album quickly sold over 100,000 copies, with 40,000 sold weekly. Ipupa subsequently won two consecutive 2010 MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Francophone Artist and Best Video for "Sexy Dance".

His third studio album, Power "Kosa Leka," featuring lead singles such as "La vie est belle", "Ndoki", and "Service," sold over 30,000 copies in a month. In 2013, Ipupa won the Trace Urban Music Award for Best African Artist and was nominated for Best Live Act at the MTV Africa Music Awards in June 2014. His fourth studio album, Tokooos, was certified gold by SNEP, making him one of the first Congolese solo artists from Central Africa to achieve a gold record from SNEP. The album lead singles, "Kiname" (featuring Booba) and "Bad Boy" (featuring Aya Nakamura), achieved gold certification from SNEP and gained popularity across Africa. His fifth studio album, Control, released in November 2018, debuted at number five on SNEP's list of the top downloaded albums in France. Ipupa released his sixth studio album, Tokooos II, in December 2020. On February 25, 2022, Ipupa released Tokooos II Gold, a follow-up to his sixth studio album. On October 17, 2022, he released his seventh studio album Formule 7, which amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify within 24 hours and dominated French iTunes sales.

In 2014, Forbes ranked him as the 6th richest African musician. Jeune Afrique named him one of the 50 most influential African artists in 2018. He is also the most-streamed French-speaking artist on Boomplay and the most-followed Congolese artist on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Early life and career

1977–1996: Early life and music debut

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Kinshasa, city in which Fally Ipupa grew up

Fally Ipupa was born as Faustin N'simba Ipupa on December 14, 1977, in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo; DRC). His parents, Faustin Ebombo Ipupa and Monique Botuli Mbo, raised him alongside his brother, Bony, and two sisters, Tyna and Niclette Ipupa. Ipupa grew up in the Bandalungwa commune, surrounded by nightclubs, bars, and the headquarters of Wenge Musica, which ignited his interest in music. Despite his stuttering and lisping during childhood, Ipupa developed an interest in music through observing traditional groups during holidays and public events. He was particularly drawn to playing the drum and occasionally got into trouble for enthusiastically trying to replicate it on his blackboard. Ipupa also sang in church with his mother and later took to performing music in the streets with improvised instruments, along with his companions Atele Kunianga, Pitshou Luzolo, and Sankara de Kunta. Although his parents hoped for him to pursue a medical career given his aptitude for science, Ipupa remained committed to music. He collaborated with various orchestras and groups, such as Flash Succes, Fraternité Musica, New City de la Bogania, Kibinda Nkoy, ultimately contributing to the formation of Nouvelle Alliance. Ipupa gained a reputation as a singer, dancer, and atalaku (showmen or hype men who augment the rhythm and interactivity of performances), and his proficiency continued to develop as he accrued more experience with conventional instruments.

1997–1998: Talent Latent

In 1997, Ipupa joined Talent Latent, a music band created by Mosain Malanda and Faustin Djata. Ipupa became the band's conductor. He was accompanied by his childhood friends, including Atele Kunianga and Pitshou Luzolo, as well as the atalakus Lisimo Gentamicine and Cellulaire Yankobo. Opting to abandon formal schooling to fully commit to his musical aspirations, the band released their debut album A l'oeuvre on connait l'artiste in January 1999. The album gained national recognition and made a few appearances on the Congolese national television RTNC, where he performed the song "Courte joie." While A l'oeuvre on connait l'artiste received some recognition, Ipupa began working on the band's second studio album but faced a significant setback as several key members left to establish the Quartier Latin Académia in Paris.

Faustin Djata, a staff member in Koffi Olomidé's ensemble, introduced Ipupa to Koffi, who invited him to join his orchestra due to his musical abilities, earning Ipupa the sobriquet "Anelka" and the distinction of being the "most expensive transfer," an allusion to the high-profile transfer of Nicolas Anelka to Real Madrid, valued at £22.3 million during that period.

Quartier Latin International: 1999–2006

Ipupa joined Koffi Olomidé's orchestra in May 1999. During his audition, he sang and danced, leading to his integration into the group as a songwriter, composer, and band conductor. At the boss' request, the administrators requested he obtained a passport for travel, because the group had performances at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy (now Accor Arena) in 2000. Before the concert, he contributed to Koffi Olomidé's solo studio album Attentat, recorded in South Africa, where his voice featured on songs like "Victoire," "Caméléon," "Malanda-Ngombé," "Number One," "Nul n'est parfait," and "Kamutshima."

During his tenure with the orchestra, Ipupa included his composition "Eternelement" in the band's 5th studio album Force de Frappe. He also collaborated with Koffi Olomidé on Effrakata album, notably on the track "Effervescent" in 2001. In 2003, he contributed a song to the band's double album Affaire d'Etat and obtained the instrumental version of his song "Ko-Ko-Ko-Ko" on CD 2. In 2004, Koffi Olomidé released a solo studio album, titled Monde Arabe (Arab World), where Ipupa was the sole singer in the group to place a verse in the album's biggest hit. The Congolese public bestowed a myriad of nicknames upon him, including "Dicap La Merveille," "El Marabiocho," "Anelka," "Hustler," "Aigle," and "The Great One."

Ipupa simultaneously embarked on solo projects, including his studio albums Droit Chemin, Arsenal des Belles mélodies and Power. In an interview with Radio France Internationale, Ipupa stated that "For me, it was before making my first record, when I was still with Quartier Latin. I stayed with this group for almost ten years, I recorded more than six albums with Koffi Olomidé. At his side, I learned a lot. He is a professional musician artist, very serious in his work. With him, we worked like crazy." Despite having quit the band in 2006, he participated in the arrangements for commemorating the band's 30th anniversary.

Solo career

2006–2008: Solo career beginnings

On June 10, 2006, he released his debut solo studio album, Droit Chemin (Straight Path). The album was produced by Obouo Productions and Maïka Munan. Droit Chemin included collaborations with Barbara Kanam, Maïka Munan, Krys, Mokobé, and Benji. Reviewing for South Africa's TV, Segololo described the album as "trials and tribulations of love". Droit Chemin sold more than 100,000 copies and attained a gold record.

On April 7, 2007, Ipupa sold-out the Olympia Hall, becoming the first Congolese solo artist to do so since Tabu Ley Rochereau in 1970, Abeti Masikini in 1973, and Koffi Olomide in 1998. Louise Colcombet, writing for Le Parisien, likened the concert to a messianic arrival, and extolled Ipupa as "the rising star of Zairian music".

On July 13, he joined the African Rhythms event, jointly organized by Radio France Internationale (RFI), the Paris City Hall, and the International Organization of La Francophonie hosted at the Place de la Bastille with other prominent African music artists. After his European tour, he performed at the Culture Palace of Abidjan, presenting songs from his album, including "Sopeka", "Noufra Ketch", "Associé", "Orgasy", "Bakandja", and "Liputa". Droit Chemin earned him the Best Male Performer at the Césaire de la Musique awards. On October 27, he participated in an international music festival titled "1st Movicel Live Fest" at the Estádio da Cidadela in Luanda. To round off the year, he received two awards at the Pan-African Music Festival Black Music Awards in Benin.

In 2008, he held a series of concerts in France, Belgium, Germany, the United States, and Cameroon. His increasing recognition in Africa was also acknowledged in Burkina Faso, where he won the Best Central African Artist at Kunde Awards on April 25.

2009–2012: Arsenal de Belles Melodies, "Hands Across The World", Zénith de Paris concert and tours

On May 16, 2009, during the "Creole Night" event hosted by Kassav, Ipupa introduced his album Arsenal De Belles Mélodies (French for "Arsenal of Beautiful Melodies," acronymed as "A2BM") to a crowd of 90,000 fans at Stade de France. The occasion was also in support of the LamusiK group, and he engaged in a collaborative project with them called "Young Star." Arsenal de Belles Melodies was released in June 2009, marking a three-year interval since the release of Droit Chemin. It contained 16 tracks and was co-produced by Obouo Productions and Because Music. It featured American singer Olivia Longott on the album's lead single "Chaise Électrique", as well as dancehall artist Krys on "Sexy Dance". Arsenal de Belles Melodies sold over 100,000 copies, including 40,000 in just one week. In that same year, he won the Trophée Arts Afro-Caribbean and a gold record. Ipupa went on to perform at the Zenith de Paris on January 2, 2010. To further support his album, he delivered a performance in Germany, followed by a concert at the Accor Arena in July, alongside Papa Wemba and Koffi Olomide. He subsequently performed in Belgium, Switzerland, and the US. Other concerts were called off due to perils from Combattants, a group critical of then-Congolese president Joseph Kabila, and Congolese artists who endorsed him. Arsenal de Belles Melodies won three Ndule Awards in Kinshasa, including Best Album of the Year, Best Music Video, and Best Song.

On November 10, Ipupa was featured on "Hands Across The World," a song composed and produced by American singer R. Kelly in Chicago. The song serves as the debut release for the African supergroup One 8, which consisted of Amani, Ali Kiba, Navio, 2face Idibia, JK, 4x4, and Movaizhaleine. On December 14, Ipupa won two consecutive MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Video for "Sexy Dance" and Best Francophone Artist.

Ipupa was slated to perform at the Zénith de Paris on January 1, 2011, but the concert was postponed to March 12, 2011, due to challenges in obtaining the visa. Le Potentiel reported that Maison Schengen (now Centre Européen des Visas), a visa consultancy agency, denied European visas to multiple artists based in Kinshasa. The verdict sparked mixed reactions with demonstrators protesting in front of the DRC's Ministry of the Interior and Security for its closure. Despite the visa challenges, Ipupa sold-out the Zénith de Paris that day and was nominated for Best International African Artist at the BET Awards, followed by a sold-out performances at Stade de France in June 2011 alongside Werrason and Jessy Matador. In September 2011, he won four Afrotainment Museke Online Music Awards and two Okapi Awards. In June 2012, he performed at the Sauti za Busara festival in Zanzibar alongside Extra Musica, JB Mpiana, and Werrason.

2013: Power "Kosa Leka", three-album deal and "Kitoko"

On April 5, 2013, Ipupa released his third studio album, Power "Kosa Leka", a fusion of Congolese rumba, ndombolo, and rap. Critic Claudy Siar, reviewing the album for RFI, eulogized the album as "one of the best productions on the Afro musical planet." The album was a joint production of Obouo Productions and Because Music, and it featured American rapper Eve on the track "Sex'plosif". He collaborated with Bigg Masta G (Muana Mboka) on the Ndoki remix. The remix included modifications to the instrumental accompaniment and exclusion of Ipupa's vocals, which were supplanted by Bigg Masta G's rap segments. The remix's cover art prominently featured the addition of the word 'Ndoki' between Ipupa and Bigg Masta G. The song was also remixed by Congolese rumba singer MJ30, Poison Mobutu, and Mami Wata. In MJ30's rendition, Ipupa's vocals were entirely excluded, with MJ30 herself singing the chorus. The "Ndoki" music video amassed over 150,000 views on YouTube within a week. In line with the album's promotional drive, he embarked on a Pan-African tour, with live shows in Ivory Coast, Angola, Cameroon, the United Arab Emirates, Gabon, the DRC, and the Republic of the Congo.

On April 11, a week after the album's debut, he signed a contract for three international albums with AZ, a subsidiary of Capitol Records owned by Universal Music Group, marking AZ's expansion into the African market and contributing to Ipupa's growing international recognition. On May 14, 2013, he won the Trace Urban Music Awards for Best African Artist. On May 18, 2013, Ipupa performed at the MTV Africa All Stars concert at the Moses Mabhida Stadium alongside Snoop Dogg, 2Face Idibia, and Flavour.

On June 23, he released the single "Kitoko" featuring Youssoupha, with the music video released in September on his Vevo. The track was initially slated for inclusion on the international album but was ultimately released as a standalone single.

2014–2015: "Original" and international tour

On May 5, 2014, Ipupa released his single "Original" on Facebook and YouTube as a promotional endeavor for his backing group F'Victeam's debut album Libre Parcours, for which he served as the producer and contributed to a few songs as a featured artist. The music video featured zouk vocalists Lynnsha and Fanny J, as well as the former Oklahoma City Thunder basketball player Serge Ibaka, dancing to the song. It also includes scenes from Ipupa's previous live shows in the African cities: Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Dakar, Douala, Abidjan, Luanda and others. The song's rhythm showcases elements of African folk music, especially the DRC music style. The song reached the milestone of 1 million views in three months on YouTube. "Original" is noted for revolutionizing ndombolo, which had seen a decline partly due to the migration of Congolese artists to Europe.

In July 2014, Ipupa won the Best Artist In Central Africa at the African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) held in Dallas. He then toured Washington as part of the US-Africa Summit, for which President Barack Obama had invited 47 African leaders for the period August 4 to 6, 2014. A dozen African artists were selected to attend, with Ipupa being the sole representative from Central Africa.

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Fally Ipupa performing at Global Citizen Earth Day, Washington, D.C., 2015

On April 18, 2015, Ipupa was invited to Washington by the World Bank to participate in Global Citizen Earth Day and delivered a concert on the National Mall in front of 250,000 people. After his visit to the US, he took part in Abidjan's Anoumabo Urban Music Festival, an event organized by the Ivorian band Magic System. Ipupa was honored with the Special Prize for African Integration by the Ministry of African Integration and Ivorians Abroad. On June 28, he received a nomination for Best International Act at the BET Awards. He also performed at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, interpreting the songs "La vie est belle," "Original," and "Libre Parcours 2." In September, he gave two performances at Hotel Palm Camayenne and Esplanade of the People's Palace as part of promoting African music. On August 21, he performed at the People's Convention Center in Dallas, followed by a concert in Houston on August 28. He presented his previous album Power "Kosa Leka" on August 29 in Portland, followed by performances in Atlanta on August 30 and Minneapolis on September 4. On September 5, Ipupa performed in Washington, concluding his American tour with a concert in New York on September 6. He later returned to Dallas to participate in the AFRIMMA ceremony, where he was nominated for Best Central Africa Artist and Best African Artist. In Africa, he performed in Lubumbashi, Kolwezi, and Likasi, and was summoned by President José Eduardo dos Santos to be part of the observance of Angola's Independence Day on November 11.

2016–2017: Tokooos and Tokooos tours

Following his record deal with AZ label in 2013, Ipupa began recording his debut international album Tokooos in October 2015. He teased with Nigerian singer Wizkid in Paris, for an upcoming single on October 6. In March 2016, while working on Tokooos, he released the single "Hymne Coca-Cola" on YouTube for the Coca-Cola campaign in the DRC, and the subsequent month, he was featured in the French rapper MHD's eponymous debut album MHD on the track "Ma vie."

On June 25, 2016, he signed a record deal with Warner Music France after the departure of Julien Creuzard from Universal Music Group. His record deal with Warner Music France altered plans for Tokooos' release. He coordinated an American tour with his F'Victeam and approached R. Kelly for collaboration on Tokooos. In late November 2016, he announced via Instagram a collaboration with Booba. Their single "Kiname" (a contraction of Kinshasa and Paname) was released on December 7, and the music video was made available on December 14. "Kiname" was certified gold on May 16, 2017, by SNEP. The "Eloko Oyo" singles followed on April 7, a traditional song of the Mongo ethnic group first covered by Mimi Mongo, then by Mabele Elisi. On June 16, Ipupa released "Bad Boy", featuring Aya Nakamura, which contains a sample of a guitar riff played by Simaro Lutumba in his 1983 song "Faute ya Commerçant." "Bad Boy" was certified gold by SNEP on November 3.

On June 22, Ipupa was scheduled to perform at La Cigale to present his album. The proceeds from the concert were intended for donation to UNICEF to aid in the fight against chronic malnutrition afflicting the African youth. The show was canceled by the Paris Police Prefecture due to concerns about potential "serious disturbances to public order" stemming from threats by the Combattants.

Tokooos was released on July 7, 2017, under his Elektra France label, a subsidiary of Warner Music France. It marked a departure from his previous works as it ventured into urban music. The album comprised 18 tracks with a range of styles from Congolese rumba, French rap, R&B, and Afro-pop. The album derived its name from the Lingala word kitoko, signifying something good and exuding a positive aura. Building on this concept, Ipupa coined the term Tokooos music as a term for his new artistic style and musical philosophy. In an interview with a BET Buzz affiliate based in France, Ipupa stated that, "On my fourth album, I wanted to create a bridge between Kinshasa and Paris; I have done it all in Africa, but I would like to win this French market." In Tokooos, Ipupa experimented by singing some tracks entirely in French. Tokooos included guest artists such as R. Kelly, Booba, MHD, Naza, Keblack, Wizkid, Aya Nakamura, and Shay. As part of the album's promotion, he was invited to Frédéric Musa's urban show Planète Rap on Skyrock from July 10 to 14.

Two presentation tours were organized for the album, collectively known as the "Tokooos Tour", with approximately fifty concerts held in various cities. The first leg commenced on September 2, 2017, in Lomé and concluded on February 19, 2018, in Los Angeles, with concerts and showcases held in cities such as Nairobi, Lyon, Bordeaux, Frankfurt, Kinshasa, Brazzaville, Cotonou, Lusaka, Bamako, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Abidjan, and Luanda. The second leg was launched in March–August 2018, featuring a series of concerts and showcases in several countries, including Spain, France, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Norway, Italy, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana. He capped off the year by winning the title of "Best International Artist of the Year" in the Skyrock 2017 awards.

On October 10, 2022, Tokooos was officially certified gold in France by SNEP, with sales exceeding 50,000 copies. Ipupa became the first Kinshasa-based Congolese artist to obtain a gold record certified by SNEP, as well as the first soloist from Central Africa to achieve this feat. Tokooos also became the second album from Central Africa to receive a gold disc certification by the SNEP, following Bisso Na Bisso in 1999 with the album Racines.

On May 10, 2023, the Tokooos was certified platinum for export by the Centre National de la Musique (CNM) in France, having sold more than 100,000 copies outside France.

2018–2019: Control and Accor Arena concert

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Motorcycle burned during the concert in front of Paris-Bercy station, February 2020

Recorded simultaneously with Tokooos since the end of 2016 and in preparation for his return to Congolese rumba, Ipupa released three promotional singles from his fifth forthcoming album Control: "École" on July 25, 2018, "Canne à sucre" on August 31, 2018, and "Aime-moi" on October 26, 2018. Control was officially released on November 2, 2018. The album was mainly recorded in his studio, Tokooos Studio, and Studio Ndiaye in Kinshasa, with some finishing touches done in Parisian studios. It consisted of 31 songs, including his three previously released singles. Control debuted fifth among the most downloaded albums in France by SNEP. He presented his album on the Journal Afrique of TV5Monde a week later and announced the official presentation in Kinshasa on November 30, 2018.

As had been the practice since 2015, a "World Summer Tour 2019" tour was announced in April 2019, covering the US, South Africa, the Republic of the Congo, the DRC, and Australia. Announced on June 12, 2019, Ipupa performed on February 28, 2020, at the Accor Arena in front of 20,000 people. Due to the prohibition of several Congolese concerts in French territory, arising from the specter of "serious disturbances to public order" precipitated by the belligerent Combatants, Didier Lallement, the Prefect of Paris, promulgated a decree on February 26, 2020, which prohibited all demonstrations in the vicinity of the arena and demarcated a security cordon around the venue. A few hours before the concert's commencement, significant incidents and violence erupted around the Gare de Lyon by opponents accusing Ipupa of being too closely associated with the Congolese regime. Despite threats against Ipupa and the event, the concert sold-out on the same day.

2020–2022: Tokooos II, Tokooos II Gold and tours

In an interview with Afropop Worldwide on July 10, 2019, Ipupa announced that his sixth studio album, Tokooos II, was nearing completion. He later endorsed the album with a concert at the Accor Arena on February 28, 2020. Tokooos II was officially released on December 18, 2020, under his Elektra France label and contained 16 songs in the digital edition and 22 in the physical edition. It includes four features with Dadju, Naza, Ninho, and M. Pokora and fuses traditional Congolese rumba, soukous, ndombolo, R&B, and trap beats. Reviewing for Pan African Music, Rémi Benchebra described the album as being "guided by love, a theme dear to rumbists," and "a voice which combines fragility with power." On December 26, 2020, Ipupa sold-out Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire and received the Best African Artist of the Year at the fourth edition of the African Talents Awards, followed by a concert in Bouaké. In February 2021, he promoted the album at Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex, where he performed in front of 3,000 youths celebrating president Paul Biya's 88th birthday. To promote the album further, he unveiled a lineup of multiple African concerts, referred to as the "Tokoos II Tour Part I." The tour kicked off on October 9 in Dar es Salaam and concluded on January 10, 2022, in Bafoussam. It covered 19 countries, primarily in French-speaking regions, where he performed with his accompanying group F'Victeam.

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Fally Ipupa performing at the opening of AFCON 2021

On September 26, 2021, while performing live in Kinshasa at FIKIN (Foire Internationale de Kinshasa), Ipupa announced his Tokooos II Gold, a follow-up to his sixth studio album Tokooos II, with 15 additional tracks added to the original list of 26 songs. Concomitantly with the production of Tokooos since 2017, Ipupa released his promotional single "Nzoto" on November 12, blending ndombolo and the traditional Congolese rumba overlaid with the sounds of Mongo ethnic group from the Équateur Province. Before releasing his Tokooos II Gold on February 25, 2022, he clinched the Best Male Artist from East, South and Central Africa at the 7th edition of the African Entertainment Awards USA on December 26, 2021, followed by a performance at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations at the Olembe Stadium and Sport Complex.

Five months after Tokooos II Gold release, Ipupa embarked on his "Golden World Tour", with visits to Luanda, Brazzaville, Amsterdam, Paris, London, Brussels, Porto, Spa, Cabinda, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Pointe-Noire, and Kinshasa.

2022–2023: Formule 7 and Macron-Ipupa diplomacy sparks

On October 17, 2022, during an interview with the French television channel France 24, Ipupa announced the release of his seventh studio album Formule 7. He later posted the album cover, setting abuzz on social media and said to have been inspired by the American film The Great Gatsby, dressed in a velvet tuxedo and black nail polish. On October 28, he posted three album's singles on Youtube: "Bloqué", "Science-Fiction" and "Se yo," which accumulated millions of views. Formule 7 was released on December 16 under his Elektra France label. It consisted of thirty tracks, with a predominant blend of Congolese rumba. It amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify and became the best-selling album on French iTunes. On January 5, 2023, Ipupa appeared at the Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire to promote Formule 7. Ipupa won the All Africa Music Awards for Best Male Artist in Central Africa and was nominated for the album's hit single "Bloqué."

On February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron summoned him to the Élysée Palace as part of Macron's seminal approach to France–Africa relations. After their meeting, Ipupa conveyed on his Twitter that he had a confabulation with Macron about the ongoing Kivu conflict and the role of Congolese music among the youth. On March 6, Macron attended his concert in Kinshasa, where they were spotted drinking beer and waving to the populace. Their meeting induced mixed reactions, with some critics alleging that Macron was leveraging Ipupa's image for his benefit and insinuating French support for "Kigali-M23."

Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat, 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, and triple arenas

On May 27, Ipupa sold-out Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat, followed by a sold-out performance at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie on July 28.

On November 25, 2023, Ipupa sold-out Paris La Défense Arena, becoming the first African solo artist to do so. He curated a lineup of artists to the stage, such as Aya Nakamura, SDM, Mokobé, Keblack, Naza, Dadju, Tayc, Singuila, and Youssou N'Dour. Ipupa was awarded a gold plaque for selling-out 40,000 tickets. Youssou N'Dour eulogized Ipupa and the concert on his X, Instagram and Facebook, expressing, "This evening I felt the DRC, Africa communing with you. What a beautiful show!" French singer Tayc expressed his gratitude on Instagram, saying, "Big Brother, don't change anything, your people love you" and emphasizes that Ipupa "shone tonight."

On December 8, 2023, Ipupa performed at OVO Arena Wembley in front of 12,500 people, becoming the first Congolese artist to achieve this feat since Abeti Masikini in 1986. Following the concert, Ipupa lauded his showmanship on Instagram, dubbing himself "The last man standing, the London Killer..."

On December 13, 2023, Ipupa sold-out the ING Arena three days ahead of the scheduled December 16 concert. All 15,000 seats in the hall were filled. During the preparations for the concert and in the company of the Brussels mayor, Philippe Close, Ipupa was awarded a commemorative plaque for the sold-out concert. He was opened on stage by Fresh La Peufra and performed some of his hit tracks.

Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte (June 2016 - October 2022)

To celebrate his decade-long career, Ipupa announced on February 29, 2016, his concert at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte, scheduled for June 25, 2016, with an 80,000-seat capacity. However, after extensive promotional efforts, the event was called off by the Kinshasa's municipal authorities due to ongoing renovation work in the stadium enclosure.

Following his performance at the Accor Arena on February 28, 2020, he again announced a concert at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte for April 18, 2020. The concert was again postponed due to COVID-19-related health conditions and lockdown measures.

October 2022 stampede

On March 1, 2022, he announced his concert scheduled for October 29. The event was part of his "Golden World Tour," from June 4 to October 3. Initially designed for an 80,000-strong audience, it ultimately summoned over 120,000 attendees. During the performance, he was joined on stage by Charlotte Dipanda, Gaz Mawete, Awilo Longomba, Mignon Abraham, DG Virus, Manon Loubaki, Pathy Nsaraza, Naty Lokole, Fiston Kolokey, Vany Morgane, Souley Kahuka as well as his former colleagues from Quartier Latin International, Sam Tshintu, Modogo Abarambwa, Gipson Butukondolo, Champion Djicapela, Montana Kamenga, and Babia Ndonga Shokoro's son, Prince Babia. Producers Dany Synthé and Seysey were also present. Claudy Siar and Juliette Fievet presented him with the gold record for his album Tokooos. While performing, a stampede ensued due to the excessive number of attendees who sought ingress into the exalted VIP and reserved sections. The ensuing pandemonium resulted in eleven deaths, including two police officers, according to the Minister of the Interior, Daniel Aselo Okito.

Philanthropy

Fally Ipupa Foundation (FIF)

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Fally Ipupa as part of the commemoration of the Day of the African Child with the aim of safeguarding children's protection during times of armed conflict, June 2018

In 2013, Ipupa established the Fally Ipupa Foundation (Fondation Fally Ipupa; FFI), a non-profit organization aimed at providing assistance to different sections of the population in need.

UNICEF

In 2017, Ipupa partnered with UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund) to fight malnutrition, which affects 10 million children across the DRC each year.

On August 20, 2021, Ipupa was appointed as UNICEF National Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week, during which he actively endorsed the advancement, preservation, and reinforcement of feeding practices for infants and young children.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album title and details	Peak			Certifications (sales threshold)
		FRA	BEL (Fl)	BEL (Wa)
2006	Droit CheminШаблон:Smalldiv	—	—	—
2009	Arsenal de Belles MelodiesШаблон:Smalldiv	—	—	—
2013	Power "Kosa Leka"Шаблон:Smalldiv	—	—	—
2017	TokooosШаблон:Smalldiv	28	110	21	FRA: Gold
2018	ControlШаблон:Smalldiv	74	—	58
2020	Tokooos IIШаблон:Smalldiv	80	100	58
2022	Formule 7Шаблон:Smalldiv	85	—	150

Singles

As lead artist

Year	Title	Peak positions		Certification	Album
		FRA	BEL (Wa)
2016	"Kiname" (featuring Booba)	10	38	FRA: Gold	Tokooos
2017	"Bad Boy" (featuring Aya Nakamura)	69	Tip	FRA: Gold
	"Nidja" (featuring R. Kelly)	—	Tip
2020	"Likolo" (featuring Ninho)	162	Tip		Tokooos II

As featured artist

Year	Title	Peak positions		Certification	Album
		FRA	BEL (Wa)
2016	"Ma vie" (MHD featuring Fally Ipupa)	145	—		MHD
2017	"Trouvez la moi" (Dadju featuring KeBlack & Fally Ipupa)	38	—	FRA: Gold	Gentleman 2.0
2019	"À Kinshasa" (Ninho featuring Fally Ipupa)	11	—	FRA: Platinum	Destin
2020	"Fais ça bien" (Damso featuring Fally Ipupa)	17	—	FRA: Gold	QALF

Awards and nominations

Year	Event	Prize	Recipient	Result
2007	Trophées des Arts Afro-Caribéens	Best Male Artist	Himself	Won
2009	GRAMMY Awards	Best International Act	Himself	Шаблон:Nominated
2010	MTV Africa Music Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself	Шаблон:Won
		Best Male	Himself	Шаблон:Nominated
		Best Video	"Sexy Dance"	Шаблон:Won
		Best Central African Artist	Himself	Won
		Best Francophone Artist	Himself	Шаблон:Won
2011	Museke Online Music Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
2011	BET Awards	Best International Act: Africa	Himself	Шаблон:Nominated
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best African Act	Himself	Шаблон:Nom
2013	TRACE Urban Music Awards	Best African Artist	Himself	Won
2014	MTV Africa Music Awards	Best Live Act	Himself	Шаблон:Nom
2014	AFRIMMA	Best Central African Artist	Himself	Won
2015	Anoumabo Urban Music Festival	Special Prize for African Integration	Himself	Won
2015	Ndule Awards	Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
2015	BET Awards	Best International Act: Africa	Himself	Шаблон:Nominated
2015	Africa Top Success Awards	Most Influential African Male Personality of the Year	Himself	Won
2017	AFRIMMA	Best Francophone Artist	Himself	Won
2017	AFRIMMA	Video of the Year	"Eloko Oyo"	Won
2017	Votes Planète Rap	International Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
2017	Acoustic TV5Monde	Best Audience of the Year	Himself	Won
2017	Trace Africa	Song of the Year	"Eloko Oyo"	Won
2018	Kunde Awards	Best Traditional African Inspiration Song of the Year	"Eloko Oyo"	Won
2018	Kunde Awards	Special African Cultural Actor	Himself	Won
2018	HAPAwards	Best Francophone Artist	Himself	Won
2018	AFRIMA	Best Male Artiste in Central Africa	Himself	Won
2018	AFRIMMA	Best Male Artiste in Central Africa	Himself	Won
2018	AFRIMMA	Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
2018	AFRIMMA	Leadership in Music	Himself	Won
2018	BET Awards	Best International Act	Himself	Шаблон:Nominated
	MTV Europe Music Awards	Best African Act	Himself	Шаблон:Won
2019	AFRIMMA	Best Central African Artist	Himself	Won
2019	AFRIMMA	Best Collaboration	"Inama"	Nominated
2019	AFRIMMA	Artist of the Year	Nominated	Won
2019	AFRIMMA	Best Live Act	Himself	Nominated
2019	AFRIMMA	Song of the Year	"Inama"	Nominated
2019	AFRIMMA	Video of the Year	"Inama"	Nominated
2019	Canal 2'Or	Best African Artist	Himself	Won
2019	Pool Malebo Music Awards	Best Artist	Himself	Won
2020	AFRIMMA	Best Central African Male Artist	Himself	Won
2020	AFRIMMA	Video of the Year	"C'est Rate"	Won
2020	AFRIMMA	Best Francophone	Himself	Won
2020	African Talent Awards	Best African Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
2021	Canal 2'Or	Francophone African Artist	Himself	Won
2021	AFRIMA	Best Male in Central Africa	Himself	Won
2021	AFRIMA	Best Choreography	"Berna"	Won
2021	AFRIMMA	Best Male in Central Africa	Himself	Won
2021	AFRIMMA	Video of the Year	"Berna"	Won
2021	AEAUSA	Best Francophone Male Artist	Himself	Won
2022	BET Awards	Best International Artist	Himself	Nominated
2022	AFRIMMA	Best Francophone	Himself	Won
2022	EAEA	Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
2022	AEAUSA	Best Francophone Male Artist	Himself	Won
2023	Trace Awards & Festival	Best Live	Himself	Won
2023	Afroca Music Awards	Best African Male Artist	Himself	Won
2023	Les Flammes	Exceptional Flame	Himself	Won
2023	AFRIMMA	Best Francophone	Himself	Won
2023	AFRIMMA	Lifetime Achievement Award	Himself	Won
2023	AFRIMA	Best Male Artist in Central Africa	Himself	Won
2023	EAEA	People's Choice Live Performer	Himself	Won
2023	Jayli Awards	Best Artist of the Year	Himself	Won
2023	Jayli Awards	Best Central African Artist	Himself	Won