About Victoria Eleison
Victoria is a band created in October 1982 by artists King Kester Emeneya and Bipoli. Emeneya started his music career in a student band called Kassapards. After Kassapards, he joined Papa Wemba‘s Viva La Musica around 1977. Shortly after that, in 1979, Papa Wemba temporarily left Viva for Tabu Ley‘s Afrisa International, for strategic reasons. Emeneya successfully ensured Papa Wemba’s interim in Viva meanwhile. Tensions arose within Viva during that period though. Those tensions finally lead about 19 of members to leave. Ten of them would create Victoria, under King Kester Emeneya and Bipoli’s leadership. In 1983, cofounder Bipoli left Victoria too. Ever since, Victoria was associated with King Kester Emeneya, until the later passed away in February 2014. Victoria and King Kester brought many contributions to Congolese music, including the first extensive use of keyboards in music arrangements, new dances, rythmes, and musicians.
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