Kool Matope

Kool Matope is a Singer, Songwriter, Cantor, and Pastor. Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 7, 1964, 11th in a family of 12 children, Léon Georges MATOPE MUKULI NGOMA, aka Kool MATOPE, attended the Marist Brothers primary school Champagnat in Kisangani. After his orientation cycle at Santu Kizito college in Isiro with the Sacred Heart Maele Dominican priests in Kisangani. he finished his literary humanities at college. He continued his studies at the faculty of law at the University of Kinshasa, formerly Lovanium. His father was a former Catholic priest passionate about music, choir director and composer of songs for the Catholic liturgy;this explains why the young Léon Georges grew up in a musical atmosphere where he had no problem finding his way. As an acolyte and choir member, he quickly developed a great passion for music and enjoyed practicing it in his spare time. He grew up in Catholic tradition and discipline and was an excellent boy scout "marabout researcher" at the Saint Louis De Gonzague unit in Kisangani. Brother Kool is married and a father.
THE TESTIMONY:
In 1983, Brother Kool, then a teenager, attended an evangelistic campaign held by Mzee Aidini Abala at the Lumumba stadium in Kisangani. For the first time in his life, he experienced the manifestation of the power of God through miracles, signs and wonders. Two years later, during the crusades led by the evangelist Maesh Chavda first and then the evangelist Dyemo at Cultrana square where the great “Martyrs Stadium” of Kinshasa is erected today, he gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. But he continued to live according to his thoughts, his ambitions and his desires for lack of spiritual consolidation and guidance. It was in 1992 that Brother Kool, alone in a hotel room, had a true and personal encounter with Christ. In fact, he experienced an extraordinary miracle by regaining the use of his legs, which had been paralyzed for a few days following a sudden, mysterious and short-term illness. In the first steps of his Christian life, Brother Kool was supervised by his brother, Pastor Gustave MATOPE. He then joined the local church of “La Borne” led by Pastor Jacques André Vernaud where he was baptized by immersion by Pastor Jean-Pierre Kabanda in obedience to the Lord JESUS CHRIST who says that one must be born of water and spirit to enter the kingdom of heaven. He grew spiritually, nourished by several pastors from La Borne, e.g. Rolland Dalo, Israel Nsembe, Kali, Lufika and many others. Having personally experienced the power and power of God, Brother Kool, through his songs, preaches a living and merciful God who hears and answers prayers.
THE MINISTRY:
Following his call, Brother Kool's ministry is about:
* Seeking, that is: winning souls for Christ through song;
* Lead God's people into His presence with songs of praise and worship to enable them to receive His blessings;
* Equip Christians and develop in their lives the virtues of Christian living with songs of encouragement testifying to a victorious life in Christ. These virtues are, among others, love of God, prayer, sanctification, tolerance, patience, perseverance, work, honesty, truth, politeness, courtesy, etc.
The means used to spread the message are the production and distribution of audio and video cassettes of concerts, musical performances, praises, conferences, seminars, reflection workshops, retreats and prayers, vigils, publications of books and treatises, charitable works, radio and television broadcasts, etc. The goal of Kool MATOPE's ministry is to help produce exemplary Christians, good citizens of heaven and their countries. For Africa in particular, Kool believes that it is essential to invest in the population to bring them back to the moral, intellectual and professional virtues that drive the development of the entire continent for the well-being of our nations. Some of these virtues are: Love of the country and its fellow citizens, Respect for public property, Good management of public property, The priority given to the general interest over personal interest, The appreciation and pleasure of a job well done, Self-confidence in our country, Sacred respect for authority, rules and regulations of the country, freedoms and obligations of each citizen.
THE MESSAGE:
The main message in Brother Kool MATOPE's songs is the good news or gospel of Jesus Christ which is to completely abandon the life of sin or evil, to totally give one's life to God by recognizing Jesus Christ as one's Lord and flavor. It also speaks of continuing firmly and patiently in faith in Christ; put all your trust and hope in him; read, meditate, observe and constantly practice the word of God while letting the Holy Spirit direct and illuminate our lives. Finally, it encourages Christians to know their identity in Christ and to enjoy their rights while fulfilling their duties, which will enable them to lead victorious and abundant lives.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
* 1983: Very young amateur singer, he won the 1st 1st chance discovery prize at the French Cultural Center of Kisangani.
* 1986: Having joined the Bongo Folk group a year earlier, they won the 86 young talents prize in Kinshasa.
* 1988: Kiamwangana Mateta Verckys, alias CEO, owner of the group éditions Vévé International, known in national history as one of the largest production, publishing and distribution companies of Congolese music, hires Kool as a studio musician and after training given by himself, promoted him to programmer and sound engineer;
* 1990: Kool follows training on computer-assisted musical creation at the Center Wallonie Bruxelles, organized by M3M and led by Robert Falk.
*1991-1992: he completed another training course given by Daniel Léon on sound recording techniques at the Wallonia Brussels center; He participated in the recording and production of numerous albums by several great Congolese musicians such as Papa Wemba, Djuna Djanana, Pépé Kallé, Bozi Boziana, King Kester Emeneya, Lutumba Simaro, General Defao, Bimi Ombale, Carlytho Lassa, Debaba, Mopero Wa Maloba etc. He has worked in the best recording studios in Kinshasa, including Vévé studio, Bobongo, GND Ndiaye, Sango Malamu, ICEA etc.
* 1993: James Ronald Sawatsky, a Canadian missionary, recruits Brother Kool as a sound engineer, musician and radio presenter at Sango Malamu Studios.
* 1994: Kool concludes another audio and video training led by missionaries Oddin Van Woordekom (Netherlands) and Mark Turner (USA), as well as Wiebo Miedema (Netherlands).
* 1997-1998: he took music lessons at the Sango Malamu musical academy;
* 2003: he completed training in composition, arrangement, recording and musical mixing organized by French cooperation within the national radio and television studio school ICEA, taught by Lokua Kanza.
MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENTS:
1985: He joined the group “Bongo Folk”, which later became the winner of a major youth music competition called “Young Talents 86” organized by Coca-Cola;
1987: Becoming an independent singer, Kool plays with many artists including Jacob F. Desvarieux and Jocelyn Beroard of the group Kassav during their tour in Kinshasa as part of the promotion of Zaľrois wax. They delivered two memorable concerts, accompanied by the group The Best: the 1st at the Intercontinental Hotel and the 2nd at the People's Palace esplanade.
• 1989: Kool with his brother Ghi' MATOPE created a group called Troopers Matope. They recorded their first album <“Oh Africa” which was unfortunately never published.
• February 1983: the young Léon George wins 1st prize in the “Découverte 1ère chance” musical competition at the French cultural center of Kisangani (DRC). He then made his debut as an amateur singer in the music group “Les Tréteaux” of the CCF in Kisangani;
1990: He founded another group “Royal S” and recorded the opus “Pas gentil>” which was never published.
• 1993: After God's call, Kool devotes himself exclusively to music
Christian.
1996: On tour in the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany, Kool recorded the album “Louange au Grand Roi” with the group Sango Malamu.
• 1995: brother Kool MATOPE publishes his first solo album <<Na Golgotha”. 
• 1996: he participated in the release of the album “Louange au Grand Roi” with the group Sango Malamu;
• 1999: “Robe Blanche” is published. This opus remained at the top of the Congolese Christian charts until 2002.
January 2002: “Papa telema” is published. It is the very first maxi single in Congolese Christian history;
March 2002: First concert “Papa telema” at Cinémax (Kinshasa). This concert is available on VHS, CD and DVD.
• December 2002: Release of “Power”. For more than two years, this album remained in the top three of the Congolese Christian chart;
June 2003: Brother Kool MATOPE gives a major concert at the Gombe hall to celebrate the music festival organized by French cooperation. More than 10,000 people attended this concert which won the prize for best Congolese music show for 2003. This prize was awarded by the Congolese association of sociocultural promoters;
• March 2004: Impressive “Live Danger de Mort” concert at Cinémax Hall (Kinshasa). This great show, an intense moment of praise and worship, was of incredible quality in terms of sound and lighting, considering the type of equipment that could be found in the DRC at that time. It was a major event that made headlines and sparked very heated debate.
• June 2004: Release of the album collection “Louange congolais vol.I”. This opus is a compilation of songs of praise from Congolese churches translated into French at the persistent request of French-speaking churches in Europe and the Caribbean.
• July 2005: Release of the “Best of Kool Matope”, a 2-CD album, including 32 songs among the Kool brother's best titles;
• August 2005: Big Kool MATOPE live concert at the Kinshasa international fair (Fikin). Exciting praise and worship concert (over 20,000 people).
• 2008: Explosion album release. It was recorded and mixed professionally in Belgium at EGS (Euro gospel Sound). The quality of the message and music is so powerful and exceptional that many are blessed by it.
2009: Release of the second album collection “Louange congolaise vol.2”.
*2010: Collaboration with Lokua Kanza in his album Nkolo where they wrote together a track "Oh Yahwé".
• March 2015: Launch of “Maturité”, a very special album that sings the word of GOD in a special way.
• Brother Kool MATOPE's fame and credibility no longer need to be proven considering the quality and efficiency of his work, both musically and spiritually.
The numerous prizes and awards won, the support and trust of many men of God (reflected in the considerable number of invitations to minister in local and foreign churches);
The growing demand for his audio and video products, the always large crowds at the events in which he participates, the fact that he is almost always mentioned in the newspapers and that his songs are often sung during the services of many Congolese and other churches cannot that confirm the credibility of the servant of the Lord, Kool MATOPE.
In 2013, he added knowledge to his faith by studying the Bible word of GOD at the “Institute of Superior Theology of the Holy Spirit” in Libreville, Gabon.
Kool MATOPE's music is available for legal download everywhere (Itunes, Deezer, Amazon, Spotify...)
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo singers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo songwriters
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo male singers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo gospel singers
Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo musicians
Category:21st-century male singers
Category:21st-century singers
Category:1964 births
Category:People from Kinshasa