Victoria Eleison, Congolese band, formed 1982. Notable early members: Pepe Bipoli (born Kinshasa, May 14, 1955; vocal), "Huit Kilos" Nseka Bimwela (born Congo-Kinshasa; guitar), "Kester" Emeneya Mubiala (born Kinshasa, Nov. 23, 1956; vocal), "Tofla" Tofolo Kitoko (born Congo-Kinshasa, 1955?; guitar), "Patcho Star" Mpasi Samba (born Congo-Kinshasa; drums).
Victoria belongs to the extended family of bands descended from Zaiko Langa Langa commonly referred to as Clan Langa Langa. The link was an earlier Zaiko descendant, Viva la Musica, where most of Victoria's first members were originally employed. With the promise of assistance from producer Verckys Kiamuangana, ten musicians left Viva in 1972 to form Victoria Eleison. They combined the brief prayer Kyrie eleison with victoria, from victory, to get the name.
Charismatic singer "Kester" Emeneya led the band from its Christmas Eve debut onward. He sang lead vocals, wrote much of the group's material, and immediately became the star attraction. Victoria echoed the "youth band" style pioneered by Zaiko, roughing up the rumba to achieve a more strident sound than older Congolese bands produced. Early hits included "Sans Préavis" (without notice), the story of a woman who sacrificed to preserve her marriage only to be divorced in the end, and "Kimpiatu" (a man's name), about a man whose romance is destroyed by false rumors. Victoria played regularly in Kinshasa's clubs and traveled to Europe for an occasional concert and recording session.
Read the whole group's presentation [here]