Jean-Bedel Mpiana Tshituka, widely recognized by his stage name J.B. Mpiana, is a celebrated figure in Congolese music, renowned as a singer, composer, dancer, and choreographer whose work blends Congolese rumba, soukous, ndombolo, and the traditional Luba-Kasai style, Mutuashi. Born on June 2, 1967, in Kananga, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his musical journey began in his early teenage years, performing in church and school groups. His career took off in the early 1980s when he co-founded the influential band Wenge Musica alongside artists like Werrason, Didier Masela, and Alain Makaba, eventually rising to become the group's lead singer and bandleader. Wenge Musica was a vital force, pioneering the popular ndombolo dance craze and releasing seminal albums like their debut Bouger Bouger and the highly successful Kala Yi Boeing. Following Wenge Musica’s split in 1997, Mpiana launched his own faction, Wenge BCBG, joined by many of the original band members. That same year, his debut solo album, Feux de l'amour (Flames of Love), achieved gold status, further solidifying his reputation as a major international star and one of the genre's most versatile and charismatic leaders.