Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba (born July 13, 1956), known professionally as Koffi Olomidé, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, producer, and the founder of Quartier Latin International. Often referred to as the "King of Ndombolo," he is noted for his explosive high notes, deep baritone, and offbeat voice. Agbepa is considered one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Congolese and African popular music. His lyrics often explore themes of love, politics, technology, success, infidelity, religion, chicanery, and disillusionment. Through his stage performances, he introduced the slower style of the soukous known as Tcha Tcho and popularized a flamboyant fashion subculture called La Sape alongside Papa Wemba.
Emerging as a ghostwriter for various artists in the Zairean music industry, he gained prominence in 1977 with the release of "Princesse ya Synza," a trio featuring Papa Wemba and King Kester Emeneya. In 1986, he established and directed the Quartier Latin International, which accompanied him on stage and in producing his albums since 1992, serving as a launching pad for emerging artists, including Fally Ipupa, Jipson Butukondolo, Deo Brondo, Montana Kamenga, Bouro Mpela, Ferré Gola, Marie-Paul Kambulu, Eldorado Claude, Djuna Fa Makengele, Soleil Wanga, Laudy Demingongo Plus-Plus, Éric Tutsi, and among others. His career experienced a resurgence in 1990 when he signed a record deal with SonoDisc.
With a nearly five-decades-long career, he is the first African artist to sold-out the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy and one of the 12 African artists whose album Haut de Gamme was featured in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Throughout his forty-year career, Agbepa has recorded 28 studio albums, including seven under the Latin Quarter banner, one in collaboration with Papa Wemba, and 18 live albums, amounting to an extensive repertoire of over 300 songs.
He has won seven Kora Awards, including an illustrious quartet during the 2002 Kora Awards for his album Effrakata, including the Best Male Artist of Central Africa, Best Video of Africa, Best Arrangement of Africa, and the Jury Special Award. In 2013, he founded his label, Koffi Central. On October 13, 2015, he released 13ième apôtre, a quadruple album comprising forty songs, which he proclaimed to be his final album before later resurfaced with Nyataquance (2017), Légende Millénium (2021), and Légende Éd. Diamond (2022).
Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba was born on July 13, 1956, in Stanleyville (present-day Kisangani), in the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), to Aminata Angélique Muyonge and Charles Agbepa.
During school breaks in the mid-1970s, Agbepa returned to Kinshasa and began composing lyrics for various artists in the Zairean music scene, earning him the sobriquet "the most famous student in Zaire" and seizing the attention of Papa Wemba, who had recently departed from Yoka Lokole and was actively engaged as a lyricist. Agbepa recorded his debut single, "Onia," while on leave in Kinshasa. Following the establishment of Viva La Musica, he contributed songs such as "Mère Supérieure," "Ebalé Mbongé," and "Aissa Na Zoé". In mid-1977, alongside Wemba and King Kester Emeneya, he composed "Asso" and "Princesse ya Synza," which garnered him the "Best Singer-songwriter" in Zaire. In subsequent years, he released songs like "Samba Samba," "Ekoti ya Nzube," "Elengi ya Mbonda," and "Bien Aimée Aniba," with the latter clinching him the "Best Star of Zairian Song". As he made music during off-peak hours and principally during the holidays, straddling Zaire and France, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Business economics in 1980 with his thesis "La commercialisation des matières premières minières du Zaïre, un atout pour celui-ci?".
Following his graduation, Agbepa returned to Kinshasa but could not find employment. He then returned to Europe in search of work. After coming back to Zaire in 1982, he established the Historia Musica ensemble alongside Debaba, though their collaboration was ephemeral due to disputes. Agbepa subsequently toured Brussels to record his debut solo studio album, Ngounda, which was released in 1983. Ngounda was produced by Roland Leclerc at the Veve studio and included a guest appearance by Josky Kiambukuta. Agbepa described this experience as his "first experience in a professional studio."
Ngounda received ambivalent critiques, and Agbepa began working on his second studio album, Lady Bo, which was released in 1984 and featured King Kester Emeneya as a guest artist.
His third studio album Diva, arranged by Rigo Bamundélé, was released in 1985 and gained popularity in East Africa, West Africa, and internationally.
Diva introduced Agbepa's Tcha Tcho (also known as "Soukous Love") style of music, a slower, sensuous variant of soukous. The style was widely emulated by many artists and was notably appealing to young women. The West Africa Publishing Company described Agbepa's style as "an irresistible concoction".
While working on his forthcoming album Ngobila, he made appearances in the duo albums Olomidé et Yakini Kiese (Olomide and Yakini Kiese) and Olomidé et Fafa de Molokaï (Olomide and Fafa de Molokaï). Ngobila was released in 1986 but did not garner considerable success. The album's eponymous lead single narrates the poignant tale of a man standing on a port quay, witnessing the departure of his beloved, uncertain if fate would reunite them. Later that year, he established the Quartier Latin International. Agbepa's records and Quartier Latin were then released alternately with the same musical personnel.
At the start of 1987, rumors disseminated that Agbepa had succumbed to AIDS in Europe. This episode of sagas enormously affected Agbepa, rousing him to compose the song "Ngulupa," in which he responds to his critics with the lyrics: "Bomoni té, boyoki yango, tika kotuba koloba, tuba tuba eza mabé" (You haven't seen anything, only heard; stop talking about things you don't know; verbal diarrhea is a bad thing). He also addresses illness in "Dieu Voit Tout," singing: "Kuna na mboka lola ata bato oyo ya sida, bazuaka pe kimia oyo ya seko" (At least in heaven, there is eternal peace even for those who suffer from AIDS).
In mid-1987, he released his fifth studio album, Rue D'Amour, which includes six partially unreleased tracks and showcases Agbepa singing for VIPs for the first time. The lead single, "Mosika na Miso" (Far from the Eyes), was a tribute to Claudien Likulia, the son of General Norbert Likulia Bolongo, while "Miriam Moleka" was a tribute to Miriam Moleka, a wealthy heiress of the Moleka family who had passed away. Other tracks delve into themes of love such as "Stéphie", as well as covetousness towards him in "Petit frères ya Yesus" and "Droits de l'homme." Agbepa was recognized for his work and a house was constructed for him in Kinshasa's Bandalungwa commune.
During the summer of 1988, he released the six-track album Henriquet, an eponymous homage to Miss Zaire of that year. The album included a guest appearance by Manu Lima and propelled Agbepa to stardom across several countries, including the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Kenya. Lukunku Sampu of the Office Zaïrois de Radio Télévision (OZRT), extolled him as "the biggest current star of Zairian music".
In August 1989, Agbepa released his seventh studio album, Elle et Moi. The album's eponymous lead single is dedicated to his daughter, Minou. Elle et Moi features Agbepa's guitar and bass performances, arranged by Manu Lima. His distinct Tcha Tcho cadence underwent a contemporary transformation in the album. It features a modern sonic palette and a more assertive embodiment of the animating spirit inherent to Congolese music. While in Paris, rumors surfaced of his alleged arrest with drugs, but they were swiftly quelled by Laudert, Agbepa's confidant through a television broadcast.
In 1990, Agbepa released his eighth studio album, "Les prisonniers dorment?". The album was produced by SonoDisc and sold over 100,000 copies worldwide. Gilles Obringer acclaimed the album on his show "Canal Tropical" on Radio France Internationale (RFI). The album won two consecutive awards at the 1991 Trophées de la musique Zaïroise for "Best Songwriter" and "Best Album of The Year".
In February 1992, he released his ninth studio album, Haut De Gamme. The album was produced by SonoDisc and blended his Tcha Tcho, Kwassa Kwassa, and Congolese rumba. The album's lead singles, "Désespoir" and "Koweit Rive Gauches," are devoted to romantic relationships. The chart-topping single "Papa Bonheur," with its animated kwassa kwassa intro segments, catapulted him into stardom in African and European markets. In 2005, Haut De Gamme was featured in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, the only Congolese album to achieve this milestone.
On June 1, 1992, the Agbepa released the band's debut studio album Pas de faux pas, which was produced by SonoDisc. Pas de faux pas was a great success and earned them numerous African tours. To support the album, he embarked on a continent-wide tour and was subsequently invited to perform at the Palais du bord de Mer by President Omar Bongo Ondimba, as well as during the Congolese presidential campaign by President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. Later that year, Agbepa and Jossart N'Yoka Longo were ensnared by the legal apparatus following a summons by the Prosecutor General of Kinshasa, which stemmed from perceived lascivious animations within their songs but were later released.
On August 14, 1993, Agbepa performed at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles to present his forthcoming album, Noblesse Oblige, which was officially released in September 1993. The album sold over 100,000 copies and attained a gold record. That same year, Agbepa toured Kenya and performed at Safari Park Hotel. The album's triumph gave rise to Agbepa's fandom dubbing themselves "koffiettes" and "koffiphiles."
On November 22, 1994, Agbepa released the band's second studio album, Magie, accompanied by music videos shot in the United States and Paris. He celebrated triumphs in Paris, including a successful show at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles and a performance at FNAC Forum. Magie debuted at number 6 in the Top 30 of the FNAC Forum. In December 1994, Agbepa won two consecutive African Music Awards at the Palais des Congrès at the Hotel Ivoire for Best Male Singer and Best Video Clip.
V12, his thirteenth studio album, released on October 9, 1995, earned him a gold record, with sales exceeding 100,000 copies. The album's lead single, "Fouta Djallon," debuted among the top 20 Congolese rumba songs that year. In December, he presented the album during a concert performance at Ivoire InterContinental in Abidjan.
In 1996, he released the album Wake Up, featuring Papa Wemba, to quash rumors of a feud between them.
On May 21, 1997, he released Ultimatum, the band's 3rd studio album, followed by the debut of Loi in December 1997. Produced by SonoDisc, Loi attained a gold record with over 25,000 copies in France and 105,000 internationally. The album's eponymous lead single became the hallmark of the ndombolo dance, making waves across Africa. Driven by producer Ngoyarto's suggestion, Agbepa released his debut compilation "N'Djoli," featuring his early songs with the participation of Papa Wemba, King Kester Emeneya, and Félix Manuaku Waku.
On January 1, 1998, Agbepa released the SonoDisc-produced band's fourth studio album, Droit de Veto, which fused traditional soukous rhythms, ndombolo beats, and Congolese rumba. Droit de Veto was the last album to feature some band members who left the following year to form their ensemble, Quartier Latin Académia in Paris, including Dolce Parabolique Somono (animater), Lebou Kabuya (solo guitarist), Pathy Bass (bassist), Bouro Mpela (vocalist), Sam Tshintu (vocalist), Modogo Abarambwa (vocalist), and Mbochi Lipasa (vocalist). The album's eponymous single became a chart-topping hit in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and gained widespread acclaim across Africa, earning the band their first gold record.
On August 29, Agbepa sold-out the Olympia Hall, becoming the first Congolese artist to do so since Tabu Ley Rochereau in 1970 and Abeti Masikini in 1973. François Bensignor, writing for the French digital library Persée, lauded the event as a "historic musical date for the Congolese community" and commended Agbepa as the "undisputed current leader of Congolese music." Patrick Labesse of Le Monde praised Agbepa as the "king of rumba and soukouss" and noted that he maintained his dominance over all rivals in the "field of Congo-Zairian music."
On November 7, Agbepa sold-out the Zénith de Paris, becoming the first ndombolo solo artist to achieve this feat. He performed a few tracks from his previous albums and engaged in a dance-off with the Haitian band Tabou Combo. To further bolster the album's promotion, he took the stage at the Brixton Academy and clinched the Kora Award for Best Central African Artist later that year.
In November 1999, Agbepa released Attentat, an album titled in homage to the 1998 attacks on American embassies in Africa. Attentat attained a gold record within 2 months, selling over 100,000 copies. Recorded across Paris and South Africa, it stands as a significant achievement across Africa.
On February 19, 2000, Agbepa became the first African solo artist to perform at and sold-out Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy (now Accor Arena), with 17,000 attendees solely through word-of-mouth promotion. Libération reported that over 5,000 people were left outside due to lack of seats. He performed along with his band of sixteen to twenty vocalists and dancers.
On December 26, 2000, Agbepa released the band's 5th album, Force de Frappe, featuring songs from various artists. The album swiftly secured a prominent position on music charts of major radio and TV channels, followed by a tour in West Africa, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Paris, where he performed at Zénith de Paris on July 14, 2001.
Agbepa began recording his album Effrakata while on tour in Paris and Charlotte. While working on the album's production, he performed a concert at the Lincoln Center Festival on July 16 as part of his major American tour. On December 7, Agbepa released his 16-track double album Effrakata, which became ubiquitous, earning him a gold record with sales eclipsing 180,000 copies. Several shows were credited to him, collectively known as the "Western tours." The first leg commenced on September 2 in Geneva and concluded in January 2003 in Paris, with concerts and showcases held in cities such as London and Brussels. Effrakata won him four Kora Awards on November 2, 2002, in South Africa for Best Male Artist of Central Africa, Best Video of Africa, Best Arrangement of Africa, as well as the Jury Special Award, earning him the epithet "Quadra Koraman." On November 16, Agbepa presented his trophies to Kinshasa's governor, Marthe Ngalula Wafuana, Minister of Culture and the Arts, and President Joseph Kabila. Agbepa and Quartier Latin later won seven awards, including Best Album of the Year, Best Presenter for Kérozène, Best Author/Composer, Best Artist-Musician for Koffi Olomidé, Best Singer for Fally Ipupa, Best Orchestra for Quartier Latin, and the Best Song of the Year for their track "Effervescent."
The band's sixth double album, Affaire d'Etat, was released in Paris markets on March 28, 2003, and later made available in the Kinshasa record markets on April 5 in various formats such as K7, compact disc, and Digital Video Disc. It contains 16 tracks and features Fally Ipupa's compositions "Ko-Ko-Ko-Ko," Fofo le Collégien's "Inch'Allah," Bouro Mpela's "Calvaire," Soleil Wanga's "Drapeau Blanc," Jipson Butukondolo's "Biblia," Lola Muana's "Tendrement," Deo Brando's "Tous Pepele," Montana Kamenga's "Love Story," among others. Produced by Obouo Productions, the album won the Kora Award for Best African Group, shared with Ivorian ensemble Anti Palu. On April 12, he support the album with a concert at the Zénith de Paris with his Quartier Latin. To further advance the album's promotion, Agbepa and Quartier Latin embarked on a tour of major U.S. cities and Canada. The band also toured the Republic of Congo in late July 2003 to prepare for their participation in the Pan-African Music Festival (Fespam) held jointly in Brazzaville and Kinshasa from August 2 to 8, 2003. Agbepa was awarded the "Kouyate Souri Kanta," an individual prize, for his outstanding performance.
Following his North American tour, Agbepa introduced his forthcoming album, Monde Arabe, during a concert held in Kinshasa. Initially slated for December 2003, the album was released on December 7, 2004. In the wake of SonoDisc's closure, he self-produced the 18-track double album, distributed by Sonima, and it was a massive success. It even sparked a fashion trend called "Sabot Monde Arabe," which was a pair of round-toed slippers decorated with pearls, covering the phalanges and metatarsals of the foot. However, one month after the album's debut, the Congolese Censorship Commission prohibited Agbepa from television airing due to album's three singles: "Alya", "Silivi", and "Esili".
On February 12, 2005, he took part in a Valentine's Day celebration with Quartier Latin at Maïsha Park in Kinshasa, bringing Tshala Muana and Madilu System onto the stage. On March 30, he performed at the Royal Festival Hall in London, followed by performances at the Music Ebène Festival in Dakar in April and at the fifth edition of Festival Panafricain de Musique (FESPAN) in July. On December 4, Agbepa won the Kora Awards for Lifetime Achievement Award in South Africa.
On December 5, 2005, Agbepa released a 2-track maxi-single titled Boma Nga N'Elengi.
In early 2006, his previous album, Magie, was reissued by producer Suave, which included the best tracks from Agbepa's career. However, many fans were dissatisfied with the Suave label, as the 2-page booklet included with each CD was insufficient.
In September 2006, Agbepa began recording the band's seventh studio album, Danger de Mort, at Ndiaye studio in Kinshasa, while also producing an advertising single titled "Swi" for Bracongo. Danger de Mort was released on October 13, 2006, which became the band's last album due to consecutive departures of several musicians. He supported the album with a live show at Radio Television Groupe Avenir on May 27, 2007, followed by a performance at the Zénith de Paris on October 13, 2007.
In early 2008, Agbepa announced that his unnamed album was nearing completion and scheduled for release in May of that year. In an interview with Le Potentiel, Agbepa stated, "My album comes out around mid-May? It has no title. I simply signed it 'the priest's album.'" The album included collaborations with Cindy Le Coeur in at least nine songs. He later teamed up with Youssou N'Dour on the single "Festival" and then toured Paris to collaborate with various artists on the album, most notably Lokua Kanza in the song "Diabolos," Maïka Munan, Paty Moleso, Mbetenge Domingo, Guilain Tshimanga, Mavungu on the drum, Olivier Tamba, and others. In March, he began recording the album's music videos in Atlanta. The album was already selling to distributors and sold over thousands of copies in a time-lapse.
The album was officially released on August 7, 2008, with the title Bord Ezanga Kombo. It sold 60,000 copies within four months and achieved a gold record. To promote the album, he sold-out Palais de la Culture d'Abidjan, Complexe Sportif de Yopougon, and Centre Wallonie Bruxelles. Bord Ezanga Kombo faced censorship by the DRC's Commission Nationale de Censure (CNS) on January 23, 2009, but was de-censored on February 23, 2009. In March 2009, he participated in the World Festival of Black Arts in Dakar alongside Manu Dibango, Issa Hayatou, Aïcha Koné, Salif Keita, Akon, Pape Diouf, and Sepp Blatter.
In September 2009, Agbepa was scheduled to perform at the opening of the 29th SADC summit but was excluded due to his non-participation in the summit's opening song, which was recorded in Kinshasa with the participation of other Congolese artists. He subsequently expressed his umbrage during the summit's commencement: "I do not regret it, but I am against the person who contacted the musicians to make this song. We are all Congolese musicians, so why this discrimination?".
On October 17, 2009, he partook in a VIP concert at Pullman Kinshasa Grand Hotel. The concert was organized by Christian Lusakueno in tribute to Franco Luambo, bringing a lineup of former OK Jazz members and contemporary rumba artists, including Malage de Lugendo, Papa Noël Nedule, Wuta Mayi, Edo Nganga, Michel Boyibanda, Jossart N'Yoka Longo, Bozi Boziana, Manda Chante, Papa Wemba, Tshala Muana, M'bilia Bel, Simaro Lutumba, and Bana Ok. Later that same year, he released "La Chicotte à Papa," a 7-track maxi-single.
In June 2011, Agbepa's album Abracadabra was pirated before its planned release on December 23, 2011. The music video for the album's lead single, "Double Mbonda", had already been broadcast clandestinely in certain bars, local channels, and on Trace Africa. Agbepa directly accused Les Combattants, a group of demonstrators against artists supporting president Joseph Kabila, of being behind the piracy. He alleged that they aimed to tarnish his musical career by disseminating all the songs across the internet. His producer ultimately decided to release the album on January 10, 2012, as a countermeasure against piracy. Agbepa also distributed his new album for free in Kinshasa. However, he faced accusations of impropriety due to certain lyrics in the track "Jeune Pato."
In May 2013, he began recording his upcoming album, 13ème Apôtre, announcing that it would be his career's 20th and final album. During an interview with Radio Okapi, he explained that he sees himself as the thirteenth Apostle of Jesus and named his album accordingly. He also expressed his belief that black apostles are needed and referred to Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Bob Marley, and Muhammad Ali as people who could have been Apostles of Jesus. In mid-2014, Agbepa commenced filming the album's music videos for select tracks and invited collaborators to partake in the album. While working on his album, controversy arose over the involvement of Ferré Gola and Fally Ipupa?both prominent rivals from the 5th generation of Congolese music. He also quarrels with artist JB Mpiana, who denigrated him "Old Ebola"; Agbepa ingeniously reclaimed the slur used it in banners promoting his forthcoming album's presentations. On October 21, 2014, Kinshasa police apprehended Agbepa for his use of "Old Ebola," which Colonel Pierrot Mwana-Mputu, the director of information and communication for the police, deemed immoral and against the international community's efforts to combat the hemorrhagic fever.
Following his release from jail, he resumed working on the album and released the five-track Extended Play (EP) Bana Zebola in June 2015. 13ème Apôtre was officially released on October 13, 2015, and sold over 22,000 copies in one day and 46,000 copies in a week. It topped the charts, debuting at number one in the French iTunes and peaking at number 15th in the iTunes World ranking. The album's lead single, "Selfie" (alternatively known as "Ekoti té"), became a viral sensation with over a million views on YouTube in just three weeks. The hashtag #OpérationSelfie gained traction across various social media platforms and was embraced by renowned personalities like French singer Matt Pokora, Ivorian football player Didier Drogba, and French-Congolese football player Blaise Matuidi. In recognition of his triumphs, Trace Africa dedicated the month of October to Agbepa. Several programs were aired, retracing his journey, and a 25-minute documentary that offer insights into his daily life and career. The French channels TV5Monde and France 24, along with other media worldwide from Canada, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Senegal, the United Kingdom, and the United States, also extensively covered the "Selfie" phenomenon.
Following his one-year hiatus from music, Agbepa resurfaced and announced to La Prospérité that his forthcoming album, Nyataquance, was nearing completion. He also told the press that he was actively working on the album's eponymous lead single. To promote the album, he released the album's lead single on March 8, 2017, which synchronically coincided with the commemoration of International Women's Day. Reviewing for Jeune Afrique, Leo Pajon, described the album as a plea for "forgiveness" regarding the charges against him in France, which include "raping and kidnapping of a minor", along with an incident at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where he allegedly booted one of his dancers. In an interview with the Cameroonian TV show, Agbepa stated, "Many women are angry with me; I wanted to ask them for forgiveness." The album includes the single "Pardon," a paean dedicated to women, and a homage to his father, daughter, mother, and wife. To further support his album, he organized a Women's Day concert at Hôtel Invest in Kinshasa, featuring a joint performance with Fally Ipupa on stage. On July 13, 2018, he headlined a major "Koffi: Encore et Toujours" concert at Grand Hôtel.
Agbepa was scheduled to perform in Johannesburg on June 28, 2019, at the Gallagher Convention Centre and in Cape Town on June 29 at the Shimmy Beach Club. However, the concerts were called off due to allegations of "violence against women and gender-related violence". He subsequently promoted the album in Brussels in January 2020 and visited the European Parliament to defend his foundation, Frères de Terre, assisting disadvantaged populations in the DRC. He also deliberated on the insecurity concerns in Beni and outlined plans for a major concert in France.
In March 2020, he released the single "Coronavirus Assassin" to urge people to stay indoors due to the widespread outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The song was sung in Lingala and French and attributed the pandemic to the "anger of God", stating that the "assassin's name is Coronavirus" and that it "cannot be stopped by witchcraft". The music video accentuates the pandemic's effects worldwide, where hundreds of thousands of people have been infected. It shows several police vehicles and ambulances transporting patients to hospitals for medical treatment.
Agbepa was slated to perform at París La Défense Arena on February 13, 2021, to promote his forthcoming album, Légende Millénium, but the event was postponed to November 27, 2021. One month before the rescheduled date, the concert was canceled for health reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2021, Agbepa announced on his YouTube that his album Légende Millénium was almost complete. Légende Millénium was planned to feature guest artists such as Tiwa Savage, Fally Ipupa, Gally Garvey, Ninho, Damso, Gaz Mawete, Hiro Le Coq, Davido, and Inoss'B. To promote the album, he released "Mon Amour," a rumba-infused promotional single featuring Cameroonian singer Charlotte Dipanda. Légende Millénium was released on November 22, 2021, and Agbepa eulogized it as "the album of the century." He subsequently performed two concerts in Goma to commemorate his band's 35th anniversary, with proceeds from the shows going to "victims of rebel attacks and natural disasters".
In November 2022, Agbepa released Légende Ed. Diamond, the second volume of Légende Millénium with an additional 14 tracks added to the original list. It melds traditional Congolese rumba, ndombolo and urban music. Reviewing for Akum Radio FM, Donald described the album as a "cultural broth that brings together all age groups".
In 2003, Agbepa's album Affaire d'Etat thrust him into feuds with his rivals when he flaunted his previous Kora Awards with incendiary lyrics on his song, provocatively asserting, "Soki obimi moto ya Suka, ko boma mwinda te" (if you come out last, do not turn off the light), attacking JB Mpiana's 2001 Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy live show, which was not sold-out. Meanwhile, some fans of Wenge Musica Maison Mère contended that Quartier Latin plagiarized Werrason's allegorical tale of Mboloko (hare) and Mbwa (dog). There were also further allegations that the album's cover and its introductory segment bore resemblances to Werrason's 2002 Zenith de Paris performance.
In May 2005, Agbepa stirred up controversy while marketing his album Monde Arabe by adopting the sobriquet "Benedict XVI". Despite the latter's recent appointment as head of the Catholic Church, the move was "strongly" censured by the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deeming it discourteous towards the sovereign pontiff.
In early March 2009, a feud erupted between Agbepa and his former bandleader and mentor Papa Wemba when Papa Wemba verbally assaulted Agbepa during a YouTube interview on the show "Chez Francis" hosted by Francis Kankonde. Papa Wemba alleged that Agbepa pirated the album Wake Up. Agbepa filed a complaint against Papa Wemba at the Tribunal de Paix Ngaliema in Kinshasa. Following the second hearing on March 19th, Papa Wemba faced a potential sentence of 8 days to 6 months in prison for slanderous denunciation and damaging imputation, under DRC's Article 74 of the Penal Code. The prosecution sought an estimated $1 million. However, Agbepa withdrew his complaint against Papa Wemba on March 25.
In early November 2017, Agbepa was verbally attacked by Ferré Gola during a YouTube interview. Agbepa filed a complaint against Ferré Gola for insult and defamation. On November 21, Ferré Gola was held in custody for 24 hours at the Criminal Record in Gombe. However, on November 22, the judicial court found no evidence for Agbepa's complaint, and Ferré Gola was released.
In 2012, Agbepa allegedly assaulted one of his producer for abuse and no respect of contract and received a suspended three-month sentence.
In July 2016, while on a concert trip to Kenya, Agbepa was caught on camera kicking one of his female dancers. The action was widely condemned and led to the suspension of his concert as the video went viral. On his return to his home country, he was arrested five days later at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, allegedly for the same unpunished action. He was subsequently jailed for five days without judgement and released with no explanation. However, it was later revealed that the former Congolese First Lady, Mrs Olive Lembe di Sita, was behind the arrest because of her association for women's protection against violence and rape.
In 2018, Agbepa was ordered for arrest of a photographer in Zambia, he left the country before arrest.
In 2019, he was found guilty by a French court of statutory rape of one of his former dancers when she was 15 years old. He was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence in absentia, as he did not attend court in France.
His two concerts in South Africa were canceled due to his alleged offense. In September, the DRC's censorship commission banned his songs and performances, with television refraining from broadcasting his eight singles from the Nyataquance album.
On October 25, 2021, Agbepa appeared at the Versailles Court of Appeal in Paris for his appeal trial on charges of rape and kidnapping. During the hearing, the prosecutor requested an eight-year sentence while Agbepa's lawyers pleaded for release. The court adjourned the proceedings and scheduled a date for deliberation, which was scheduled for December 13. Agbepa was subsequently acquitted of the sexual assault charges but was sentenced to 18 months in jail with a three-year probationary suspension for the sequestration charges. The acquittal on the sexual assault charges was given "with the benefit of the doubt", as there were "evolving, sometimes contradictory statements" from the complainants.
On May 3, 2003, sixteen people were reported dead at the Stade de l'Amitié in Cotonou during Agbepa's performance caused by a stampede resulting from the influx of people. Le Phare's reports that the concert was poorly coordinated, lacking adequate security and proper podium setup. Critically, only one out of fifteen stadium entrances was accessible, and the stadium was amid renovations in preparation for the 2005 African Youth Championship, making it unsuitable for Agbepa's musical presentation. Agbepa later paid a posthumous tribute to the victims with his single "Les Martyrs du Tchatcho."
Agbepa is one of the greatest Congolese and most popular African artists of all time. He has acquainted numerous up-and-coming artists, some of whom have since vacated his Quartier Latin ensemble and gone solo, such as Fele Mudogo, Sam Tshintu, Suzuki Luzubu 4x4, Soleil Wanga, Bouro Mpela, Fally Ipupa, Montana Kamenga, and Ferré Gola. Suzuki Luzubu 4x4 has made a few reappearances in specific Quartier Latin shows, along with recruits like Cindy Le Coeur, a soprano female vocalist.
On February 14, 2022, President Felix Tshisekedi appointed him as the country's Cultural Ambassador.