Pierre Kwenders is the stage name of José Louis Modabi (born October
31, 1985 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo), a
Congolese-Canadian musician. His 2014 album Le Dernier empereur bantou
was a shortlisted nominee for the Juno Award for World Music Album of
the Year at the Juno Awards of 2015, and a longlisted nominee for the
2015 Polaris Music Prize. Kwenders, who sings and raps in English,
French, Lingala and Tshiluba, is noted for blending both African music
and western pop music influences, including hip hop and electronic
music, into his style.After immigrating to Canada with his mother as a
teenager, he first attracted widespread attention for his guest
contributions to Radio Radio's 2012 album Havre de Grace.He released
the EPs Whiskey & Tea and African Dream in 2013, and followed up with
Le Dernier empereur bantou, his first full-length album, in 2014. He
supported the album with a cross-Canada tour in 2015. His song "Mardi
Gras", a collaboration with Jacques Alphonse "Jacobus" Doucet of Radio
Radio, was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 SOCAN Songwriting Prize
in the francophone division.
31, 1985 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo), a
Congolese-Canadian musician. His 2014 album Le Dernier empereur bantou
was a shortlisted nominee for the Juno Award for World Music Album of
the Year at the Juno Awards of 2015, and a longlisted nominee for the
2015 Polaris Music Prize. Kwenders, who sings and raps in English,
French, Lingala and Tshiluba, is noted for blending both African music
and western pop music influences, including hip hop and electronic
music, into his style.After immigrating to Canada with his mother as a
teenager, he first attracted widespread attention for his guest
contributions to Radio Radio's 2012 album Havre de Grace.He released
the EPs Whiskey & Tea and African Dream in 2013, and followed up with
Le Dernier empereur bantou, his first full-length album, in 2014. He
supported the album with a cross-Canada tour in 2015. His song "Mardi
Gras", a collaboration with Jacques Alphonse "Jacobus" Doucet of Radio
Radio, was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 SOCAN Songwriting Prize
in the francophone division.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.