One had to chuckle when, in 2004, Jean Goubald was crowned “Newcomer of the Year” by the Association of Congolese Music Chroniclers. The title is most often bestowed on those young in age, or new to the musical scene. Jean Goubald, born Kalala Midibu Jean, is neither of those. A quarter of a century ago, while still a student at the University of Kinshasa, he surprised and impressed Papa Wemba with his guitar playing at a student orchestral performance. Afterwards, Nkuru paid a public homage to him and did no less than to take him in his group.

Goubald is an authentic genius, and a true nephew — both via family and artistically — of his uncle, the famous guitarist Dr. Nico Kasanda.

 

Kasanda’s music was truly atypical. Harmony and melody were always present, but just not quite like the others, always offering a slight twist on the traditional.

Jean recognized a certain success with the Okwess group, assembled with friends of his (Jupiter, Shomming, Mastaki) from Lemba (a Kinshasa neighborhood) and after the group broke up Jean decided to strike out on his own in a new direction and on his own terms.

Going forward he vowed to sing while being accompanied by guitar. All the great ones of Kinshasa — from Papa Wemba to Koffi Olomide — acknowledged the extraordinary talent of the singer with a solid voice, impeccable diction and infallible rhymes. Having found a producer for his first album Anatomic Bomb, Goubald is poised to take past and current success to even further heights.