Gaz Mawete
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Gael Kapia Mawete (born 30 September 1991), known professionally as Gaz Mawete, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, record producer, record executive, and bandleader. He is the founder and CEO of the record label BNB Records, which also operates as his backing band. Regarded as a central figure in contemporary Congolese urban music, he is often referred to as "Boyika Machine". His music is a synthesis of R&B, Congolese rumba, soul, ndombolo, Afrobeats, and traditional folklore.
Born in Masina, Kinshasa, Mawete first gained public attention in 2011 as a contestant on Vodacom Congo's Super Hook-Up TV, where his talent was discovered. After a series of early singles, he rose to prominence in Kinshasa through the critically and commercially successful singles "Etali Nga Te" (2015) and "Mukolo Ya Zoba" (2016), which were later featured on his seven-track EP Bombanda, released on 27 July 2017, and supported by the singles "Pika", "Lisolo", "Na Belaka", "Toko Tik'o Te", and "Bombanda". In November 2017, he won the Vodacom Best of the Best All Star contest with his standout performance of "Pika", leading to a contract with the French-Congolese label Bomayé Musik. On 22 December 2017, he released the ndombolo-infused single "Paulina", which received him a nomination for Best Male Artist in Central Africa at the All Africa Music Awards. His breakthrough came with the 2018 Congolese rumba hit "Olingi Nini", which amassed over a million YouTube views within two months.
On 13 December 2019, Mawete released his six-track EP Tsunga Avant L'Album, which was supported by "Game Over", as well as "Zuwa", "Je suis choqué", "Milinga Likolo", "Nako", and "Kibokolo". On 21 February 2020, Mawete premiered "C'est Raté", featuring Fally Ipupa, which won Video of the Year at the African Muzik Magazine Awards. That year, he also secured nominations for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards and Best Francophone Act at the MTV Africa Music Awards. In 2022, Mawete released his debut studio album, Puzzle, which yielded his highest commercial success with its breakout single, "500", featuring Chily, topping Boomplay's annual Top Male Songs chart in the DRC. After his contract with Bomayé Musik expired that same year, he established BNB Records and released his second album, Gaz Mawete, on 23 August 2024.
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Gaz Mawete - 2024-08-23 00:00:00
Puzzle - 2022-03-04 00:00:00
Tana - 2025-06-20 00:00:00
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