Victoria Kimani made a remarkable appearance at Ferre Gola’s monumental concert held at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa on June 24, 2023, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career.
According to Kimani, this performance stands out as she graced the largest audience she has ever encountered, a moment she cherishes deeply.
In an exclusive interview with a local publisher, Victoria Kimani shed light on how this extraordinary opportunity came to fruition.
Her association with the Lingala maestro traces back to 2015, when Ferre Gola visited Kenya, culminating in the collaboration on the hit song ‘Tucheze’.
“About eight years ago, I did a song with Ferre Gola titled ‘Tucheze’ after he visited Kenya. We recorded ‘Tucheze’ and shot the video the next day. The song was a hit, and I never anticipated its impact,” she explained.
The resonance with the Congolese audience proved to be extraordinary for Victoria Kimani, as Ferre Gola himself attested to the song’s pivotal role in revitalizing his music career.
“Seven years later, in June 2023, Ferre had a concert at one of the biggest stadiums (Stade des Martyrs), and he insisted I perform. He said the song ‘Tucheze’ helped revive his music career after a hiatus. This was my first time performing in Kinshasa, and I was blown away by their love for music. It was the biggest crowd I’ve ever performed for, and the support was overwhelming. It was a life-changing experience,” Kimani shared.
Despite initial apprehensions about the language barrier, Victoria Kimani was pleasantly surprised by the profound connection the audience forged with her music.
“I knew the crowd would be big, but not that big. Because of the language barrier, I thought they wouldn’t connect with me as much,” she admitted.
Looking ahead, Kimani disclosed that the concert has paved the way for future collaborations, with the experience inspiring her to create songs in French and Lingala to resonate with her newfound audience.
“I managed to connect with more artists for my forthcoming album. I even made a song in French and Lingala. It’s great to have a song they can understand,” she remarked.
Reflecting on her impactful collaborations, Kimani singled out Ferre Gola as a standout figure, acknowledging the pivotal role their partnership played in expanding her reach within the music industry.
“Ferre Gola is definitely one of the most memorable. I wouldn’t have broken into the market without that collaboration. It opened up such a great audience for me. Tekno produced one of my great songs and that also opened doors for me in Nigeria, and Diamond Platnumz and Ommy Dimpoz opened up the Tanzanian market for me,” she concluded.
Related: Victoria Kimani is the BIGGEST Female Artiste in East Africa, let me tell you why!
