Ferré Gola

Hervé Gola Bataringe (born 3 March 1976), known professionally as Ferré Gola or Ferre Gola, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Revered as the "Jesus de Nuance", he is regarded as one of the most significant figures of the fifth-generation Congolese rumba. His lyrics predominantly revolve around themes of love, social support, and interpersonal relationships.

Bataringe began his music career as a member of the Kinshasa-based Rumba des Jeunes ensemble. In 1994, he was spotted and recruited by Werrason into the soukous band Wenge Musica. Following the band's dissolution in December 1997, Bataringe joined the newly formed Wenge Musica Maison Mère. He rose to prominence with his breakthrough single "Vita-Imana," which was featured on the band's 1999 album Solola Bien. In 2004, Bataringe co-founded the band Les Marquis de Maison Mère alongside Bill Clinton Kalonji and JDT Mulopwe. Their double album, Miracles, garnered continental acclaim, and the band received a nomination at the Kora Awards.

In 2005, Bataringe joined Koffi Olomidé's Quartier Latin International before venturing into his solo career in 2006 with his debut studio album, Sens Interdit. In 2009, he released his second studio album, Qui est derrière toi, which gained widespread popularity across Africa and earned a gold record from SACEM, selling over 110,000 copies. In December 2011, he released a three-track maxi-single titled Avant-goût, which earned him a nomination for Best Male Artist of Central Africa at the 2012 Kora Awards. Bataringe's third studio album, Boite Noire, released on 19 July 2013, sold 10,000 copies in five hours in Paris. It debuted in the top two spots on the iTunes bestsellers in the World Music category in France, Canada, and Belgium. It also peaked at ninth and twelfth positions in South Africa. In 2014, Bataringe released a five-track maxi-single titled Dérangement, which earned him a nomination for Best Rumba Artist at the 2015 Afroca Music Awards. In July 2015, he won the Best Male Video at the Bilily Awards and was nominated for Best Central African Male Artist at the African Muzik Magazine Awards.

Bataringe's fourth studio album, QQJD, released on 9 June 2017, debuted at No. 1, 2, and 3 on the iTunes World Music category on its release day. On 4 March 2017, he won the Best African Artist at the Canal 2'Or. On 25 March 2022, he released his fifth studio album, Dynastie Volume 1, which amassed over one million streams on Spotify within 21 days of its debut and peaked at number-one on the Best Sellers category on French Amazon Music. Dynastie Volume 1 also won the accolade for Best African Melody Album from Sony Music Entertainment Africa. On 13 October 2023, he released his sixth studio album, Dynastie 2 Volume 1. On 26 October 2023, he issued Dynastie 2 Volume 2.