At the start of the 2010s, these disabled and penniless Congolese musicians, living in the streets and circulating in wheelchairs aged out of age, had turned rumba upside down, inflamed European venues and wowed the Cannes festival.
Read also Benda Bilili!
Their style was unique, the life of Ricky, Coco, Théo, Djunana ... overwhelming.
A first album,
Très très fort
, was released in 2009, another,
Bouger le monde
, followed in 2012. Beyond Europe, they gave concerts in Japan, Australia, the United States ...
Then the beautiful story ends in 2013. The group breaks up, the end of a tour is canceled.
"
We were not really separated, there was a bit of disagreement
", wants to believe today Roger, a former kid of the street who, while being valid, joined the group at its beginnings, by playing of a funny little instrument made from a tin can.
In 2011, between two tours, Roger described how everything had changed for him.
"
Life is good,
" he said.
Now, at 35 and with six children, “
it's hard
”.
After the purchases of houses, clothes, cars, the money for tours and records melted, life became difficult for everyone again.
About four years ago, on the advice of the head of a humanitarian NGO, they “
reunited
”.
He "brought
us together, made us play together,
" explains Theo, one of the group's singers, met with all the other members at the home of their leader, Ricky.
The old chef is 70 years old now.
His gaze is weary, but he claims to have the energy to resume the thread of the adventure suddenly stopped.
Every Thursday, they meet there, in Ndjili, a popular district of Kinshasa, in the shade of a tarp stretched over the courtyard, to create new songs, rehearse, roam around.
A mural represents Ricky at the time of his splendor.
One of the latest headlines talks about the Covid, the pandemic and containment.
The words in Lingala are linked, neighbors attracted by the music push the corrugated iron gate.
Erase the board
A new album,
Erase the Table
, was released, but received little response.
"
We would like to make a new documentary
", so that we can tell the world that "
Staff Benda Bilili is back,
" says Live Mindanda, the staff's public relations officer.
But the group also intends to fight to recover its share of the receipts drawn from the film which made them famous, “
Benda Bilili
”, presented in 2010 in the documentary category at the Cannes festival.
Since all this time, they have not received anything from broadcasts and theatrical entries, they assure.
"
They are begging, while they have rights that can change their lives
", indignant Live Mindanda.
Roger, Ricky and the others swear they are not at war with anyone.
Not everyone agrees on the procedure to be followed to recover this money.
“
But music is one thing, our rights are another,
” says Theo.
"
We are going to sue the producers before the Paris Commercial Court, and seek damages
," explains the lawyer now responsible for bringing their case to court, Me Mizou Bilongo Nsanda.
Among the directors and producers targeted, Renaud Barret explains that he himself did not receive his due until very late, after nearly ten years of conflict between distributors.
Around 25,000 euros, he says.
The contract provided that Staff Benda Bilili would receive 10% of the proceeds.
"
We will write them their check, of course
", assures the French director, author of several other documentaries on Kinshasa, the sprawling city which takes you in its whirlwind of music and street art.
The meeting with the group was exceptional but that story is over.
Renaud no longer sees Ricky.
The Staff are looking for a new life.
10 years after their glory days, Staff Benda Bilili dreams of returning to the forefront.
Arsene MPIANA / AFP