Ferre Gola

Hervé Gola Bataringe (born 3 March 1976), known professionally as Ferré Gola, is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Revered as "Jesus of Nuances", he is known for his tenor vocals and is considered a central figure in the evolution of 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 band Rumba des Jeunes. In 1994, he was spotted and recruited by Werrason into the soukous band Wenge Musica. Following the band's dissolution in December 1997, Bataringe followed Werrason to the offshoot group, Wenge Musica Maison Mère. He gained recognition with his smash hit "Vita-Imana", which appeared on Wenge Musica Maison Mère'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 Les Marquis de Maison Mère 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 number one, two, and three 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. In July 2025, Bataringe was ranked third on Billboard France's chart of the most-streamed Congolese artists in France, limited to those who began their careers in either the DRC or the Republic of the Congo.