Verckys Kiamuangana Mateta

Georges Kiamuangana Mateta (19 May 1944 – 13 October 2022), known professionally as Verckys, was a Congolese saxophonist, composer, producer, bandleader, and record executive. A significant figure in the evolution of 20th-century Congolese and African popular music, he is referred to as "Vévé", "the man with the iron lungs" and "Wazola Nzimbu". Kiamuangana was the second Congolese artist to establish and independently manage a record label, Éditions Vévé, through which he brought many Congolese musicians to prominence, including Zaïko Langa Langa, Koffi Olomide, Empire Bakuba, Afrisa International, OK Jazz, Langa Langa Stars, Victoria Eleison, Historia Musica, Orchestre Kiam, and others.

Georges Kiamuangana began his career with Kinshsa-based orchestra Los Cantina and subsequently performed with several prominent groups, such as Fauvette Kabangu's Jamel National, Paul Ebengo Dewayon's Congo Jazz, Gérard Kazembe's Oui Fifi, and Johnny Bokelo's Conga Succès. He garnered widespread acclaim after joining Franco Luambo's OK Jazz in 1963, where his saxophone solos became integral to hits such as "Bolingo ya Bougie", "Polo le Chipeur", and "Mokoloya Mitano Na Monaki Yo". He also made significant contributions as a composer, writing some of OK Jazz's most groundbreaking songs, including "Chérie O Changer", "Oh Madame de la Maison", "Mobali Na Ngai", and "Gina Simba Ngai". Kiamuangana left OK Jazz in February 1969 and founded Orchestre Vévé by April of that year. The group quickly emerged as one of Zaire's most commercially successful recording and live acts.

In 1972, he established Kinshasa's most modern recording studio, Vévé Studio, and in 1978, he inaugurated the entertainment complex known as Vévé Centre. Kiamuangana also served as the president of UMUZA (Union des Musiciens Zaïrois), succeeding Franco Luambo at the end of 1978. As his business ventures flourished, Kiamuangana's performance schedule diminished, ultimately leading to Orchestre Vévé's gradual dissolution.