Pierre Kwenders

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Pierre Kwenders

Background information
Birth name	José Louis Modabi
Born	(1985-10-31) October 31, 1985 (age 39)
Origin	Kinshasa, Zaire
Genres	pop music world music
Years active	2012 (2012)–present

Website	www.pierrekwenders.com

Pierre Kwenders is the stage name of José Louis Modabi^[1] (born October 31, 1985, in Kinshasa, Zaire), a Congolese-Canadian musician.^[2] His 2014 album Le Dernier empereur bantou was a shortlisted nominee for the Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2015,^[2] and a longlisted nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.^[3] Kwenders, who sings and raps in English, French, Lingala and Tshiluba,^[1] is noted for blending both African music and western pop music influences, including hip hop and electronic music, into his style.^[1]

Career

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After immigrating to Canada with his mother as a teenager, he first attracted widespread attention for his guest contributions to Radio Radio's 2012 album Havre de Grace.^[4]

He released the EPs Whiskey & Tea and African Dream in 2013,^[4] and followed up with Le Dernier empereur bantou, his first full-length album, in 2014.^[1] He supported the album with a cross-Canada tour in 2015.^[2] His song "Mardi Gras", a collaboration with Jacques Alphonse "Jacobus" Doucet of Radio Radio, was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 SOCAN Songwriting Prize in the francophone division.^[5]

He collaborated with Boogat on "Londres", a track on Boogat's 2015 album Neo-Reconquista.^[6]

His second full-length album, Makanda at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time, was released in 2017.^[7] The album was a shortlisted finalist for the 2018 Polaris Music Prize.^[8]

In 2018, he had his first acting role in the film Les Salopes, or the Naturally Wanton Pleasure of Skin.

Following the release of Makanda, Kwenders came out as gay.^[9]

He won the 2022 Polaris Music Prize for his album José Louis and the Paradox of Love.^[10]