Pierre Kwenders
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Pierre Kwenders is the stage name of José Louis Modabi, born October 31, 1985, in Kinshasa, Zaire, a Congolese-Canadian musician. Kwenders immigrated to Canada with his mother as a teenager. After following his mother to Montreal when he was 16, he got his first taste of performing with the Chorale Afrika Intshiyetu, a Congolese Catholic vocal ensemble. Kwenders, who sings and raps in English, French, Lingala and Tshiluba, is noted for blending both African music and western pop music influences, including hip hop and electronic music, into his style. Before pursuing music full-time, he attended university to pursue a degree in accounting and became a tax collector for Revenu Québec. He first attracted widespread attention for his guest contributions to Radio Radio's 2012 album 'Havre de Grace.' He released the EPs 'Whiskey & Tea' and 'African Dream' in 2013, and followed up with 'Le Dernier empereur bantou,' his first full-length album, in 2014. His 2014 album was a shortlisted nominee for the Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year and a longlisted nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize. Kwenders' album 'José Louis and the Paradox of Love' won him the 2022 Polaris Music Prize. He is also one of the co-founders of the artist collective Moonshine. Following the release of 'Makanda,' Kwenders came out as gay.
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