Pierre Kwenders
From Kinshasa
Popularity
Pierre Kwenders has one upcoming show in the Netherlands: on November 13, 2026 at Parallel, Amsterdam.
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About
Also known as: José Louis Modabi
Pierre Kwenders, born José Louis Modabi in Kinshasa, is a Congolese Canadian musician who moves between worlds with genuine fluency. He raps and sings in English, French, Lingala and Tshiluba, weaving African music together with hip hop and electronic influences in a way that feels organic rather than experimental. His 2014 debut album Le Dernier empereur bantou put him on the map, earning a Juno Award nomination and a Polaris Music Prize longlisting. He followed it up in 2017 with Makanda at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time, which made the Polaris shortlist. His third album, José Louis and the Paradox of Love, went all the way, winning the 2022 Polaris Music Prize. Beyond his solo work, Kwenders is a co founder of the artist collective Moonshine and has collaborated with acts including Radio Radio and Boogat.
