Kofi Olomide was born on a friday 13th of august 1956, in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was nicknamed 'Antoine Makila Mabe' meaning, 'Bad blooded Antony'. Young Antoine grew up in a fairly comfortable surrounding, but there were no musicians in his family. He used to have fun working on familiar, popular tunes giving them his own lyrics, changing the rhythms. A neighbour of his realised that he possessed a true talent and encouraged by teaching him the guitar.