| Pierre Kwenders | |
| Birth Name: | José Louis Modabi |
| Birth Date: | 31 October 1985 |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Origin: | Kinshasa, Zaire |
| Genre: | pop music world music |
| Years Active: | –present |
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, 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.
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, and followed up with Le Dernier empereur bantou, his first full-length album, in 2014. He supported the album with a cross-Canada tour in 2015. 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]