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Congolese singer Papa Wemba dies after collapsing on stage Congolese singer Papa Wemba dies after collapsing on stage
(35 minutes later)
Papa Wemba, the world music star known as the “king of Congolese rumba”, has died after collapsing on stage during a concert.Papa Wemba, the world music star known as the “king of Congolese rumba”, has died after collapsing on stage during a concert.
The 66-year-old singer collapsed mid-performance at the Femua festival of urban music in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Saturday night. The 66-year-old singer collapsed at the Femua festival of urban music in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Saturday night.
On Sunday, the organisers confirmed his death, extending condolences to his family “and the world of culture”. The organisers confirmed his death on Sunday, extending condolences to his family “and the world of culture”.
Baudouin Banza Mukalay, Democratic Republic of Congo culture minister, said: “It is a great loss for Congo and for all of Africa. He was a self-made man, a role model for Congolese youth.” Baudouin Banza Mukalay, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s culture minister, said: “It is a great loss for Congo and for all of Africa. He was a self-made man, a role model for Congolese youth.”
Senagalese superstar Youssou N’dour also paid tribute to Wemba. He posted a video of them on Twitter performing together underneath the words: “Heavy heart, heavy, really heavy. Rest in peace the artist.” The Senagalese superstar Youssou N’dour also paid tribute to Wemba. He posted a video of the two of them on Twitter performing together underneath the words: “Heavy heart, heavy, really heavy. Rest in peace the artist.”
Video footage showed Wemba, wearing a bold black and white patterned tunic and oversized bowler hat, falling to the floor during a song and musicians and backing singers running to his aid.
Video footage showed Wemba, wearing a bold black and white patterned tunic and oversized bowler hat, falling to the floor during a song and musicians and backing singers running to his aid. The father-of-six was taken to a nearby clinic but could not be resuscitated. Wemba had appeared to be in good health just days earlier when he met journalists at the beginning of the music festival. The cause of death was not immediately known. The father-of-six was taken to a nearby clinic but could not be resuscitated. Wemba had appeared to be in good health just days earlier, when he met journalists at the beginning of the music festival. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Le CG #FEMUA9 a le regret d'annoncer le décès de PAPA WEMBA, dû à un malaise sur scène dans la nuit du 23-24/04/2016 pic.twitter.com/DDPyR5D459Le CG #FEMUA9 a le regret d'annoncer le décès de PAPA WEMBA, dû à un malaise sur scène dans la nuit du 23-24/04/2016 pic.twitter.com/DDPyR5D459
Wemba was born Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in former Zaire, then the Belgian Congo. He began singing in a church choir but burst on to the local music scene with his first band, Zaiko Langa Langa, in 1969. Wemba was born Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in former Zaire, then the Belgian Congo. He began singing in a church choir, and burst on to the local music scene with his first band, Zaiko Langa Langa, in 1969.
They rose to fame in Kinshasa in the 1970s with the band’s guitar-based fusion of Latin and African dance styles inspiring a generation of African musicians. They rose to fame in Kinshasa in the 1970s and the band’s guitar-based fusion of Latin and African dance styles inspired a generation of African musicians.
With a new band, Viva La Musica, Wemba moved to Paris in the 80s, helping to popularise Congolese music beyond Africa. As well as N’dour, he worked with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Peter Gabriel. He toured with Gabriel and Wemba appeared on the former Genesis singer’s 1994 album Secret World Live. Wemba moved to Paris in the 1980s with a new band, Viva La Musica, and helped to popularise Congolese music beyond Africa. As well as N’dour, he worked with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Peter Gabriel. He toured with Gabriel and appeared on the former Genesis singer’s 1994 album Secret World Live.
At the 1996 inaugural Kora All-Africa music awards, he was named best male artist. At the 1996 inaugural Kora All-Africa music awards, he was named best male artist. His concerts filled football stadiums from the US to Japan., and in 2000, he headlined the Womad festival.
His concerts filled football stadiums from the United States to Japan. In 2000, he headlined the Womad festival.
Le coeur lourd, lourd, mais vraiment lourd. Repose en paix l'artiste https://t.co/lchgTOc2ZQ #RIPPapaWembaLe coeur lourd, lourd, mais vraiment lourd. Repose en paix l'artiste https://t.co/lchgTOc2ZQ #RIPPapaWemba
Wemba was renowned for his flamboyance, and as the moving spirit behind a cult movement known as “Sapeurs” (members of the Society for the Advancement of Elegant People) whose members – young men – spent huge amounts of money on designer clothes, hitting back at the hardship that surrounded them. Wemba was renowned for his flamboyance, and as the moving spirit behind a cult movement known as the Society for the Advancement of Elegant People, or Sapeurs, whose members – young men – spent huge amounts of money on designer clothes, hitting back at the hardship that surrounded them.
In 2004, he was convicted in France of people smuggling after dozens of people from the Democratic Republic of Congo accompanied him into the country, claiming they were band members. He was given a 30-month jail term, 26 of them suspended, after being found guilty of “assistance to the illegal entry or residence of foreigners”. Wemba was released after the conviction, on the basis that he had spent more than three months in prison on remand. In an interview afterwards, he said: “If I ever took money - and I’m not saying I did - it was for humanitarian reasons. I took a dozen children out of the country so they could escape the terrible conditions that exist there.” In 2004, he was convicted of people smuggling in France after dozens of people from DRC accompanied him into the country, claiming they were band members. He was given a 30-month jail term, 26 of them suspended, after being found guilty of “assistance to the illegal entry or residence of foreigners”.
He was released after the conviction on the basis that he had spent more than three months in prison on remand. In an interview afterwards, he said: “If I ever took money - and I’m not saying I did - it was for humanitarian reasons. I took a dozen children out of the country so they could escape the terrible conditions that exist there.”
After his conviction he converted to Christianity.After his conviction he converted to Christianity.
He remained popular and, in 2008, he performed at a concert in London to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday. He remained popular and, in 2008 he performed at a concert in London to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday.