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Papa Wemba's body flown home to DR Congo | Papa Wemba's body flown home to DR Congo |
(35 minutes later) | |
The body of Papa Wemba, one of Africa's best known singers, is being flown back to Democratic Republic of Congo after his death on Sunday in Ivory Coast. | The body of Papa Wemba, one of Africa's best known singers, is being flown back to Democratic Republic of Congo after his death on Sunday in Ivory Coast. |
Hundreds of people are outside Kinshasa's airport waiting for his body to arrive. | Hundreds of people are outside Kinshasa's airport waiting for his body to arrive. |
An all-night concert has been held in his honour in Abidjan, the city where he collapsed and died on stage. | An all-night concert has been held in his honour in Abidjan, the city where he collapsed and died on stage. |
He is due to be buried on Tuesday after lying in state in a stadium in the DR Congo capital, Kinshasa, on Monday. | He is due to be buried on Tuesday after lying in state in a stadium in the DR Congo capital, Kinshasa, on Monday. |
Government officials and diplomats will attend a memorial service for the singer at the airport before the body is taken to a morgue, reports the BBC's Poly Muzalia. | |
Africa Live: More on this and other news stories | |
What made Papa Wemba so influential? | |
African stars pay tribute to Papa Wemba | |
In photos: Congo music legend Papa Wemba | |
Papa Wemba, who died aged 66, was considered one of Africa's most influential musicians of his generation. | |
He pioneered modern Congolese soukous music, which spread through the continent. | |
Many of the Africa's top musicians have paid tribute to Papa Wemba, including Cameroon's Manu Dibango, who described him as the "voice of Africa". | |
Ivory Coast Culture Minister Maurice Bandaman said at a memorial service before the body left that "an artist never dies... Papa Wemba is dead, and now [he is] even greater than before," reports the AFP news agency. | |
Performers at the all-night concert in Papa Wemba's honour included members of his Viva La Musica group who were on stage with him when he died. |