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Papa Wemba's body arrives home in DR Congo | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The body of Papa Wemba, one of Africa's best known singers, has arrived back in the Democratic Republic of Congo after his death on Sunday in Ivory Coast. | |
Hundreds of people were waiting outside Kinshasa's airport for the body's arrival. | |
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 DR Congo's 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 from Kinshasa. | |
Africa Live: More on this and other news stories | Africa Live: More on this and other news stories |
What made Papa Wemba so influential? | What made Papa Wemba so influential? |
African stars pay tribute to Papa Wemba | African stars pay tribute to Papa Wemba |
In photos: Congo music legend 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. | 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. | He pioneered modern Congolese soukous music, which spread through the continent. |
Many of 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's 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 his honour included members of his Viva La Musica group, who were on stage with him when he died. |