Sunday 24 April 2016

Papa Wemba 'the king of Congolese rumba' dies after collapsing on stage during concert


Papa Wemba, known around the world as the "king of Congolese rumba", has died after collapsing during a concert. The musician fell ill on Saturday and collapsed while performing at a music festival in Abidjan in Ivory Coast on Sunday. He was 66. Papa Wemba was taken to a nearby clinic after collapsing but could not be resuscitated and died on the way. Congo's cultural minister described the musician, whose real name was Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, as 'a self-made man, a role model for Congolese youth.' The musician rose to fame in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa during the 1970s with the band Zaiko Langa Langa. The band are known for its guitar-based fusion of Latin and African dance styles, which inspired a generation of African musicians. The cause of his death is not known yet.

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