Congolese music legend, Papa Wemba, has died. Papa Wemba was performing last week Sunday with his band, at the 9th edition of the Urban Music Festival concert in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, when he collapsed on stage.
The artist was reported to be ill in the early hours of Saturday but he was believed to be well enough for Sunday evening’s performance. There have been no reports yet as to what caused his death but there have been speculations going on that the artist might have been poisoned through the microphone.
Congolese journalists have been asking questions about the hasty way in which the autopsy of the Rumba legend was performed. A video released earlier this week shows one of the stage crew member taking time to exchange the artist’s microphone, moments before Papa Wemba used the same mic and collapsed.
This video has helped in fuelling suggestions that Papa Wemba might have been poisoned through the microphone. The suggestions seem to be more authentic considering the artist was pronounced dead before reaching the hospital.
A spokesperson for the Ivosep morgue in Abidjan told Reuters News Agency that the musician died before he could reach the hospital.
According to an article on mirastanews.com, they urged the French and Belgian authorities to independently conduct their own autopsy on the late Papa Wemba.
Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba is a Congolese that was born in 1949. He started his career as a chorister and his career gradually evolved to main stream music. His ground breaking move was when he joined the Sokous band, Zaiko Langa Langa in 1969.
But he got more success when he formed his own band, Viva La Musica in the 70s. He built his band on younger talents like Pepe Bipoli and Petit Aziza compared to Zaiko (his first band). From then onwards the band consistently released hit songs for a long period of time.
The 66 year old helped revolutionized Congolese Rumba (later known as Sokous) music. He was dubbed as the King of Rumba Rock and he managed to sell that style of music across the world.
Congolese Culture Minister Baudouin Banza Mukalay called his death a "great loss for the country and all of Africa", the Associated Press reported.
This week the Ivorian authorities organized a concert dedicated to the Rumba king.
His body has already been flown to his native country, DR Congo and hundreds of distraught fans were at the airport to welcome him home.
(C) Politico 03/05/16
