Papa Wemba, the king of Congolese rumba and one of Africa's most flamboyant and popular musicians, has died. Papa Wmba whos real name is Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, was performing Saturday night at the Urban Music Festival in the capital of Abidjan. He collapsed on stage and later died. The Congolese Music legend died around 9:10 GMT, his manager Marie Laure Yaone, has confirmed in a Facebook post. The Soukous maestro, who was performing with his band at the FEMUA 9 musical concert, slumped on Stage at about 5:30 GMT on Sunday. His dancers and members of the Red Cross could not revive him on stage and subsequently rushed him to a hospital where he later died.
Papa Wemba, 66, was considered a Congolese icon and world music star after merging his Central African heritage with Western pop, rock and rap. His style earned him the nickname "King of Rhumba Rock."
DRC Congo Culture Minister Baudouin Banza Mukalay confirmed the musician's death Sunday, calling it a "great loss for the country and all of Africa."
Footage from the concert in Ivory Coast shows his fellow performers rushing to his side as he collapsed in front of thousands of fans. He was taken to a nearby clinic, but couldn't be resuscitated. The cause of death wasn't immediately known. “Papa Wemba fell on stage at Anoumabo, Abidjan where he was performing at the Legislative Femua festival, organized by the Magic System. There’s more scared than hurt. As a manager, I assure you on his state of health and beg you to not put false information. “He was quickly taken over by the Red Coss and is resting in a hospital in the square. Malongiskin Cornely Malongi who’s with him s take care of everything. Thank you Lord for your grace.”
However, two hours later she posted a message that heavy with grieve: “You can’t do this to us dad, no.” with a Facebook emoticon that read: “feeling shocked.”
Papa Wemba, whose real name was Jules Wembadio Kikumba, was born on June 14, 1949. He was one Africa’s most popular musicians and perhaps the most influential Soukous performer. He was instrumental in making the genre of music popular worldwide. The musician, whose real name was Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, rose to fame in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa during the 1970s with the band Zaiko langalanga, whose 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 1980s and helped popularize Congolese music beyond Africa. He toured in the 1990s with British rock star Peter Gabriel and appears on his "Secret World Live" album.
Wemba had appeared to be in good health just days earlier when he met with journalists at the beginning of the music festival. Fans across Abidjan were mourning news of his death Sunday.