• About Us
  • Archives
  • SWG Registration
Samrack Media
Mahiga Homes
  • Home
  • ALL NEWS
  • Diaspora
  • Africa
    • AFRICA
    • KENYA
  • BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS
    • INVESTMENTS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • Politics
  • Health
    • HEALTH
    • EDUCATION
  • Religion
  • People
    • PEOPLE
    • LIFESTYLE
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • Obituaries
  • Videos
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • ALL NEWS
  • Diaspora
  • Africa
    • AFRICA
    • KENYA
  • BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS
    • INVESTMENTS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • Politics
  • Health
    • HEALTH
    • EDUCATION
  • Religion
  • People
    • PEOPLE
    • LIFESTYLE
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • Obituaries
  • Videos
  • Events
No Result
View All Result
Samrack Media
No Result
View All Result

Congo lays to rest music and fashion legend Papa Wemba

samrack by samrack
May 7, 2016
in 2016, Africa, Diaspora, Kenya, Kenya Diaspora News, News, U.S Diaspora
A A
0
Congo lays to rest music and fashion legend Papa Wemba
Share this
FacebookXPinterestEmailWhatsAppLinkedIn

Congo lays to rest music and fashion legend Papa Wemba

Hundreds of thousands of mourning fans came out on Wednesday to bid a final farewell to Papa Wemba, the legendary Congolese singer who brought his tumultuous country’s music to a world audience and became a national hero in the process.

Wemba, born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in Lubefu in what was then the Belgian Congo, collapsed and died on stage while performing at a music festival in Ivory Coast on April 24. He was 67 years old.

Papa Wemba has always been my idol. So I’ve just lost my star,” said JB Mpiana, the head of the popular Kinshasa musical group Wenge Musica.

Wemba came of age during the 1960s, a period of post-independence hope in Congo that was quickly dashed by civil war and the murder of Patrice Lumumba, the young nation’s first democratically elected leader.

It was also a period when Congo’s Cuban-influenced rumba ruled the airwaves across an African continent in the midst of an existential transformation.

Wemba would rise to become one of the genre’s masters before turbo-charging it in the 1970s with breakneck drum beats and frantic guitar riffs as part of the Congolese super group Zaïko Langa Langa.

He left after five years to found Viva la Musica, the band he would continue to perform with until his death despite periods of solo work and collaboration with other artists.

“Continue to be elegant”

“Papa Wemba was able to make being a musician something valued. He taught us how to dress well, to be elegant, to make ourselves respected in society,” said Ruinga Keps, a Congolese musician known by the stage name Brigade.

Already a household name in his home country, then known as Zaire, Wemba met Peter Gabriel in the early 1990s as the British singer was beginning to promote and produce artists from around the globe as part of the burgeoning world music movement.

He would remain among Africa’s most popular artists and continue to tour internationally until his death.

At home his status as the godfather of Congolese music was perhaps only rivalled by his status as a fashion icon in a nation where dress and appearance have long been a point of pride.

Wemba was known as the Pope of Sape, a movement of fashion dandies deriving its name from the French acronym for the Society of Ambiance-Makers and Elegant People.

Wemba sang the praises of the sapeurs, whose impeccable appearance and penchant for designer label garments are a stark contrast to the gritty, impoverished environment in which they often exist.

“We came to know the sape thanks to Papa Wemba. And believe me, even with his death, we are going to continue to be elegant,” said Vieux Malala, an 81-year-old sapeur who travelled from neighbouring Republic of Congo to attend Wemba’s funeral.

Source: http://edaily.co.ke/

Tags: Congo lays to rest music and fashion legend Papa Wembahttp://edaily.co.ke/Papa Wemba
Previous Post

Tiny Kenyan girl making waves in South Africa

Next Post

High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa,”How to steal from Africa, all perfectly legally” by Alex de Waal

Related Posts

Dr.Caroline Mumbi Waweru Wayoike Doctorate in nursing practice minor in education from Capella University. DNP MSN BSN RN.
Announcement

Capella University Celebrates Dr. Caroline Mumbi Waweru Wanyoike’s Remarkable Academic Achievements

September 27, 2023
King Charles III
Diaspora

Royal Visit:King Charles III to Embark on Historic Visit to Kenya

September 26, 2023
Judy Musyoki RN, BSN,
AFRICA RISING

Congratulations to Judy Musyoki RN, BSN on Her Outstanding Graduation Achievement

September 26, 2023
LUCY KUBAI and MUBEA PAUL
Christian News

Another hit Song by our own Diaspora celebrity LUCY KUBAI and MUBEA PAUL.

September 22, 2023
Screengrab of CCTV footage that captured the suspect going over a perimeter wall circumvented with razor wire fence at Woodley Annexe on September 15, 2023.
Diaspora

How girl suspected of killing Eric Maigo escaped:Detectives have identified her as a minor aged between 15 and 17 years old.

September 22, 2023
Elsa Kiprotich, a resident of Houston, Texas,
Diaspora

Elsa Kiprotich: From Charcoal Seller to Real Estate Agent in the US

September 22, 2023
Next Post
High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa,”How to steal from Africa, all perfectly legally” by Alex de Waal

High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa,"How to steal from Africa, all perfectly legally" by Alex de Waal

Please login to join discussion
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Royal Gardens Ngong Royal Gardens Ngong Royal Gardens Ngong
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest News

Capella University Celebrates Dr. Caroline Mumbi Waweru Wanyoike’s Remarkable Academic Achievements

Royal Visit:King Charles III to Embark on Historic Visit to Kenya

Congratulations to Judy Musyoki RN, BSN on Her Outstanding Graduation Achievement

Another hit Song by our own Diaspora celebrity LUCY KUBAI and MUBEA PAUL.

How girl suspected of killing Eric Maigo escaped:Detectives have identified her as a minor aged between 15 and 17 years old.

Elsa Kiprotich: From Charcoal Seller to Real Estate Agent in the US

Kenyan Student Orville Kimutai Dies While Swimming in Western Australia

Kenyans Who Won US DV 2023 Green Card Blocked From Migrating to America

Transition/Death Announcement of Mrs Susan Njeri Njuguna of Turi Molo

On Civilian Casualties in Sudan

We are grateful for your monthly or one-off donations To Samrack Media: Cash App No: 781-888-8770 $SAMRACK001

Money

New Digital Skills Helps Unemployed Kenyan Youth Earn In Cryptocurrency

New Digital Skills Helps Unemployed Kenyan Youth Earn In Cryptocurrency

by samrack
November 19, 2021
0

New Digital Skills Helps Unemployed Kenyan Youth Earn In Cryptocurrency This week sees the launch of a new initiative to equip...

A simple guide to Government Bonds investing in Kenya

A simple guide to Government Bonds investing in Kenya

by samrack
September 17, 2021
0

A simple guide to Government Bonds investing in Kenya A treasury bond (T-bond) is a medium term to long term...

Politics

On Civilian Casualties in Sudan

On Civilian Casualties in Sudan

by samrack
September 13, 2023
0

On Civilian Casualties in Sudan The United States is alarmed by the recent increase of indiscriminate air and artillery strikes...

President William Ruto of Kenya

Kenya reinstates small fuel subsidy in government U-turn

by samrack
August 16, 2023
0

Kenya reinstates small fuel subsidy in government U-turn Kenya has reinstated a small subsidy to stabilise retail fuel prices for...

  • About Us
  • Archives
  • SWG Registration

© 2023 SAMRACK - Diaspora News & Updates; design by: Samrack.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • ALL NEWS
  • Diaspora
  • Africa
    • AFRICA
    • KENYA
  • BUSINESS
    • BUSINESS
    • INVESTMENTS
    • REAL ESTATE
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • Politics
  • Health
    • HEALTH
    • EDUCATION
  • Religion
  • People
    • PEOPLE
    • LIFESTYLE
    • RELATIONSHIPS
  • Obituaries
  • Videos
  • Events

© 2023 SAMRACK - Diaspora News & Updates; design by: Samrack.

Page generated in 1.821 seconds. Stats plugin by www.blog.ca