Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo) and Africa at large has lost one of its iconic musicians Papa Wemba, who died at the age of 66 while performing on stage in a show in Ivory Coast.
Papa Wemba was a legendary musician within the Rumba Music genre, a genre he was instrumental in its revolution. Wemba’s fans extended beyond the continent and into Europe with a pronounced fan base in France where Rumba Music the most fans on that continent.
Papa Wemba’s music was a mashup of African, Cuban and Western sounds making his song’s one of Africa’s best and popular music styles in the world. Wemba fell ill on Saturday morning, but the cause of his death has so far not been established.
Wemba was born in 1949, and his real name was Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba. His musical journey started by singing in a religious choir. His fans from all over the world took to social media to express their condolences. Here are some of the tweets being made in tribute to one of Africa’s legendary musician.
Papa Wemba the drove the cultural movement the “Sapeurs” whose young men spend vast amounts on designer clothes. #TwitterBreakfastShow
— KYAMA™ (@Elijahkyama) April 25, 2016
And your memories of Papa Wemba…awful news that he died, while performing!
— Stephen Grootes (@StephenGrootes) April 25, 2016
Papa Wemba’s music always made me feel like I was on holiday when I heard it. RIP pic.twitter.com/IrBQvXlB1w
— Faye Peters (@fayepeters) April 24, 2016
6/ It gradually became one of those rare nearly continental, i.e. Pan African phenomena, and Papa Wemba (and Zaïko) were crucial to this.
— Howard French (@hofrench) April 24, 2016
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Rest in Power Papa Wemba. https://t.co/07Hy78wsNy
— UB 45 (@dnahinga) April 24, 2016
Another great music icon gone.. RIP Papa Wemba! You died doing what you loved most, bringing music to the people! ?? pic.twitter.com/Trs5sTxFa3
— Khanyi Magubane (@Khanyi_Magubane) April 24, 2016
…R.I.P. PAPA WEMBA ONE OF THE GREATEST AFRICAN VOICES, A REAL CULTURE MAN…, https://t.co/A07GuNJ4Se
— ROOTMANJ & ZIONYOUTH (@ZionyouthCrew) April 24, 2016
Papa Wemba made a lot of albums (and I don’t think even this list is complete…) pic.twitter.com/Ho0hq65gTg
— siddhartha mitter (@siddhmi) April 24, 2016
It’s mad how everytime u go nandos u hear a papa Wemba song at least once. Only just taking it in. What a legend. RIP 🙁
— Arnold Jorge (@ArnoldJorge) April 24, 2016
King of Makossa Papa wemba dies: papa wemba, one of Africa’s greatestmusic stars, has died after collapsingon… https://t.co/RIsJ9qpnJX
— Sandra Omalicha (@Burstysandra) April 24, 2016
R.I.P Papa Wemba. Thanks for all the great Music pic.twitter.com/WiWU55hgZL
— Africa Updates (@africaupdates) April 24, 2016
@Kabudrahman16 Papa Wemba is a true legend, his music lives on
— nancy masila (@nancymasila) April 24, 2016
Everybody is leaving! RIP Papa Wemba. You “showed us the way.” African music has lost a NOTE never to be found. pic.twitter.com/blwJHow0o7
— Laz Jacobs (@LazJacobs) April 24, 2016
1 of Africa’s greatest singers drops dead on stage during concert. Papa Wemba RIP. See video https://t.co/mjdQKJhBVO pic.twitter.com/oKi6K3HueB
— Jeffrey Gettleman (@gettleman) April 24, 2016