One year after, LIB remembers Congolese music legend, Papa Wemba who died on stage
Exactly one year ago, Papa Wemba, the legendary Congolese singer
and musician famously known as 'King of Rumba' collapsed and died on
stage while performing at Festival des Musiques Urbaines d’Anoumabo
(FEMUA) – in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on April 24, 2016.
His
death at the age of 66 came as a shock to the world. His death also
served as a wake up call for artists, their managers, promoters and
event organisers to see the need to employ the services of healthcare
service providers for major concerts to provide first aid incase of an
emergency.
In his lifetime, Papa
Wemba founded the Viva La Musica – a DR Congo band in 1977, made a name
for himself in France and Belgium and had collaborations with
international artists including Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton and Stevie
Wonder during his long music career.
In
February 2003, the singer was suspected of being involved in a network
that allegedly smuggled hundreds of illegal immigrants from the DR Congo
into Europe and was arrested at his home in Paris. He was found guilty
by a Belgian court in June 2003 and was sentenced to fifteen months
imprisonment and a €22,000 fine.
After his
release in October of the same year after posting bail, he recounted the
jail term in ‘Numéro d’écrou’, a song off his Somo Trop album.
His first year memorial will be celebrated by his fans in Kenya, Congo and Ivory Coast.
May his soul continue to Rest In Peace!
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