Body of Papa Wemba arrives in DR Congo

KINSHASA, Thursday

The body of Congolese “rumba king” Papa Wemba arrived home in Kinshasa on Thursday, where it was greeted by a huge crowd of distraught fans after the musician’s collapse during a show in Cote d’Ivoire.

His body was flown home after an all-night musical tribute in Cote d’Ivoire to the legendary African music star, who died on Sunday at the age of 66 during a show in Abidjan.

The white coffin draped in the Democratic Republic of Congo flag was received by Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo and parliament speaker Aubin Minaku before being taken off in a hearse.

Relatives of the flamboyant performer were also at the airport, along with tribal chiefs and numerous admirers of the artist who was a stalwart of Africa’s musical scene for more than 40 years.

“News of the death of Papa Wemba was an earthquake,” Ivorian Culture Minister Maurice Kouakou Bandaman told reporters. Dozens of musicians took part in a tribute concert to Papa Wemba in Abidjan overnight that was billed as a “big artistic wake”.

An artist never dies. In death, an artist becomes even greater. Papa Wemba is dead, and now even greater than before,” said the Ivorian minister of culture Kouakou.

A funeral for the father of six will take place on Monday and he will be buried on Tuesday on the outskirts of Kinshasa.

PIONEER

Papa Wemba helped to pioneer a blend of Congolese rumba with Western electric rock as part of the world music explosion of the 1980s. Dance was an integral part of the nattily-dressed performer’s shows.

After working with other Kinshasa artists, he launched his own band Viva La Musica in 1977 and gained world renown when African music became popular in Europe and the United States in later years.

“I’m flummoxed. I don’t know what’s happening. All our great musicians are dying one after the other,” Delico Nzinga, a Kinshasa fan, said on hearing news of his death.

The Ivorian culture minister said that Cote d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara had instructed him to set up “a crisis unit to ensure (that Papa Wemba’s death in Ivory Coast) does not damage relations” with DR Congo “on account of the stature of the deceased”.

“We want this period of mourning to be strictly a cultural event, not a political one,” Said DR Congo’s Culture minister Banza Mukalay said.

In Kinshasa, among musicians involved in funeral arrangements are Nyoka Longo, Maika Munan, Koffi Olomide, Werra Son, Tshala Muana, Fally Ipupa and Papa Wemba’s protege Reddy Amisi.

According to family sources, Papa Wemba had been off the stage for a while recuperating, after being hospitalised in Paris.

Congolese musicians in Paris were to converge on a restaurant to mourn the fallen comrade on Thursday and Friday.

Speaking to the Nation, veteran singer and composer Nyboma Mwandido said they would be dressed like Papa Wemba.

“We want to celebrate what Papa Wemba was known to promote in terms of attire and music,” he said.

Similar gatherings will be held in London, Brussels and Nairobi led by promoters JC Motindo and Jules Nsana, and Ms Paulin Wanga, a fan.

(Additional reporting by Amos Ngaira)