The year 2016 is now being referred to in many circles as the year that music died.
So far we have seen the deaths of music stars Malik “Phife Dog” Taylor, Maurice White, David Bowie, and most recently, Prince. Now word has come that Papa Wemba, known as Africa’s “King of Rhumba Rock” has died at the age of 66 while performing on stage.
The Congolese-born musician was a leading figure of “world music” the name often given to popular non-Western performers whose music is not easily categorized by record labels. Born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, his style influenced scores of African artists not only because of his music but also because of his style of dress, known as Sapeur fashion. This referred to “the society of atmosphere-setters and elegant people” in Francophone Africa. He was often dressed in three-piece suits, shiny black leather shoes and flashy jewelry and his fans followed his look. His band, Viva La Musica was also dressed in the same fashion that soon epitomized the class of the talented artist.
Papa Wemba combined Western pop, rock and rap to create a unique sound that was often imitated but never duplicated by other African artists. Congolese Culture Minister Baudouin Banza Mukalay called his death a “great loss for the country and all of Africa.”
To many in Africa, the death of Papa Wemba is on the same musical level as the losses of Prince or Michael Jackson because of the popularity of the musical form known as “soukous.”
Tributes across Africa are pouring in from artists as well as fans who are mourning the passing of “a king of African music.”
The cause of death has not yet been determined for Papa Wemba and his body is currently at an Ivory Coast morgue.
