The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, in
partnership with the African Union Commission, AU, mourns the death of Papa
Wemba, real name Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba.
The iconic musician from the Democratic Republic of Congo died in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, during the FEMUA urban music festival on Sunday April 24, 2016. He was 66.
Papa Wemba was considered an African icon and world music
star after fusing his Central African musical heritage with Western pop, rock
and rap. He pioneered a blend of African, Cuban and Western sounds, which
became one of Africa's most popular music styles. This earned him the nickname
"King of Rhumba Rock". Besides his musical influence, Wemba
popularised Sapeur fashion, an eccentric look with three-piece suits, shiny
black leather shoes and flashy accessories.
Reacting to the death of Papa Wemba, President and Executive
Producer, AFRIMA, Mr Mike Dada said: "At AFRIMA, we feel a sense of
humongous loss since the announcement of the death of Papa Wemba. This is the
time we at AFRIMA and Africa at large need him the most. He was one of the
African music legends that had shown interest in attending AFRIMA 3.0 in
November this year. He was a voice of Africa, an icon of African music and
epitome of Africanness. His pride and commitment to African music and sense of
dressing were part of the narratives of African culture. These are the African
narratives we shared and are propagating across the world."
Dada said further: "The International Committee of
AFRIMA recognises the role of African legends, dead or alive, in music, culture
and entertainment. In 2014, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was honoured with a
Posthumous Legendary award for his contribution to the narratives of Africa
while Ladysmith Black Mambazo from South Africa won the award at the 2015
edition in Lagos, which coincided with the group’s 55th anniversary of telling
the African story worldwide."
In partnership with the African Union Commission, AFRIMA is
a project developed to celebrate, reward and showcase the rich musical culture
of Africa, stimulate conversations among Africans and between Africa and the
rest of the world about the great potentials and values of African culture and
artistic heritage, for the purpose of creating jobs, reducing poverty, and
calling attention of world leaders to Africa as well as promoting the positive
image of Africa to the world.
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