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Papa Wemba

May 04, 2023

Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba[1] (14 June 1949 – 24 April 2016), known professionally as Papa Wemba (French pronunciation: ​[papa wɛmba]), was a Congolese singer and musician who played Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo.[2] Dubbed the "King of Rumba Rock",[1] he was one of the most popular musicians of his time in Africa and played an important role in world music. He was also a fashion icon who popularized the Sape look and style through his musical group Viva la Musica,[3][4][5] with whom he performed on stages throughout the world.[6]

Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba, photographed in 2009
Background information
Birth nameJules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba
Born(1949-06-14)14 June 1949
Lubefu, Belgian Congo
(now Sankuru, DR Congo)
Died24 April 2016(2016-04-24) (aged 66)
Abidjan, Ivory Coast
GenresSoukous
Websitewww.papawemba.info

Musical history

Papa Wemba's road to fame and prominence began when he joined the music group Zaiko Langa Langa in the late 1960s. This was followed by his success as a founding member both of Isifi Lokole and then Yoka Lokole,[n 1] along with a short stint as a member of Afrisa International for a few months.[7] During these early stages of his career, he was establishing a style that included traditional Congolese rumba and soukous, infused with traditional African sounds, Caribbean rhythms, rock and soul.[6] But Wemba gained international success and status with his band Viva La Musica, especially after he took them to Paris, France in the early 1980s. It was there that Wemba was able to achieve more of an "eclectic sound" in his work,[8] influenced by western popular music that reflected a European flavor and style, referred to as "Europop."[9] Wemba spoke about this transition in his music during a 2004 interview:

"When I started singing pop music, I left religious music completely. But there was always the influence of religious music on my voice because, with religious music, the minor key always recurs. When I compose songs, I often use the minor key".[6]

Zaiko Langa Langa

Papa Wemba was one of the first musicians to join the influential rock-rumba[7] band Zaiko Langa Langa (ZLL) after it was created in December 1969[10] in Kinshasa,[1] by many well-known Congolese musicians including Nyoka Longo Jossart[11] and Bimi Ombale,[12] among others. He remained with the group for four years.[10]

Papa Wemba (then known as Jules Presley Shungu Wembadio) helped contribute to the success of Zaiko Langa Langa so that, by 1973, it was one of the more successful Congolese groups. By that time, ZLL's shows and performances featured a string of their popular hits, some of them written by Wemba. The latter included "Pauline", "C'est La Vérité", "Chouchouna", and "Liwa Ya Somo".[10]

Zaiko Langa Langa had gained a strong and popular following even in a Congolese musical world that, in those days, was already dominated by various musical acts including Franco Luambo and his band TPOK Jazz, or Tabu Ley Rochereau's various ensembles.[1] ZLL was also vying for an audience with other (at the time) new musical acts such as Bella-Bella and Empire Bakuba.[13]

Isifi Lokole

In December 1974, at the pinnacle of their fame (and just a month after the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa),[1] Papa Wemba (usually called 'Shungu Wembadio' at this point in his career) along with Evoloko Lay Lay, Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana,[13] left Zaiko Langa Langa to establish their own musical ensemble Isifi Lokole.[1] Wemba later claimed that ISIFI was an acronym for "Institut du Savoir Ideologique pour la Formation des Idoles," a claim that has still not been given total credence. In July 1975, Shungu Wembadio officially adopted the soon-to-be-well-known-worldwide name Papa Wemba. The "Papa" (father) part of his name had already been given to him as a traditional and cultural rite because he was his mother's first-born son.[13] But in assuming a new name and public persona, "Papa" was now re-emphasized as an allusion to the demanding family responsibilities that Wemba assumed at very young age, since both parents were now deceased: Wemba's father in 1966, followed by his mother in 1973.[13] Isifi Lokole would only last a year together as a group, with the single "Amazone" (a Wemba composition) as its biggest commercial "hit" record.

Yoka Lokole

In November 1975, Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana left Isifi Lokole to create the group Yoka Lokole[10][13] (also known as The Kinshasa's Wa Fania All-Stars).[13] Yoka Lokole contributed to the African pop music wave with their hit songs including "Matembele Bangui", "Lisuma ya Zazu" (Papa Wemba), "Mavuela Sala Keba", and "Bana Kin" (Mavuela Somo).[13]

Like Isifi Lokole, the electronic-instrument-driven Yoka Lokole would not last much longer than a year.[7] After a year of modest success, controversies within Yoka Lokole over money and prestige were also complicated by Wemba's arrest and brief incarceration in Kinshasa Central prison in December 1976[14] when he was suspected of having a relationship with army general's daughter.[14] The band continued to tour without Papa Wemba. For whatever reason (or reasons), whether it was personal or professional (with one source speculating that he was perhaps feeling diminished in the public's eye),[13] by 1977 Wemba had formed a new group, and called it Viva la Musica.[13][10]

Viva la Musica

In 1977–78, back home now in the Matonge neighborhood of Kinshasa, Papa Wemba set out to create his group Viva la Musica. This new band's name was suggested to him in 1974, when he attended a concert in Kinshasa that featured the New York-based Latinos, Fania All-Stars. During the concert, one of the singers would shout to the audience "Viva La Musica!" to an enthusiastic response.[2] Wemba's vision was to structure Viva la Musica around young, talented but largely unknown artists, including the singers Prince Espérant, Jadot "le Cambodgien" Sombele, Debaba el Shabab, Pepe Bipoli and Petit Aziza, and various guitarists such as Rigo Star, Syriana, and Bongo Wende.[15] The new group included the traditional instrument lokole. There was also an associated dance, the mukonyonyo, as well as a fashion style.[7]

The band achieved immediate success and, during their first year performing together, the Kinshasa newspaper Elima named the band "best orchestra" and their single, "Mère Supérieure," best song.[10] During the following three years, Viva la Musica built on these initial accolades with more hit songs including "Moku Nyon Nyon", "Nyekesse Migue'l", and "Cou Cou Dindon".[10] As time went by, it was revealed that Antoine Agbepa was the unknown writer of many of these songs, when Papa Wemba said, "Ooh! l'homme idée" (Oh! the idea-man!), thereby on-the-spot renaming the impressive young singer-songwriter Koffi Olomide – and the name stuck.[16]

After his success already with three influential groups, in 1977 Papa Wemba established a kind of commune for musicians. To accomplish this, he used his family home (on Kanda-Kanda street) as a fashionable gathering place for Matonge youths. He named it "Village Molokai" and declared himself to be its tribal chief (chef coutumier).[15]

Move to Paris

Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Wemba (both by himself and with Viva la Musica) started traveling to Paris,[8] believing there was a potentially wider audience for the music he had been helping to create during the preceding decade. As Wemba biographer Craig Harris put it:

"Determined to capture a European following, Wemba and Viva La Musica guitarist Rigo Star took a six-month sabbatical from the band in 1979 to join Tabu Ley Rochereau's group, Afrisa International. Relocating to Paris in the early '80s, Wemba formed a second version of Viva la Musica."[10]

By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Wemba's style was more readily identifiable even as it had become an amalgamation of rumba, soukous and ndombolo, Latin and rock, melded to a European-oriented pop style.[9] But still wanting to expand their musical horizons, and move in new musical directions,[9] Viva la Musica took on a dual-identity. Wemba now maintained one group in Kinshasa (called at times "Nouvelle Ecriture", "Nouvel Ecrita" and then again "Viva la Musica") and another one in Paris ("Nouvelle Generation," "La Cour des Grands" and now "Viva Tendance"). The group consistently maintained a high profile in world music with hits like "Le Voyageur" (1992),[9] "Emotion" (1995),[1] "Pole Position" (1996) and "Somo Trop" (October 2003).[13]

By this time, Wemba's use of African, Cuban and Western influences was not only one of Africa's most popular music styles,[17] it was crossing cultural boundaries and attracting a more diverse audience outside of Africa. In 1993, Wemba joined with Peter Gabriel for the latter's Secret World Tour,[18] and this drew attention to Wemba's unique style and groundbreaking sound.[19] The aforementioned Emotion album, released in 1995, showed that he was achieving a global following.[1] This album appeared under Peter Gabriel's Real World record label, and sold more than 100,000 copies.[1]

Legal troubles

In February 2003, Wemba was suspected of being involved in a network that had allegedly assisted hundreds of people in illegally immigrating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo into Europe.[20] At that point he was arrested in Paris[21] and held while awaiting a trial. He then spent three-and-a-half months in prison until a €30,000 bail was posted (some reports claimed it was paid by the Congolese government).[22] In June 2003 Wemba was released from prison which was an experience that, upon his release, he declared had had a profound psychological effect on him. The singer claimed to have undergone a spiritual conversion in jail[20] and even recounted this episode on his album Somo Trop (released in October 2003). On the song "Numéro d'écrou", he recalled the day "God" paid a visit to his cell.[23] In 2004, he was convicted in France, fined, and given a suspended prison sentence.[24] Wemba returned to the Congo in 2006.[7]

Cultural influence

In 1979, Papa Wemba became the unofficial leader of La Sape (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes d'Élégance, literally translated as the "Society of Atmosphere-setters and Elegant People") which he promoted as a youth subculture in Zaire.[4][25] Their style was influenced by the fashion centres of Paris and Milan.[9] Wemba said:

The Sapeur cult promoted high standards of personal cleanliness, hygiene and smart dress, to a whole generation of youth across Zaire. When I say well groomed, well shaved, well perfumed, it's a characteristic that I am insisting on among the young. I don't care about their education, since education always comes first of all from the family.[26]

After Wemba's death, Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango told the BBC during an interview:

"His whole attitude about dressing well was part of the narrative that we Africans have been denied our humanity for so long. People have always had stereotypes about us, and he was saying dressing well is not just a matter of money, not just something for Westerners, but that we Africans also have elegance. It was all about defining ourselves and refusing to be stripped of our humanity."[24]

Papa Wemba's impact on the culture is also reflected by his influence on a new generation of musicians and performers. For example, Priyan Weerappuli (leader of the Sri Lankan group Pahan Silu) referred to Wemba as being among his greatest musical influences.[27] Weerappuli claims that he was first introduced to Wemba's music in 2004 and was "deeply inspired by the free rhythms demonstrated by Wemba's Soukous style" and, from that point, "began experimenting with these rhythms in his own compositions."[27]

Many others paid tribute to Papa Wemba's legacy after his death in April 2016. Some of them included not only Koffi Olomide and Manu Dibango (both mentioned previously), but musicians King Kikii and Femi Kuti, along with soccer star Samuel Eto'o (among others) gave testimony to his lasting influence on them.[28]

Film work

Papa Wemba got some attention as a movie actor, primarily because he played the male lead role in a very successful Zairean film La Vie est Belle (Life is Beautiful) [1987] by Belgian director Benoît Lamy and Congolese producer-director Ngangura Mweze.[29] Wemba made another kind of contribution to cinema, thanks to his work on the soundtracks for Children of Men, Besieged, and Black Mic Mac. Wemba is also credited as "composer" of the scores for the films Identity Pieces, Macadam tribu, along with Life is Beautiful..[30]

During his life, Wemba acted in a few more successful films, although he played only minor roles. As recently as 2012, he had a cameo role in the Belgian drama film Kinshasa Kids.[31] Beyond the impact of his important role in Life is Beautiful, there are his many music videos and recorded band performances. Also, Wemba is featured (as himself) in many documentary films which were generally well received including; The Importance of Being Elegant, The Real World of Peter Gabriel and The African Rock 'n' Roll Years (all television) documentaries).[30]

Death

Wemba died at the age of 66 after collapsing on stage in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, during the FEMUA urban music festival on Sunday, 24 April 2016.[3] On Monday, 25 April, it was reported that his widow, Mama-Marie Luzolo Amazone, flew to Abidjan "accompanied by family members and government officials."[32] In Wemba's hometown of Kinshasa, both fellow musicians and fans gathered together as a tribute to his legacy. Similar tributes also took place in Paris, London, Brussels and Nairobi.[32]

Selected discography

Main article: Papa Wemba discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Other albums

Filmography

  • Les Habits neufs du gouverneur (The Governor's New Clothes) (2005)[33][34]
  • Combat de fauves (Wild Games) (1997) – role: "The African"[35]
  • La Vie est Belle (Life Is Beautiful) [alternate title: Life Is Rosy] (1987) – role: Kourou[29]
  • Kinshasa Kids (Kinshasa Kids) (2012)-role: himself

Notes

  1. ^ "Both groups used the lokole, a hollow tree trunk played with two sticks, as a rhythmic foundation"

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Ray, Rita (25 April 2016). "What made Papa Wemba so influential?". BBC News. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Papa Wemba, Congo music star, dies after stage collapse". BBC News. 24 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b Errol Barnett, CNN (9 November 2012). "Congo's fashion cult: Cut from a different cloth". CNN. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Andreas Preuss (24 April 2016). "Papa Wemba, Africa's 'King of Rhumba Rock,' dies". CNN.com. Retrieved 25 April 2016. He dressed his band, Viva La Musica, in the style, and fans across Africa soon followed suit.
  6. ^ a b c Margalit Fox (25 April 2016). "Papa Wemba, Congolese King of 'Rumba Rock,' Is Dead at 66". The New York Times. 26 April 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d e Auzias, Dominique; Labourdette, Jean-Paul (2012). Congo Brazzaville 2012–13. Petit Futé. p. 69. ISBN 978-2-7469-5166-2.
  8. ^ a b "African Music Encyclopedia: Papa Wemba". Africanmusic.org. 3 November 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e Gates, Henry Louis; Akyeampong, Emmanuel; Niven, Steven J. (2012). Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. p. 5. ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Harris, Craig. "Biography: Papa Wemba". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  11. ^ "Final Call for Papa Wemba". Daily Nation. 25 April 2016.
  12. ^ Steve Huey. "Bimi Ombale". AllMusic.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j . papa-wemba.com. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2016. Note: this website is in French (top of the page) and English (bottom of the page).
  14. ^ a b "Obituary: Papa Wemba". BBC News. 24 April 2016.
  15. ^ a b Stewart, Gary (2000). Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos. Verso. p. 224. ISBN 978-1859843680.
  16. ^ "10 Things You Didn't Know About Koffi Olomide!". Bigeye.ug. 21 April 2014.
  17. ^ "Biography: Papa Wemba". IMDb.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  18. ^ "The Real World of Peter Gabriel (TV Movie 2009)". IMDb.com. 6 August 2009.
  19. ^ "Peter Gabriel's 'Secret World' Revisited on DVD, Blu-Ray". TheImproper.com: Music News.
  20. ^ a b "Congolese singer in French court". BBC News. 26 October 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  21. ^ Robin Denselow (24 April 2016). "Papa Wemba: Congolese music's dandy with a dark side". the Guardian.
  22. ^ "Papa Wemba: The Daddy of them all". The Independent. 3 July 2004. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022.
  23. ^ Oppenheim, Maya (24 April 2016). "Papa Wemba dead: Congolese musician dies after collapsing on stage aged 66". Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Remembering African Singer And Style Icon Papa Wemba". NPR.org. 25 April 2016.
  25. ^ "Idole des Congolais et roi de la rumba, Papa Wemba est mort sur scène". Le Parisien. AFP. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  26. ^ . Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  27. ^ a b . Pahansilu.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  28. ^ "Papa Wemba: Stars remember the 'voice of Africa'". BBC News. 25 April 2016.
  29. ^ a b "Life Is Rosy (1987)". IMDb.com. 15 June 1988.
  30. ^ a b "Papa Wemba: Filmography". IMDb.com.
  31. ^ Kenneth (13 October 2012). "NYFF 2012: Kinshasa Kids". PopOptiq.
  32. ^ a b "Papa Wemba's body to be flown home". Daily Nation. 26 April 2016.
  33. ^ Dilip Barman (barman@jhu.edu) (5 April 2005). "Les habits neufs du gouverneur (2005) – IMDb". IMDb.com.
  34. ^ Olivier Barlet (27 April 2005). "Les Habits neufs du gouverneur". Africultures.com. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  35. ^ meterlinka (18 March 1998). "Wild Games (1997)". IMDb.com.

External links

  Media related to Papa Wemba at Wikimedia Commons

  • Official website
  • Interview with Papa Wemba in 1995
  • Papa Wemba at IMDb

May 04, 2023
papa, wemba, jules, shungu, wembadio, pene, kikumba, june, 1949, april, 2016, known, professionally, french, pronunciation, papa, wɛmba, congolese, singer, musician, played, congolese, rumba, soukous, ndombolo, dubbed, king, rumba, rock, most, popular, musicia. Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba 1 14 June 1949 24 April 2016 known professionally as Papa Wemba French pronunciation papa wɛmba was a Congolese singer and musician who played Congolese rumba soukous and ndombolo 2 Dubbed the King of Rumba Rock 1 he was one of the most popular musicians of his time in Africa and played an important role in world music He was also a fashion icon who popularized the Sape look and style through his musical group Viva la Musica 3 4 5 with whom he performed on stages throughout the world 6 Papa WembaPapa Wemba photographed in 2009Background informationBirth nameJules Shungu Wembadio Pene KikumbaBorn 1949 06 14 14 June 1949Lubefu Belgian Congo now Sankuru DR Congo Died24 April 2016 2016 04 24 aged 66 Abidjan Ivory CoastGenresSoukousWebsitewww wbr papawemba wbr info Contents 1 Musical history 1 1 Zaiko Langa Langa 1 2 Isifi Lokole 1 3 Yoka Lokole 1 4 Viva la Musica 1 5 Move to Paris 2 Legal troubles 3 Cultural influence 4 Film work 5 Death 6 Selected discography 7 Filmography 8 Notes 9 References 10 External linksMusical history EditPapa Wemba s road to fame and prominence began when he joined the music group Zaiko Langa Langa in the late 1960s This was followed by his success as a founding member both of Isifi Lokole and then Yoka Lokole n 1 along with a short stint as a member of Afrisa International for a few months 7 During these early stages of his career he was establishing a style that included traditional Congolese rumba and soukous infused with traditional African sounds Caribbean rhythms rock and soul 6 But Wemba gained international success and status with his band Viva La Musica especially after he took them to Paris France in the early 1980s It was there that Wemba was able to achieve more of an eclectic sound in his work 8 influenced by western popular music that reflected a European flavor and style referred to as Europop 9 Wemba spoke about this transition in his music during a 2004 interview When I started singing pop music I left religious music completely But there was always the influence of religious music on my voice because with religious music the minor key always recurs When I compose songs I often use the minor key 6 Zaiko Langa Langa Edit Papa Wemba was one of the first musicians to join the influential rock rumba 7 band Zaiko Langa Langa ZLL after it was created in December 1969 10 in Kinshasa 1 by many well known Congolese musicians including Nyoka Longo Jossart 11 and Bimi Ombale 12 among others He remained with the group for four years 10 Papa Wemba then known as Jules Presley Shungu Wembadio helped contribute to the success of Zaiko Langa Langa so that by 1973 it was one of the more successful Congolese groups By that time ZLL s shows and performances featured a string of their popular hits some of them written by Wemba The latter included Pauline C est La Verite Chouchouna and Liwa Ya Somo 10 Zaiko Langa Langa had gained a strong and popular following even in a Congolese musical world that in those days was already dominated by various musical acts including Franco Luambo and his band TPOK Jazz or Tabu Ley Rochereau s various ensembles 1 ZLL was also vying for an audience with other at the time new musical acts such as Bella Bella and Empire Bakuba 13 Isifi Lokole Edit In December 1974 at the pinnacle of their fame and just a month after the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa 1 Papa Wemba usually called Shungu Wembadio at this point in his career along with Evoloko Lay Lay Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana 13 left Zaiko Langa Langa to establish their own musical ensemble Isifi Lokole 1 Wemba later claimed that ISIFI was an acronym for Institut du Savoir Ideologique pour la Formation des Idoles a claim that has still not been given total credence In July 1975 Shungu Wembadio officially adopted the soon to be well known worldwide name Papa Wemba The Papa father part of his name had already been given to him as a traditional and cultural rite because he was his mother s first born son 13 But in assuming a new name and public persona Papa was now re emphasized as an allusion to the demanding family responsibilities that Wemba assumed at very young age since both parents were now deceased Wemba s father in 1966 followed by his mother in 1973 13 Isifi Lokole would only last a year together as a group with the single Amazone a Wemba composition as its biggest commercial hit record Yoka Lokole Edit In November 1975 Papa Wemba Mavuela Somo and Bozi Boziana left Isifi Lokole to create the group Yoka Lokole 10 13 also known as The Kinshasa s Wa Fania All Stars 13 Yoka Lokole contributed to the African pop music wave with their hit songs including Matembele Bangui Lisuma ya Zazu Papa Wemba Mavuela Sala Keba and Bana Kin Mavuela Somo 13 Like Isifi Lokole the electronic instrument driven Yoka Lokole would not last much longer than a year 7 After a year of modest success controversies within Yoka Lokole over money and prestige were also complicated by Wemba s arrest and brief incarceration in Kinshasa Central prison in December 1976 14 when he was suspected of having a relationship with army general s daughter 14 The band continued to tour without Papa Wemba For whatever reason or reasons whether it was personal or professional with one source speculating that he was perhaps feeling diminished in the public s eye 13 by 1977 Wemba had formed a new group and called it Viva la Musica 13 10 Viva la Musica Edit In 1977 78 back home now in the Matonge neighborhood of Kinshasa Papa Wemba set out to create his group Viva la Musica This new band s name was suggested to him in 1974 when he attended a concert in Kinshasa that featured the New York based Latinos Fania All Stars During the concert one of the singers would shout to the audience Viva La Musica to an enthusiastic response 2 Wemba s vision was to structure Viva la Musica around young talented but largely unknown artists including the singers Prince Esperant Jadot le Cambodgien Sombele Debaba el Shabab Pepe Bipoli and Petit Aziza and various guitarists such as Rigo Star Syriana and Bongo Wende 15 The new group included the traditional instrument lokole There was also an associated dance the mukonyonyo as well as a fashion style 7 The band achieved immediate success and during their first year performing together the Kinshasa newspaper Elima named the band best orchestra and their single Mere Superieure best song 10 During the following three years Viva la Musica built on these initial accolades with more hit songs including Moku Nyon Nyon Nyekesse Migue l and Cou Cou Dindon 10 As time went by it was revealed that Antoine Agbepa was the unknown writer of many of these songs when Papa Wemba said Ooh l homme idee Oh the idea man thereby on the spot renaming the impressive young singer songwriter Koffi Olomide and the name stuck 16 After his success already with three influential groups in 1977 Papa Wemba established a kind of commune for musicians To accomplish this he used his family home on Kanda Kanda street as a fashionable gathering place for Matonge youths He named it Village Molokai and declared himself to be its tribal chief chef coutumier 15 Move to Paris EditBeginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s Wemba both by himself and with Viva la Musica started traveling to Paris 8 believing there was a potentially wider audience for the music he had been helping to create during the preceding decade As Wemba biographer Craig Harris put it Determined to capture a European following Wemba and Viva La Musica guitarist Rigo Star took a six month sabbatical from the band in 1979 to join Tabu Ley Rochereau s group Afrisa International Relocating to Paris in the early 80s Wemba formed a second version of Viva la Musica 10 By the late 1980s and early 1990s Wemba s style was more readily identifiable even as it had become an amalgamation of rumba soukous and ndombolo Latin and rock melded to a European oriented pop style 9 But still wanting to expand their musical horizons and move in new musical directions 9 Viva la Musica took on a dual identity Wemba now maintained one group in Kinshasa called at times Nouvelle Ecriture Nouvel Ecrita and then again Viva la Musica and another one in Paris Nouvelle Generation La Cour des Grands and now Viva Tendance The group consistently maintained a high profile in world music with hits like Le Voyageur 1992 9 Emotion 1995 1 Pole Position 1996 and Somo Trop October 2003 13 By this time Wemba s use of African Cuban and Western influences was not only one of Africa s most popular music styles 17 it was crossing cultural boundaries and attracting a more diverse audience outside of Africa In 1993 Wemba joined with Peter Gabriel for the latter s Secret World Tour 18 and this drew attention to Wemba s unique style and groundbreaking sound 19 The aforementioned Emotion album released in 1995 showed that he was achieving a global following 1 This album appeared under Peter Gabriel s Real World record label and sold more than 100 000 copies 1 Legal troubles EditIn February 2003 Wemba was suspected of being involved in a network that had allegedly assisted hundreds of people in illegally immigrating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo into Europe 20 At that point he was arrested in Paris 21 and held while awaiting a trial He then spent three and a half months in prison until a 30 000 bail was posted some reports claimed it was paid by the Congolese government 22 In June 2003 Wemba was released from prison which was an experience that upon his release he declared had had a profound psychological effect on him The singer claimed to have undergone a spiritual conversion in jail 20 and even recounted this episode on his album Somo Trop released in October 2003 On the song Numero d ecrou he recalled the day God paid a visit to his cell 23 In 2004 he was convicted in France fined and given a suspended prison sentence 24 Wemba returned to the Congo in 2006 7 Cultural influence EditIn 1979 Papa Wemba became the unofficial leader of La Sape Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes d Elegance literally translated as the Society of Atmosphere setters and Elegant People which he promoted as a youth subculture in Zaire 4 25 Their style was influenced by the fashion centres of Paris and Milan 9 Wemba said The Sapeur cult promoted high standards of personal cleanliness hygiene and smart dress to a whole generation of youth across Zaire When I say well groomed well shaved well perfumed it s a characteristic that I am insisting on among the young I don t care about their education since education always comes first of all from the family 26 After Wemba s death Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango told the BBC during an interview His whole attitude about dressing well was part of the narrative that we Africans have been denied our humanity for so long People have always had stereotypes about us and he was saying dressing well is not just a matter of money not just something for Westerners but that we Africans also have elegance It was all about defining ourselves and refusing to be stripped of our humanity 24 Papa Wemba s impact on the culture is also reflected by his influence on a new generation of musicians and performers For example Priyan Weerappuli leader of the Sri Lankan group Pahan Silu referred to Wemba as being among his greatest musical influences 27 Weerappuli claims that he was first introduced to Wemba s music in 2004 and was deeply inspired by the free rhythms demonstrated by Wemba s Soukous style and from that point began experimenting with these rhythms in his own compositions 27 Many others paid tribute to Papa Wemba s legacy after his death in April 2016 Some of them included not only Koffi Olomide and Manu Dibango both mentioned previously but musicians King Kikii and Femi Kuti along with soccer star Samuel Eto o among others gave testimony to his lasting influence on them 28 Film work EditPapa Wemba got some attention as a movie actor primarily because he played the male lead role in a very successful Zairean film La Vie est Belle Life is Beautiful 1987 by Belgian director Benoit Lamy and Congolese producer director Ngangura Mweze 29 Wemba made another kind of contribution to cinema thanks to his work on the soundtracks for Children of Men Besieged and Black Mic Mac Wemba is also credited as composer of the scores for the films Identity Pieces Macadam tribu along with Life is Beautiful 30 During his life Wemba acted in a few more successful films although he played only minor roles As recently as 2012 he had a cameo role in the Belgian drama film Kinshasa Kids 31 Beyond the impact of his important role in Life is Beautiful there are his many music videos and recorded band performances Also Wemba is featured as himself in many documentary films which were generally well received including The Importance of Being Elegant The Real World of Peter Gabriel and The African Rock n Roll Years all television documentaries 30 Death EditWemba died at the age of 66 after collapsing on stage in Abidjan Cote d Ivoire during the FEMUA urban music festival on Sunday 24 April 2016 3 On Monday 25 April it was reported that his widow Mama Marie Luzolo Amazone flew to Abidjan accompanied by family members and government officials 32 In Wemba s hometown of Kinshasa both fellow musicians and fans gathered together as a tribute to his legacy Similar tributes also took place in Paris London Brussels and Nairobi 32 Selected discography EditMain article Papa Wemba discography Studio albums Papa Wemba EMI France 1988 Le Voyageur Real World Records Virgin Records 1992 Foridoles 1994 Emotion Real World Records Virgin Records 1995 FR 129 US 14 World Molokai Real World Records Virgin Records 1998 Nouvelle Ecriture dans L 1998 M Zee Fula Ngenge 1999 Legende 2001 Notre Pere Rumba 2009 Live albums Papa Wemba Au Japon 1986 Papa Wemba Live New Morning Real World Records 2006 Other albums Wake Up with Koffi Olomide 1996 Big Blue Ball Real World Records Rykodisc 2008 BE 37 FR 13 US 130Filmography EditLes Habits neufs du gouverneur The Governor s New Clothes 2005 33 34 Combat de fauves Wild Games 1997 role The African 35 La Vie est Belle Life Is Beautiful alternate title Life Is Rosy 1987 role Kourou 29 Kinshasa Kids Kinshasa Kids 2012 role himselfNotes Edit Both groups used the lokole a hollow tree trunk played with two sticks as a rhythmic foundation References Edit a b c d e f g h i Ray Rita 25 April 2016 What made Papa Wemba so influential BBC News Retrieved 27 April 2016 a b Papa Wemba amp viva la musica dances Archived from the original on 9 May 2008 Retrieved 27 April 2016 a b Papa Wemba Congo music star dies after stage collapse BBC News 24 April 2016 a b Errol Barnett CNN 9 November 2012 Congo s fashion cult Cut from a different cloth CNN a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a author has generic name help Andreas Preuss 24 April 2016 Papa Wemba Africa s King of Rhumba Rock dies CNN com Retrieved 25 April 2016 He dressed his band Viva La Musica in the style and fans across Africa soon followed suit a b c Margalit Fox 25 April 2016 Papa Wemba Congolese King of Rumba Rock Is Dead at 66 The New York Times 26 April 2016 a b c d e Auzias Dominique Labourdette Jean Paul 2012 Congo Brazzaville 2012 13 Petit Fute p 69 ISBN 978 2 7469 5166 2 a b African Music Encyclopedia Papa Wemba Africanmusic org 3 November 2022 a b c d e Gates Henry Louis Akyeampong Emmanuel Niven Steven J 2012 Dictionary of African Biography OUP USA p 5 ISBN 978 0 19 538207 5 a b c d e f g h Harris Craig Biography Papa Wemba Allmusic Retrieved 15 June 2010 Final Call for Papa Wemba Daily Nation 25 April 2016 Steve Huey Bimi Ombale AllMusic a b c d e f g h i j Papa Wemba Official Website Bienvenue papa wemba com Archived from the original on 23 December 2014 Retrieved 28 April 2016 Note this website is in French top of the page and English bottom of the page a b Obituary Papa Wemba BBC News 24 April 2016 a b Stewart Gary 2000 Rumba on the River A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos Verso p 224 ISBN 978 1859843680 10 Things You Didn t Know About Koffi Olomide Bigeye ug 21 April 2014 Biography Papa Wemba IMDb com Retrieved 27 April 2016 The Real World of Peter Gabriel TV Movie 2009 IMDb com 6 August 2009 Peter Gabriel s Secret World Revisited on DVD Blu Ray TheImproper com Music News a b Congolese singer in French court BBC News 26 October 2004 Retrieved 27 April 2016 Robin Denselow 24 April 2016 Papa Wemba Congolese music s dandy with a dark side the Guardian Papa Wemba The Daddy of them all The Independent 3 July 2004 Archived from the original on 24 May 2022 Oppenheim Maya 24 April 2016 Papa Wemba dead Congolese musician dies after collapsing on stage aged 66 Independent Archived from the original on 24 May 2022 Retrieved 28 April 2016 a b Remembering African Singer And Style Icon Papa Wemba NPR org 25 April 2016 Idole des Congolais et roi de la rumba Papa Wemba est mort sur scene Le Parisien AFP 24 April 2016 Retrieved 27 April 2016 Papa Wemba amp Viva la Musica Enter the Sape Archived from the original on 21 January 2013 Retrieved 16 February 2013 a b Pahan Silu Homepage Member Biographies Pahansilu com Archived from the original on 24 February 2016 Retrieved 25 April 2016 Papa Wemba Stars remember the voice of Africa BBC News 25 April 2016 a b Life Is Rosy 1987 IMDb com 15 June 1988 a b Papa Wemba Filmography IMDb com Kenneth 13 October 2012 NYFF 2012 Kinshasa Kids PopOptiq a b Papa Wemba s body to be flown home Daily Nation 26 April 2016 Dilip Barman barman jhu edu 5 April 2005 Les habits neufs du gouverneur 2005 IMDb IMDb com Olivier Barlet 27 April 2005 Les Habits neufs du gouverneur Africultures com Retrieved 24 April 2020 meterlinka 18 March 1998 Wild Games 1997 IMDb com External links Edit Media related to Papa Wemba at Wikimedia Commons Official website Interview with Papa Wemba in 1995 Papa Wemba at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Papa Wemba amp oldid 1144743030, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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