Papa Wemba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Papa Wemba
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Papa Wemba, photographed in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba |
| Born | 14 June 1949 Lubefu, Belgian Congo (now Sankuru, DR Congo) |
| Died | 24 April 2016 (aged 66) Abidjan, Ivory Coast |
| Genres | Soukous |
Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (born June 14, 1949 – died April 24, 2016) was a famous singer and musician from Congo. He was known by his stage name, Papa Wemba. He played different types of music like Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. People called him the "King of Rumba Rock" because he was one of the most popular musicians in Africa. He also helped make world music popular.
Papa Wemba was also a trendsetter in fashion. He made the "Sape" style famous through his music group, Viva la Musica. He performed all over the world with his band.
Contents
Musical Journey
Papa Wemba's journey to becoming famous started in the late 1960s. He joined a music group called Zaiko Langa Langa. After that, he helped start two other bands, Isifi Lokole and Yoka Lokole. He also spent a short time with Afrisa International.
During these early years, he created his own unique music style. It mixed traditional Congolese rumba and soukous with African sounds, Caribbean rhythms, rock, and soul. Papa Wemba became internationally famous with his band Viva La Musica. This happened especially after they went to Paris, France in the early 1980s. In Paris, Wemba added more "eclectic sounds" to his music. These sounds were influenced by Western pop music, which people called "Europop."
Zaiko Langa Langa Days
Papa Wemba was one of the first musicians to join the band Zaiko Langa Langa (ZLL). This important rock-rumba band was formed in December 1969 in Kinshasa. Many well-known Congolese musicians, like Nyoka Longo Jossart, were part of it. Papa Wemba stayed with the group for four years.
Papa Wemba, then known as Jules Presley Shungu Wembadio, helped Zaiko Langa Langa become very successful. By 1973, it was one of the most popular groups in Congo. ZLL's shows featured many of their hit songs, and some of them were written by Wemba. These included "Pauline," "C'est La Vérité," "Chouchouna," and "Liwa Ya Somo."
Zaiko Langa Langa became very popular. Even back then, the Congolese music scene had many famous acts. These included Franco Luambo and his band TPOK Jazz, and Tabu Ley Rochereau's groups. ZLL also competed with new bands like Bella-Bella and Empire Bakuba.
Starting Isifi Lokole
In December 1974, Papa Wemba, along with Evoloko Lay Lay, Mavuela Somo, and Bozi Boziana, left Zaiko Langa Langa. They started their own music group called Isifi Lokole. This happened right after the famous Rumble in the Jungle boxing match in Kinshasa.
In July 1975, Shungu Wembadio officially started using the name Papa Wemba. The name "Papa" (father) was given to him because he was his mother's first son. He took on many family responsibilities from a young age. Isifi Lokole only stayed together for one year. Their biggest hit song was "Amazone," which Papa Wemba wrote.
Forming Yoka Lokole
In November 1975, Papa Wemba, Mavuela Somo, and Bozi Boziana left Isifi Lokole. They created a new group called Yoka Lokole. This band also made popular African pop songs. Some of their hits included "Matembele Bangui," "Lisuma ya Zazu" (by Papa Wemba), and "Bana Kin" (by Mavuela Somo).
Like Isifi Lokole, Yoka Lokole used electronic instruments and lasted about a year. After some challenges within the group, Papa Wemba decided to form a new band in 1977. He called it Viva la Musica.
Viva la Musica Era
In 1977–78, Papa Wemba returned to the Matonge neighborhood in Kinshasa. There, he created his new group, Viva la Musica. He got the idea for the name in 1974. He had attended a concert in Kinshasa by the New York-based group, Fania All-Stars. During that concert, a singer would shout "Viva La Musica!" and the audience would cheer.
Wemba wanted Viva la Musica to feature young, talented, but not-yet-famous artists. These included singers like Prince Espérant and Koffi Olomide, and guitarists like Rigo Star. The new group also used a traditional instrument called the lokole. They also had a special dance called the mukonyonyo and their own fashion style.
The band became successful right away. In their first year, a Kinshasa newspaper named them "best orchestra." Their song "Mère Supérieure" was named best song. For the next three years, Viva la Musica had more hit songs. These included "Moku Nyon Nyon" and "Nyekesse Migue'l."
After his success with three important groups, Papa Wemba started a special place for musicians in 1977. He used his family home in Matonge as a cool meeting spot for young people. He called it "Village Molokai" and saw himself as its leader.
Moving to Paris
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Papa Wemba began traveling to Paris. He believed there was a bigger audience for his music there.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, Wemba's music style was very clear. It was a mix of rumba, soukous, ndombolo, Latin, and rock, with a European pop feel. To explore new musical ideas, Viva la Musica became two groups. Wemba had one group in Kinshasa and another in Paris. The group stayed very popular in world music with hits like "Le Voyageur" (1992) and "Emotion" (1995).
By this time, Wemba's music, which mixed African, Cuban, and Western styles, was not only popular in Africa. It was also reaching audiences outside of Africa. In 1993, Wemba joined Peter Gabriel for his Secret World Tour. This brought more attention to Wemba's unique style. His Emotion album, released in 1995, showed his global popularity. This album sold over 100,000 copies.
Cultural Impact
In 1979, Papa Wemba became an unofficial leader of La Sape. This was a youth fashion group in Zaire (now DR Congo). La Sape means "Society of Atmosphere-setters and Elegant People." Their style was inspired by fashion in Paris and Milan.
Papa Wemba also influenced many new musicians. For example, Priyan Weerappuli, a musician from Sri Lanka, said Wemba was one of his biggest influences. Weerappuli said he was "deeply inspired by the free rhythms demonstrated by Wemba's Soukous style."
Many people honored Papa Wemba after he passed away in April 2016. Musicians like Koffi Olomide and Femi Kuti, and soccer star Samuel Eto'o, spoke about his lasting influence.
Acting in Films
Papa Wemba also gained attention as an actor. He played the main male role in a very successful Zairean film called La Vie est Belle (Life is Beautiful) in 1987. This film was made by Belgian director Benoît Lamy and Congolese producer-director Ngangura Mweze.
Wemba also helped with movie soundtracks. He worked on the music for films like Children of Men and Besieged. He is also listed as the "composer" for the music in Identity Pieces, Macadam tribu, and Life is Beautiful.
During his life, Wemba acted in a few more successful films, even if they were smaller roles. In 2012, he had a small role in the Belgian film Kinshasa Kids. Besides his film roles, he also appeared in many music videos and recorded performances. Wemba was also featured as himself in several documentary films. These included The Importance of Being Elegant and The Real World of Peter Gabriel.
His Passing
Papa Wemba passed away at the age of 66. He collapsed on stage in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, during a music festival on Sunday, April 24, 2016. The next day, his wife and family traveled to Abidjan. In his hometown of Kinshasa, musicians and fans gathered to honor him. Similar tributes also took place in Paris, London, Brussels, and Nairobi.
Selected Music Albums
Studio albums
- Papa Wemba, EMI France (1988)
- Le Voyageur, Real World Records / Virgin Records (1992)
- Foridoles (1994)
- Emotion, Real World Records / Virgin Records (1995)
- Molokaï, Real World Records / Virgin Records (1998)
- Nouvelle Ecriture dans L (1998)
- M’Zée Fula-Ngenge (1999)
- Légende (2001)
- Notre Père 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)
Filmography
- Les Habits neufs du gouverneur (The Governor's New Clothes) (2005)
- Combat de fauves (Wild Games) (1997) – role: "The African"
- La Vie est Belle (Life Is Beautiful) (1987) – role: Kourou
- Kinshasa Kids (Kinshasa Kids) (2012)-role: himself
Images for kids
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Papa Wemba, photographed in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Papa Wemba para niños
