Papa Wemba

Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba was born on June 14, 1949, in Lubefu, Kasai. In 1969, he was a founding member of Zaiko Langa Langa, revitalizing Congolese music with driving drumkit rhythms and youthful energy.

In 1977, Wemba founded Orchestre Viva La Musica and established the bohemian commune of Village Molokai in Kinshasa. He transformed La Sape (Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Elegantes) into an international sartorial movement, proving that elegance is a spiritual affirmation of dignity. Collaborating with Peter Gabriel on the Real World label, his soaring vocal acrobatics captivated stadiums worldwide until his dramatic death on stage in Abidjan on April 24, 2016.