"King of Congolese Rumba" Dies at the Age of 66
Wemba, 66, was known as the "king of Congolese rumba" for helping to bring the highly popular sound to an international audience.
The musician fell ill in the early hours of Sunday morning. The cause of his death has not been established.
The flamboyant singer died shortly after performing three songs at the Urban Musical Festival at Anoumabo in Abidjan. The festival's management expressed its "deep sorrow" at the death of a man who has been at the forefront of African music for more than four decades.
Wemba was born Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba in June 1949 in what was then Belgian Congo.
He began singing in religious choirs in which he developed his trademark high-range voice, making his debut in the capital Kinshasa at the end of the 1960s.
He inherited his love of song from his mother, who was a professional "wailing woman" at funerals.
He was convicted in 2004 of smuggling illegal immigrants into France by disguising them as members of his band but walked free as he had already served four months behind bars.
He was supported by a host of fans during his Paris trial.
Wemba, who was known for his flamboyant style of dress, was a founding member of the "Society of Dandies and Trendy People" in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Like many of his generation he was strongly influenced by the US and UK pop culture and initially took the stage name Jules Presley.
In 1969 Wemba helped found Zaiko Langa Langa, a Zaire-based pop group that was to achieve cult status in the 1970s with its revival of Latin American rumba.
The group revitalised the style that had been popular in the 1940s, using a combination of Afro-Cuban rhythm and Congolese song and introducing rock rhythms and electronic sounds.
Wemba settled in France in 1986 as his fame began to reach as far as Japan. Fans were dazzled by the African dandy who was dressed by the world's leading designers.
He reached the wider public thanks to a world music album produced by France's Martin Meissonnier in 1988.
His career began to falter after parting ways in 1999 with the Real World record label that was founded by former Genesis singer Peter Gabriel.
He was the icon of our culture, of our lifestyle. This is a huge loss.
R.I.P
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