Watch Legend Papa Wemba Slump and Die During Performance

The African music scene has been hit with yet another death as just a few days after the passing of legendary musician, Prince, Congolese great, Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba a.k.a PaPa Wemba slumped and died during his performance in Abidjan, Ivory Coast today aged 66 years.

The singer is said to have suffered a seizure during his performance at the Festival des Musiques Urbaines d’Anoumabo (FEMUA).

VIDEO: The moment legendary African musician Papa Wemba slumped while performing on stage at #FEMUA9. pic.twitter.com/beZDcDgLvk #RIPPapaWemba

— NBS Television (@nbstv) April 24, 2016

This picture via @nnenna shows the moment Papa Wemba slumped to the ground at #FEMUA9. #RIPPapa pic.twitter.com/z0ucOvo0KD

— NBS Television (@nbstv) April 24, 2016

Initial reports indicate Papa Wemba slumped while attending the Festival des Musiques Urbaines d'Anoumabo (FEMUA) – in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

— NBS Television (@nbstv) April 24, 2016

The African Legend known around the world as the King of Rhumba Rock a.ka. Soukous was born on June 14, 1949 in Lubefu, Sankuru District, Belgian Congo.

Papa Wemba known for great hits like “L’Esclave” (1986), “Le Voyageur, Maria Valencia” (1992), “Foridoles, Dixieme Commandement” (1994) was also a talented actor starring in the successful Zairean (Congolese) film La Vie est Belle by Belgian director Benoît Lamy and Congolese producer-director Ngangura Mweze, where he played the male lead in 1987.

The singer claimed to have undergone a spiritual conversion in jail 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.” He spent three and half months in jail on charges of involvement in a network that has allegedly smuggled hundreds of illegal immigrants from the Democratic Republic of Congo (former Zaire) into Europe.

The exact cause of death is yet unknown.
We will bring more details as they unfold.