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Papa Wemba: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Papa Wemba? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Papa Wemba
Radio Okapi via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (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. Dubbed the "King of Rumba Rock", 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, with whom he performed on stages throughout the world.

Quick facts about Papa Wemba

  • Full name: Papa Wemba
  • Born: 1949-06-14
  • Nationality: Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Known as: Musician
  • Wikidata ID: Q736274

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Papa Wemba?

Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (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.

What nationality is Papa Wemba?

Papa Wemba is Democratic Republic of the Congo.

When was Papa Wemba born?

Papa Wemba was born on 1949-06-14.

Sources

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