Kinshasa, October 18th, 2026 (CPA).- A concert entitled “La Dernière Symphonie Papa Wemba,” held on Saturday at the Grande Halle of the French Institute in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), paid tribute to the late singer through a musical creation blending symphony and Congolese rumba, in keeping with his wish to see his works performed in this way.
“I worked with Papa Wemba for 15 years. It was his wish to see how we interpret his works by combining symphony and Congolese rumba. That is why I wanted to bring this project to life in order to pay tribute to him and keep his musical legacy alive,” said Chebli Msaidie, the event’s producer and manager.
According to him, “La Dernière Symphonie” (The last Symphony) brings this wish to life through an unprecedented musical creation in which the strings of a symphony orchestra meet the rhythms of Congolese rumba performed by the Molokai Orchestra. He said the initiative aims to revisit the late singer’s repertoire by offering original interpretations of his works, while highlighting the richness of Congolese music and the possibilities for dialogue between symphonic sounds and rumba.
Revisited hits and an outstanding performance by Reddy Amisi
Papa Wemba’s hit songs, including “Maman,” “Mi Amor” and “La Référence,” opened the evening in performances led by singer Tripasson, backed by the voices of Trecy La Cayenne and Vibration Ba Mpema. One of the concert’s highlights was Reddy Amisi’s performance of the song “Ufukutano.” Other iconic songs from the late singer’s repertoire, including “Maria Valencia,” “Rail On” and “Show Me the Way,” were also performed, bringing his works back to life through arrangements combining symphonic sounds with the rhythms of Congolese rumba.
The musical creation was placed under the artistic direction of Patrick Bebey, a French-Cameroonian pianist and conductor of the Molokai group, with which Papa Wemba undertook several international tours. Alongside him, several Congolese and foreign musicians contributed to this symphonic reinterpretation of the artist’s repertoire. They included Ramazani on guitar, Michel Bass, known as M. Ngo, on bass, Junior Kissangania on drums, Vincent Devilliers on percussion, Line Kruse on first violin, Lisa Murcia on violin, Anne Berry on viola and Julien Grattard on cello.
A musical legacy passed on to younger generations
Papa Wemba, whose real name was Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, was one of the leading figures in Congolese music and an ambassador of Congolese rumba around the world. His career, marked by a rich repertoire and lasting influence, helped promote this musical genre beyond the country’s borders. The artist died on April 24th, 2016, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, while performing on stage. He left behind a musical legacy that continues to inspire several generations.
Through “La Dernière Symphonie Papa Wemba,” the organizers seek to perpetuate this legacy by introducing audiences to his works in a new interpretative form, while preserving the identity of Congolese rumba and promoting the transmission of this artistic heritage to present and future generations. CPA/