Kinshasa, April 12th, 2026 (CPA).- A tribute marking the tenth anniversary of the death of singer Papa Wemba from the Democratic Republic of Congo is scheduled for April 24th in Abidjan, in Ivory Coast, at the site of his death, as part of the “Femua Music Festival”, according to a press release consulted on Sunday by CPA. “Papa Wemba forever in our hearts. Ten years after his death on stage at the Anoumabo Urban Music Festival (Femua), he will be celebrated in Anoumabo, on the very spot where he has put down the microphone for the last time,” it is read in this statement from Femua.
“We look forward to seeing you on April 24th at 3 pm at Papa Wemba Square (Anoumabo) to pay a heartfelt tribute to the chief of Molokaï village,” the text has specified. Meanwhile, in Kinshasa, several events and festivals are also scheduled, including: sapeur parades, tribute concerts, exhibitions and documentary screenings, to immortalise the work of this iconic figure of Congolese rumba who left his mark on the history of African music. This year’s Femua, taking place from April 28th to May 3rd in Anoumabo, is a showcase of Ivory Coast. More than 100,000 festival-goers flock there each day for a mix of music, dance, comedy, sport and social initiatives to benefit the underprivileged. This gathering was launched in 2008 on the initiative of the Ivorian singer from A’Salfo, alias Salif Traore, with a view to preserving the legacy of Ivory Coast’s ‘Magic System’, the famous African band that has also left its mark on the global music scene.