Papa Wemba

**Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba** (June 14, 1949 – April 24, 2016), more commonly known by his stage name **Papa Wemba**, was a Congolese musician, known for working in the Congolese rumba (later known as soukous) genre. He was one of Africa's most popular musicians of the period and prominent in world music. In 1969, he was one of co-founders of the group Zaiko Langa Langa with M'Vula N'Yoka Longo and he began his career with this group before leaving them in 1974. He has been dubbed the "King of Rumba". He suffered a seizure while performing in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and died on 24 April 2016.

## Links to Kershaw

Papa Wemba did several sessions for Andy Kershaw's programmes, including one that was shared with John Peel in 1992. The first two sessions are available on Papa Wemba's album, The Kershaw Sessions, which was released in 1994. Along with sessions, Kershaw also played many songs from the artist on his programmes.

## Sessions

1. Recorded: 1989-02-27. First Broadcast: 16 March 1989

* M'Fono Yami / Hambayi Ede / Bokulaka

2. Recorded: 1992-08-19. First Broadcast: 05 September 1992

* Le Voyageur / Lingo Lingo / Matinda / Annah

3. Recorded: unknown. First Broadcast: 30 April 1995

* Ya Djale / Maria Valencia / Oldies Are Goodies / Zero

## Other Shows Played

1991
* 13 October 1991: L'Esclave (album - L'Esclave)
* 24 November 1991: Destin Ya Moto (CD - Papa Wemba) Disques Espérance

1992
* 14 March 1992: Trailed at the start of the programme, but doesn't seem to appear on the recordings
* 04 April 1992: Le Voyageur (CD - Le Voyageur) Real World
* 11 April 1992: Ombela (CD - Le Voyageur) Real World
* 09 May 1992: Lingo Lingo (CD - Le Voyageur) Real World

1994
* 17 September 1994: Dixieme Commandement (CD - Foridoles) Sonodisc
* 24 September 1994: Nzete Ya Sequoia (CD - Foridoles) Sonodisc
* 22 October 1994: Foridoles (CD - Foridoles) Sonodisc

1995
* 26 March 1995: Yolele (CD - Emotion) Real World
* 02 April 1995: Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song) (album - Emotion) Real World CDRW 52

1996
* 17 March 1996: Kaokokokorobo (CD - Pole Position) Sonodisc
* 16 June 1996: Sala Keba (Be Careful) (album - Emotion) Real World
* 22 December 1996: Kaokokokorobo (CD - Pole Position) Sonodisc

1997
* 06 October 1997: Moyi (CD - Compil Congo Kin) Syllart

1998
* 26 November 1998: Esclave (CD - Molokai) Real World
* 10 December 1998: M'Fono Yami (CD - Molokai) Realworld

1999
* 19 August 1999: Bibi Muana Ya Shaba (CD - M'zee Fula Ngenge) Sono

2002
* 11 January 2002: Pourquoi Tu N'Es Pas Là (CD - 100% Star Bakala Dia Kuba) Next Music
* 29 March 2002: Vanité Des Vanités (CD - 100% Star Bakala Dia Kuba) Next Music
* 10 May 2002: Esclave (v/a 2xCD - Under African Skies) BBC
* 29 November 2002: Mbalumuna (v/a CD - La Vie Est Belle) Sterns
* 29 November 2002: Esclave (CD - Viva La Musica) Gitta Gip

2003
* 16 November 2003: Numéro D'Ecrou (CD - Somo Trop) Next Music

2004
* 01 February 2004: Matebu (2xCD - Mwana Molokai - The First Twenty Years) Stern's Africa
* 15 February 2004: Esclave (Original Version) (2xCD - Mwana Molokai - The First Twenty Years) Stern's Africa
* 30 May 2004: Matebu (2xCD - Mwana Molokai - The First Twenty Years) Stern's Africa

2006
* 24 September 2006: Sala Keba (CD - New Morning) Synchronies

2007
* 26 March 2007: Esclave (v/a album - Under African Skies) BBC

2021
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 5: Esclave (Original Version) (2xCD - The First Twenty Years) Stern's Africa

2022
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 12: Matebu (album - Bakosi Liwa Ya Papa Wemba Eee!) Le Passeport
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 16: Le Voyageur (album - Kershaw Sessions) Strange Roots

2023
* Andy Kershaw Podcast Episode 20: Sala Keba (Be Careful) (album - Emotion) Real World

## External Links

* Wikipedia
* Discogs