DRC musician Pepe Ndombe laid to rest

KINSHASA, Wednesday

Congolese musician Paul Ndombe Opetum, alias Pépé Ndombe, was buried on Tuesday in Kinshasa after two weeks of mourning.

Pépé 68, was a famous composer and singer. He died on May, 24 of heart attack.

Lots of his colleagues musicians of various generations, both younger and elders, mourned him for several days.

After Luambo Makiadi, alias Franco and Madilu System, Pépé Ndombe is an additional icon to disappear from the DRC musical landscape.

In the last days, he used to perform in Bana OK band with Lutumba Simaro Masiya, alias Simaro, his elder colleague (78 years old).

Some noticeable political leaders attended the religious celebration in “Notre Dame” catholic cathedral, namely Hon Aubin Minaku, the speaker of the National Assembly and Hon Vital Kamerhe who came third at the last presidential election of November 2011.

Pépé Ndombe died while he was preparing an album of six new songs to be launched late June.

In his 47 years carrier as a musician, Pépé Ndombe sang first with Rochereau Tabu Ley in African Fiesta and Afrisa band from 1967 to 1974. He was part of the team which performed in the Olympia Hall in Paris in 1970.

Among some famous songs he composed, “Hortense” is cited as the most popular. He then left the Rochereau Tabu Ley after some alleged misunderstandings and created his own band called “ Afrizam” before joining OK Jazz led by Franco in 1975.

He then left OK Jazz Band after Franco’s death and joined Bana OK band with other colleagues such as Simaro and Josky Kyambukuta.

Every Sundays, lots of music lovers use to join a famous music hall called “Chez Sébastien” in Nsele District, Eastern suburb of Kinshasa where Pépé Ndombe and Bana OK band used to perform.

Many DRC musicians of the old generation are disappearing more and more. Many of them generally die in total poverty without any medical care. Currently, Rochereau Tabu Ley and Josky Kiambukuta have been transferred to Europe for medical care.

Only Lutumba Simaro, 78, is living in Kinshasa where he is still performing with Bana OK Band.