A special tribute service in honour of veteran Congolese guitarist Papa Noel Nedule will be held today in Grigny on the outskirts of Paris. This is the suburb area of Paris where he spent a greater part of his musical career.
Papa Noel, who died on Monday, had been hospitalised in Grigny where he had been living with his family. His body is lying at a morgue in the same area.
According to a press statement by the Office of the Mayor of Grigny Municipality released earlier this week, the tribute service is due to be held today at the Alice Milliat Gymnasium, Grigny.
His family was still liaising with the municipality and his counterparts as concerns the burial date.
Papa Noel was one of the most respected musicians considered an elder and an inspiration to most of the Congolese artistes based in Europe. As Paris-based singer Balou Canta also pointed out back home in DR Congo, Papa Noel will also be remembered for his diversity in having performed with different groups both in Congo Brazzaville and Congo Kinshasa.
Some of those expected at today’s Papa Noel tribute service include some of his former counterparts in Europe like Loko Massengo, Bumba Massa, Wuta Mayi, Nyboma Mwandido, Michelino Mavatiku, Carlyto Lassa and Syran Mbenza.
Ever since leaving Franco Luambo Makiadi's legendary TPOK Jazz in the early 1980s, Papa Noel has been more on a solo production career - initially in Africa before moving to Europe. Born Antoine Nedule Monswet, he is fondly remembered for the Tangawisi hit song which he composed while still with the TP OK Jazz band. Later he produced other popular solo recordings like Bon Samaritain, Malou, Juliana, Lolita and Kizungu zungu. Meanwhile in Tanzania, the rhumba fraternity is mourning the death of veteran singer King Kiki (Boniface Kikumbi) of Kitambaa Cheupe song fame, who died on Thursday night after a long illness at a hospital in Dar es Salaam.
Meanwhile, members of the King Lion Sounds reggae group featuring Papa Chally will next Tuesday host a special rub-a-dub show at the New Benrose Motel on Kangundo Road in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, on Fridays, the group entertains reggae fans at Johnie's Bar and Lounge, Jonsaga also in Nairobi. On Saturday at Blue Hut Hotel on Park Road (Opposite Muslim Academy) in Ngara, Nairobi. Revellers will be entertained by DJ Papa Chally, and DJ Crown Tubbs alongside others.
Elsewhere, for rhumba fans in Mombasa, the Ambro La Musica is on stage every Sunday at Palmas Leisure, Likoni. Shows start at 5pm.
In Mombasa, popular Rhumba musician Ricky Mulolo and his Idologia International Band perform every Wednesday at the Toscana Restaurant and Lounge (near Pirate Beach)
