BELGIUM: Belgium's African community pays tribute to Congolese King of rumba Tabu Ley
Record ID:
860786
BELGIUM: Belgium's African community pays tribute to Congolese King of rumba Tabu Ley
- Title: BELGIUM: Belgium's African community pays tribute to Congolese King of rumba Tabu Ley
- Date: 6th December 2013
- Summary: PEOPLE STANDING, LISTENING TO CHOIR CHOIR SINGING VARIOUS OF CEREMONY IN PROGRESS WREATHS PLACED AT COFFIN PEOPLE SINGING PORTRAIT OF TABU LEY PRINTED ON DRESS OF WOMAN WOMAN CLAPPING HANDS TO MUSIC PRIESTS STANDING BY COFFIN VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING PAST COFFIN TO PAY LAST RESPECT WOMAN TOUCHING COFFIN AS SHE PAYS LAST RESPECT WOMAN BIDDING FAREWELL VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING PAST COFFIN TO PAY LAST RESPECTS AND BID FAREWELL MAN HANDING OUT LEAFLETS PAYING TRIBUTE TO TABU LEY POSTER OF TABU LEY
- Embargoed: 21st December 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Belgium
- City:
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Obituaries
- Reuters ID: LVA59M6D7H29WS2LEW0XHHAZFMRV
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Hundreds of members of Belgium's African diaspora paid tribute to Congolese King of Rumba Tabu Ley Rochereau at a ceremony in Brussels's main cathedral on Friday (December 6).
The Congolese singer-songwriter, whose fusion of African and Latin rhythms touched generations across Africa, died in a Belgium hospital on November 30 at age 73.
Close relatives and friends stood quietly outside Brussels's main St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral as a group of African artists took a white coffin holding Tabu Ley's body from the hearse.
A portrait of a young Tabu stood at the altar in the church, as an African choir sang songs in honour of the superstar.
One man who had taken care of Tabu Ley during the last six months of his life in a Brussels rest house, said he would be remembered as a great man.
"I will simply say, that he was a great man, who has left his footprint in Africa through music," said Armand Malapa, who works as a care-taker in a rest house.
At the end of the ceremony, people wiped tears as they passed by the coffin to pay their final respects.
Born in 1940 in the then Belgian Congo by the name Pascal Emmanuel Sinamoyi, Tabu became one of Africa's most influential vocalists and songwriters, who has been dubbed the "African Elvis".
During his career, that took off in 1956, he composed up to 3,000 songs and produced 250 albums.
One of Tabu's daughters said a state funeral would be held in Kinshasa where he will also be buried.
His body will be flown back on Saturday (December 7). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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