Élisabeth Tshala Muana Muidikay (13 March 1958 – 10 December 2022), known professionally as Tshala Muana, was a singer and dancer from
Congo-Kinshasa
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
. Considered the "Queen of Mutuashi", a traditional dance music from her native
Kasai region, she is often called "Mamu National”.
Muana started her artistic career as a dancer for the musical band ''Tsheke Tsheke Love'' in 1977 before turning to singing.
She is famous for several songs such as "Karibu Yangu". She toured widely overseas, won several awards on the national, continental and global scene and recorded over 20 albums.
Her music has appeared in the soundtrack of the popular 1987 Congolese musical film
''La Vie est Belle'' and
''Aya of Yop City'' .
Biography
Tshala Muana was born on 13 March 1958, in
Lubumbashi
Lubumbashi (former names: (French), ( Dutch)) is the second-largest city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in the country's southeasternmost part, along the border with Zambia. The capital and principal city of the Haut-Katan ...
, then part of the
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo (french: Congo belge, ; nl, Belgisch-Congo) was a Belgian colony in Central Africa from 1908 until independence in 1960. The former colony adopted its present name, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 1964.
Colo ...
, now the
Democratic Republic of Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
.
She was the second of ten children of Amadeus Muidikayi, a soldier, and Alphonsine Bambiwa Tumba, a housewife.
In 1964, when Muana Muidikay was 6 years old, her father was murdered.
She was raised by her mother, who died in 2005.
In June 2020 she was rumored to have died, but was instead hospitalized after having suffered a stroke.
In November 2020, Muana was arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR), reportedly for her song "''Ingratitude",'' which was interpreted by many to be a veiled criticism of President Felix Tshisekedi, toward his former mentor and predecessor, President Joseph Kabila.
The singer was a public supporter of former President Joseph Kabila and his party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD).
On 10 December 2022, Tshala Muana died in Kinshasa, at the age of 64.
Tshala Muana, Congolese Singer With Danceable Messages, Dies at 64
/ref>
Discography
Albums
*1982: ''Kangungu''
*1983: ''Tshala Muana à Paris'' olumes 1 to 4*1984: ''Tshala Muana''
*1985: ''M'Pokolo''
*1985: ''Kami''
*1988: ''Nasi Nabali''
*1988: ''La Divine''
*1988: ''Biduaya''
*1989: ''Munanga''
*1990: ''Tshibola''
*1990: ''Mady''
*1990: ''Tshala Muana Dans Un Duo Pour L'Éternité'' With Papa Wemba
Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (14 June 1949 – 24 April 2016), known professionally as Papa Wemba (), was a Congolese singer and musician who played Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. Dubbed the "King of Rumba Rock", he was one of t ...
*1991: ''The Flying Star''
*1994: ''Ntambue''
*1996: ''Mutuashi''
*1999: ''Pika Pende''
*2003: ''Malu''
*2004: ''Mbombo''
*2009: ''Sikila''
*2016: ''Lunzenze''
Singles and EPs
*1981: "Amina" / "Tshebele"
*1987: "Antidote"
*1988: "Karibu Yangu"
References
External links
Tshalamuana.ifrance.com
*
Rumba on the River bio of Tshala Muana
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muana, Tshala
1958 births
2022 deaths
20th-century Democratic Republic of the Congo women singers
21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo women singers
People from Lubumbashi