Tshala Muana | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Élisabeth Tshala Muana Muidikay |
Born | Élisabethville, Belgian Congo | 13 March 1958
Died | 10 December 2022 Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo | (aged 64)
Genres | Soukous, Congolese rumba, Mutuashi |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Labels | Charly Records, Shanachie Records, Celluloid Records |
Élisabeth Tshala Muana Muidikay (13 March 1958 – 10 December 2022), known professionally as Tshala Muana, was a singer and dancer from Congo-Kinshasa. Considered the "Queen of Mutuashi", a traditional dance music from her native Kasai region, she is often called "Mamu National". [1] [2]
Muana started her artistic career as a dancer for the musical band Tsheke Tsheke Love in 1977 before turning to singing. [3] 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. [4] Her music has appeared in the soundtrack of the popular 1987 Congolese musical film La Vie est Belle and Aya of Yop City . [4]
Tshala Muana was born on 13 March 1958, in Lubumbashi, then part of the Belgian Congo, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. [3] She was the second of ten children of Amadeus Muidikayi, a soldier, and Alphonsine Bambiwa Tumba, a housewife. [3]
In 1964, when Muana Muidikay was 6 years old, her father was murdered. [3] 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. [5]
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. [6] [3] The singer was a public supporter of former President Joseph Kabila and his party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). [7]
On 10 December 2022, Tshala Muana died in Kinshasa, at the age of 64. [8] [9] [10]