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]
Tshala Muana | |
|---|---|
 Tshala (second from right) in Kinshasa in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Élisabeth Tshala Muana Muidikay |
| Born | 13 March 1958 Élisabethville, Belgian Congo |
| Died | 10 December 2022 (aged 64) Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Genres | Soukous, Congolese rumba, Mutuashi |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | Charly Records, Shanachie Records, Celluloid Records |
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]
Biography
editTshala 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]
Discography
editAlbums
edit- 1982: Kangungu
- 1983: Tshala Muana à Paris [volumes 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
- 1991: The Flying Star
- 1994: Ntambue
- 1996: Mutuashi
- 1999: Pika Pende
- 2003: Malu
- 2004: Tshanza
- 2007: Tshikuna Fou
- 2009: Sikila
- 2016: Lunzenze
Singles and EPs
edit- 1981: "Amina" / "Tshebele"
- 1987: "Antidote"
- 1988: "Karibu Yangu"
References
edit- ^ "RDC : l'artiste musicienne Tshala Muana n'est pas décédée, elle est hospitalisée à Kinshasa" (in French). 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ^ Tshala Muana, Mutuashi, Stern's Africa, retrieved 2022-11-21
- ^ a b c d e "Tshala Muana: The raunchy DR Congo diva who captivated a continent". BBC News. 2022-12-17. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
- ^ a b "CARRIERE DE L'ARTISTE MUSICIENNE Elisabeth Muidikayi Tshala Muana". www.congovirtuel.com. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ^ "RDC : l'artiste musicienne Tshala Muana n'est pas décédée, elle est hospitalisée à Kinshasa -". Linterview.cd (in French). 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ Dianou, Claudia (2020-11-16). "RDC: la célèbre chanteuse Tshala Muana arrêtée". Bénin Web TV (in French). Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ^ "Congolese singer Tshala Muana arrested in Kinshasa". The East African. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2022-11-21.
- ^ Redaction, Mbote (December 10, 2022). "Décès de la chanteuse Tshala Muana". Mbote. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ Redaction, Mbote (December 10, 2022). "Tshala Muana de 1958 à 2022 (Biographie)". Mbote. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
- ^ Tshala Muana, Congolese Singer With Danceable Messages, Dies at 64