Artist
Papa Wemba
Papa Wemba is a world artist from Congolese. 84 releases are catalogued on Riffiter.
World · Congolese · Best world albums
- 84
- Releases
- 1976–2026
- Active years
Discography
75
Most popular
Maître d'école
2014 · 25 tracks
Papa Wemba
2005
L'esclave
1986
Nkunzi Nlele
2025
Bazonkion
2025
Viva La Musica 1978 - 1980 Volume 2
2023
Femme Sans Bijoux
2021
Beau Gosse Ya Paris
2020
Emotion (25th Anniversary Edition)
2020
100% Papa Wemba Vol.3 (10 Essential Titles)
2018
LE DUO DES ANNEES 70
2018
100% Papa Wemba, vol. 1 (10 Essential Titles)
2018
100% Papa Wemba vol.2 (10 Essential Titles)
2018
Mokili Ngele (Un pas qui va, un pas qui revient)
2017
Le zenith de Papa Wemba, vol. 1 (live) (Esprit de fêtes, nouvelle écriture)
2017
Forever de génération en génération
2016
La guerre des stars
2015
Mayi ya pembe (Liso ya mokonzi)
2015
Merci papa
2015
8ème anniversaire de Viva La Musica
2015
Kuru yaka
2014
Love Kilawu
2012
De génération en génération
2012
Mwana Matebu - La cour des grands
2011
Mwana Matebu
2011
La Naissance De L'orchestre Viva La Musica
2011
Trait d'union (Chaque jour est une vie) - EP
2011
Ya Biso Moko
2011
Mingelina B52 - EP
2011
Viva la Musica 1977 - 1978 - 1980
2011
Kaka Yo
2010
Notre père Rumba
2010
Best of Papa Wemba
2009
Pôle position
2008
Papa Wemba au Japon
2008
Chérie Kadetti
2008
Somo trop (Trop somo)
2008
Destin Ya Moto
2008
Dans L' (Nouvelle écriture)
2008
Foridoles
2008
Dans l'
2008
Papa Wemba Live New Morning
2006
Et Viva La Musica
2006
Viva Tendances
2006
Mwana Molokai - The First Twenty Years
2004
Bakala dia kuba
2001
À LA UNE (Nouvelle Ecriture)
2001
Mokili Complique
2001
Le zénith de papa wemba, vol. 2 (Esprit de fêtes)
1999
Le zénith de papa wemba, vol. 1 (Esprit de fêtes)
1999
Le Zenith de Papa Wemba, vol. 2 (Live) (Esprit de fêtes, nouvelle écriture)
1999
M'Zée Fula Ngenge
1999
Molokai (Real World Gold)
1998
1978/1979 Au Village Molokaï, Vol. 2
1997
So Why
1997
Nouvelle Ecriture
1997
Les meilleurs succès de Papa Wemba, vol. 2
1996
Wake Up
1996
Zea
1996
Place Vendome
1995
Place Vendome La Nouvelle Generation
1995
Emotion (Real World Gold)
1995
Le Voyageur
1992
Viva La Musica De Papa Wemba Dans "Biloko Ya Moto"
1991
Le jour j (Nouvelle génération à Paris)
1990
Le Jour J
1990
- The Kershaw Sessions
The Kershaw Sessions
1989
Eliana Petite Gina
1987
8e Anniversaire
1985
Le Kuru Yaka
1983
Beloti
1982
Franco présente Papa Wemba à Paris
1981
Les Meilleurs Succès De Papa Wemba, Vol. 1
1977
Mabele Mokonzi (Elou)
1977
Ndako Ya Ndele
1976
Popular tracks
Trending this week
Singles & EPs
9
Show Me The Way
Single · 2026
Mandola
Single · 2026
Papa Wemba: The Remixes #1
Single · 2026
Wake Up (Remix)
Single · 2025
Yolele (Hiibra Remix)
Single · 2024
Yolele
Single · 2022
Honneur pour la paix
Single · 2019
Mokriato (Micky Milan Remix)
Single · 2019
Chacun pour soi (feat. Diamond Platnumz) - Single
Single · 2016
Collaborators
1
Community
More about Papa Wemba
About
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. Sometimes dubbed the "King of Rumba Rock", he was one of the most popular musicians of his time in Africa and played an important role in world music. He was also a fashion icon who popularized the Sape look and style through his musical group Viva la Musica, with whom he performed on stages throughout the world. Musical history : Papa Wemba's road to fame and prominence began when he joined the music group Zaiko Langa Langa in the late 1960s. This was followed by his success as a founding member both of Isifi Lokole and then Yoka Lokole, along with a short stint as a member of Afrisa International for a few months. During these early stages of his career, he was establishing a style that included traditional Congolese rumba and soukous, infused with traditional African sounds, Caribbean rhythms, rock and soul. But Wemba gained international success and status with his band Viva La Musica, especially after he took them to Paris, France in the early 1980s.
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It was there that Wemba was able to achieve more of an "eclectic sound" in his work, influenced by western popular music that reflected a European flavor and style, referred to as "Europop." Wemba spoke about this transition in his music during a 2004 interview: “When I started singing pop music, I left religious music completely. But there was always the influence of religious music on my voice because, with religious music, the minor key always recurs. When I compose songs, I often use the minor key.”
Papa Wemba in brief
- How many Papa Wemba releases are on Riffiter?
- 84 releases are catalogued, spanning 1976 to 2026.
- What genre is Papa Wemba?
- Papa Wemba is catalogued under World.
- What is the most recent Papa Wemba release on Riffiter?
- Show Me The Way, released in 2026.