SINGER
Papa Wemba
1949 - 2016

Papa Wemba
Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (14 June 1949 – 24 April 2016), known professionally as Papa Wemba (French pronunciation: [papa wɛmba]), was a Congolese singer and musician who played Congolese rumba, soukous, and ndombolo. 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. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Papa Wemba is the 616th most popular singer, the 14th most popular biography from Democratic Republic of the Congo (down from 12th in 2019) and the most popular Congolese Singer.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of Papa Wemba by language
Among SINGERS
Among singers, Papa Wemba ranks 616 out of 4,381. Before him are Richard Tucker, J-Hope, Mísia, Al Green, Julie d'Aubigny, and IU. After him are Camila Cabello, Hayedeh, Jeanette, Anita Mui, Monica Zetterlund, and Keith Flint.
Most Popular Singers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsRichard Tucker
1913 - 1975
HPI: 61.48
Rank: 610
J-Hope
1994 - Present
HPI: 61.46
Rank: 611
Mísia
1955 - 2024
HPI: 61.45
Rank: 612
Al Green
1946 - Present
HPI: 61.44
Rank: 613
Julie d'Aubigny
1670 - 1707
HPI: 61.43
Rank: 614
IU
1993 - Present
HPI: 61.43
Rank: 615
Papa Wemba
1949 - 2016
HPI: 61.42
Rank: 616
Camila Cabello
1997 - Present
HPI: 61.41
Rank: 617
Hayedeh
1942 - 1990
HPI: 61.41
Rank: 618
Jeanette
1951 - Present
HPI: 61.38
Rank: 619
Anita Mui
1963 - 2003
HPI: 61.38
Rank: 620
Monica Zetterlund
1937 - 2005
HPI: 61.37
Rank: 621
Keith Flint
1969 - 2019
HPI: 61.36
Rank: 622
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1949, Papa Wemba ranks 225. Before him are Tadashi Yanai, Thierry Sabine, José Pékerman, Philip Michael Thomas, Bill Bruford, and Rick Wakeman. After him are Ottavia Piccolo, Lindsey Buckingham, Bernard Farcy, George Dalaras, Efua Dorkenoo, and Lois McMaster Bujold. Among people deceased in 2016, Papa Wemba ranks 186. Before him are Rudi Altig, Javier Echevarría Rodríguez, Louis Pilot, Peter Hans Kolvenbach, Elizabeth Roemer, and Hassan Al-Turabi. After him are Zdravko Tolimir, Željko Čajkovski, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, Jean-Baptiste Bagaza, Jadranka Stojaković, and Vanity.
Others Born in 1949
Go to all RankingsTadashi Yanai
BUSINESSPERSON
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.48
Rank: 219
Thierry Sabine
RACING DRIVER
1949 - 1986
HPI: 61.47
Rank: 220
José Pékerman
SOCCER PLAYER
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.46
Rank: 221
Philip Michael Thomas
ACTOR
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.45
Rank: 222
Bill Bruford
MUSICIAN
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.43
Rank: 223
Rick Wakeman
MUSICIAN
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.42
Rank: 224
Papa Wemba
SINGER
1949 - 2016
HPI: 61.42
Rank: 225
Ottavia Piccolo
ACTOR
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.36
Rank: 226
Lindsey Buckingham
MUSICIAN
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.31
Rank: 227
Bernard Farcy
ACTOR
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.27
Rank: 228
George Dalaras
SINGER
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.27
Rank: 229
Efua Dorkenoo
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1949 - 2014
HPI: 61.24
Rank: 230
Lois McMaster Bujold
WRITER
1949 - Present
HPI: 61.22
Rank: 231
Others Deceased in 2016
Go to all RankingsRudi Altig
CYCLIST
1937 - 2016
HPI: 61.82
Rank: 180
Javier Echevarría Rodríguez
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1932 - 2016
HPI: 61.82
Rank: 181
Louis Pilot
SOCCER PLAYER
1940 - 2016
HPI: 61.80
Rank: 182
Peter Hans Kolvenbach
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1928 - 2016
HPI: 61.68
Rank: 183
Elizabeth Roemer
ASTRONOMER
1929 - 2016
HPI: 61.54
Rank: 184
Hassan Al-Turabi
POLITICIAN
1932 - 2016
HPI: 61.48
Rank: 185
Papa Wemba
SINGER
1949 - 2016
HPI: 61.42
Rank: 186
Zdravko Tolimir
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1948 - 2016
HPI: 61.39
Rank: 187
Željko Čajkovski
SOCCER PLAYER
1925 - 2016
HPI: 61.36
Rank: 188
Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
POLITICIAN
1936 - 2016
HPI: 61.33
Rank: 189
Jean-Baptiste Bagaza
POLITICIAN
1946 - 2016
HPI: 61.25
Rank: 190
Jadranka Stojaković
MUSICIAN
1950 - 2016
HPI: 61.24
Rank: 191
Vanity
ACTOR
1959 - 2016
HPI: 61.03
Rank: 192
In Democratic Republic of the Congo
Among people born in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Papa Wemba ranks 14 out of 107. Before him are Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (1960), Félix Tshisekedi (1963), Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya (1939), Antoine Gizenga (1925), Joseph Kabila (1971), and Étienne Tshisekedi (1932). After him are Simon Kimbangu (1887), Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi (1930), Kembo Uba Kembo (1947), Ota Benga (1883), Sylvestre Ilunga (1947), and Marie Myriam (1957).
Others born in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Go to all RankingsFridolin Ambongo Besungu
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1960 - Present
HPI: 65.99
Rank: 8
Félix Tshisekedi
POLITICIAN
1963 - Present
HPI: 65.85
Rank: 9
Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1939 - 2021
HPI: 64.03
Rank: 10
Antoine Gizenga
POLITICIAN
1925 - 2019
HPI: 63.94
Rank: 11
Joseph Kabila
POLITICIAN
1971 - Present
HPI: 62.71
Rank: 12
Étienne Tshisekedi
POLITICIAN
1932 - 2017
HPI: 61.99
Rank: 13
Papa Wemba
SINGER
1949 - 2016
HPI: 61.42
Rank: 14
Simon Kimbangu
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1887 - 1951
HPI: 61.04
Rank: 15
Frédéric Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi
POLITICIAN
1930 - 2007
HPI: 59.74
Rank: 16
Kembo Uba Kembo
SOCCER PLAYER
1947 - 2007
HPI: 59.38
Rank: 17
Ota Benga
CELEBRITY
1883 - 1916
HPI: 59.36
Rank: 18
Sylvestre Ilunga
POLITICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 58.18
Rank: 19
Marie Myriam
SINGER
1957 - Present
HPI: 57.22
Rank: 20
Among SINGERS In Democratic Republic of the Congo
Among singers born in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Papa Wemba ranks 1. After him are Marie Myriam (1957), Koffi Olomide (1956), Maître Gims (1986), Mohombi (1986), and Tusse (2002).
Papa Wemba
1949 - 2016
HPI: 61.42
Rank: 1
Marie Myriam
1957 - Present
HPI: 57.22
Rank: 2
Koffi Olomide
1956 - Present
HPI: 54.61
Rank: 3
Maître Gims
1986 - Present
HPI: 50.82
Rank: 4
Mohombi
1986 - Present
HPI: 48.37
Rank: 5
Tusse
2002 - Present
HPI: 38.77
Rank: 6