×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Read Offline Anywhere
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

Unsung heroes

In death, like in life, the Government offers our musicians scant respect, write Emmanuel Mwendwa and Mike Owuor

On October 17, 1989, Franco Luambo Makiadi, one of Africa’s greatest musicians, was laid to rest at Gombe cemetery in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The state funeral, attended by Government representatives and thousands of fans, was the culmination of four days of national mourning declared by President Mobutu Sese Seko, after the TP OK Jazz band leader died in Belgium on October 12.

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week
Uncover the stories others won’t tell. Subscribe now for exclusive access
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Uninterrupted ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimized reading experience
  • Weekly Newsletters
  • MPesa, Airtel Money and Cards accepted
Already a subscriber? Log in

Related Topics