Legendary Congolese musician dies in Paris

Brian Oruta 13:41 - 30 March 2019

Legendary Congolese singer Simaro Massiya Lutumba dies in Paris

RIP Legend!!

Legendary Congolese musician Simaro Massiya Lutumba has died in Paris, France.

His death was confirmed by fellow singers Nyboma Mwandido and Sam Mangwana but his cause of death still remains unclear.

A report by Nation however, says that Massiya who was 81 years old has been suffering from diabetes and hypertension.

Legendary Congolese singer dies in Paris

Simaro Massiya Lutumba who was popularly known as Simaro, was a soukous rhythm guitarist, a songwriter and bandleader in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He was also a member of the seminal soukous band TPOK Jazz which dominated the Congolese music scene from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Lutumba Simaro Masiya of Franco's TP OK Jazz has taken his last bow in Paris. He shall be remembered as a loyal and trusted lieutenant and the distinguished poet of the Grand Master, Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi. RIP LSM. Long live Rumba & pole to Rumba fans.
— Rt.Hon.Dr.Moses Wetang'ula (@HonWetangula) March 30, 2019

#Breaking: SadNewsFromParis as Rhumba maestro Lutumba Simaro Massiya is reported dead. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/bNBMrzTnBi
— Fred Obachi Machoka OGW (@fredomachoka) March 30, 2019

GREAT CONGOLESE poet, composer, guitarist and soloist under TP OK Jazz Simaro Massiya Lutumba Ndomanueno, popularly known as Simaro, 81, is dead. He will be remembered for hits like Maya and Testament ya Bowule (he composed it but it was sang by Malage De Lugendo) @fredomachoka pic.twitter.com/VuItXItt7x
— Consumers Federation of Kenya (COFEK) (@Cofek_Africa) March 30, 2019

RIP Papa lutumba simaro masiya le poète🙏🏾😢#Rumba #legend #monument #music #Rdc #okjazz #banaOk 🙌🏾 à Marrakech https://t.co/iTln59cMPp
— Fally Ipupa (@fallyipupa01) March 30, 2019

After the death of Franco, Vicky, Dalienst, Rondot, Djo Mpoyi, Carlito, Decca, Madilu, among others, Simaro was among the few serviving members of the all powerful n irreplaceable TP OK Jazz. Death is silly but also stupid!
— Edward Waswa Kisiang'ani (@ekisiangani) March 30, 2019