Visiting Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) rumba musician Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, known professionally as Koffi Olomide, has paid tribute to Zambia’s first president, Kenneth David Kaunda, describing him as a “great African hero”.
Olomide, who is in Zambia to perform, visited Kaunda’s grave at Embassy Park in Lusaka on Wednesday.
“Dr Kaunda was every African’s leader,” Olomide said. “It is worth it for me to visit, since I knew him way back in the days when we were still young and I did not come for his funeral.”
Olomide said he planned to compose a song in tribute to Kaunda.
“I am currently figuring out which language to use, Swahili, French, English or any Zambian language,” he said.
Kaunda, who was Zambia’s president from 1964 to 1991, died in June 2021 at the age of 97.
He was a leading figure in the fight against colonialism and apartheid in Africa.
He was also a champion of pan-Africanism and a strong advocate for human rights.
Olomide’s tribute to Kaunda is a fitting tribute to a great African leader.
