By RFIPosted on 06-08-2019Modified on 06-08-2019 at 01:12
The famous Congolese musician Fernand Mabala, who appeared to the public more than thirty years ago, died at the age of 60, Sunday, August 4 in Ivry near Paris after a long illness. The news of his disappearance has created a great stir among the population of Brazzaville and his family who proposes to repatriate his remains in the coming days for a grand funeral in Congo-Brazzaville. RFI wandered his microphone in the streets of Brazzaville where he collected various testimonies.
Poto-Poto, the most cosmopolitan district of Brazzaville, is where Fernand Milandou, known as the artist of Mabala, was born in September 1959. He also began his career there. It is his famous song " Yatama " which reveals it to the public in 1985.
His death shocked those who knew him and loved his music. This is the case of Veran Carrhol Yanga, a cultural journalist who talks about the disappearance of a " baobab ". " He rocked our childhood especially with the song " Yatama " ; his test shot and master. His death is a loss, it will be said that it is a baobab of Congolese music that has just fallen, "says Yanga.
The author-composer moved to France in 1989. Two years later, he returned to the country where he released " So goes life ", a hit that Jean-Bruno Ndokagna and Mike Mieneth will never forget. For these two fans, the artist left too early.
" I miss the words to tell you exactly the pain I'm feeling. This is a great loss for Congolese culture, "says Ndokagna on the verge of tears. " His death is something tragic. It had never been imagined that in such a short time one could lose a person of his rank. It was an artist who marked the times, "commented Mr. Mieneth.
Fernand Mabala leaves, creates a void and orphans three great children.
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