DOUALA-Congolese Rhumba artist Lulendo Matumona, better known under the name of General Defao died on Monday, December 27, 2021, in Douala, Cameroon.
He was scheduled to give a private concert before he died.
Officials said several hours before the show, he was seized with uneasiness in his room, his family and friends said.
General Def Defao would have been 63 years old on December 31, 2021.
He was almost in a coma for long hours until he was finally discovered late at night in a disturbing state.
He was immediately evacuated to Laquintinie hospital in Douala where he died on Monday evening.
As soon as the announcement of his death, several Congolese artists including Fally Ipupa, Barbara Kanam, Ferre Gola expressed their sadness at the disappearance of this great singer.
After more than ten years of exile in Kenya, Defao made his big return to his country the DRC on August 4, 2019.
One of his first gestures was to go to the Necropolis between Heaven and Earth to bow to the Graves of Papa Wemba, Tabu Ley, King Kester Emeneya, Madilu System, Pépé Kallé… His first return concert, he will then give it in the port city of Matadi (Congo Central province) a few weeks later.
So back on the scene, he made his last trip to West Africa a few weeks ago. It was in Ouaga, Burkina, on the occasion of the ceremony of Kundé 2021.
And on November 26, at the Palais des Sports in Ouaga 2000, the angelic voice of General Defao rose for the last time, revisiting his greatest successes including ” School love ”, ” Kikuta family ”.
Dressed in a jacket with a large golden chain that sparkled around her neck, the artist demonstrated that he still retained the agility of his heyday.
A presence and a performance greatly appreciated by the public.
That evening, the Kundé awarded him an honorary trophy for his entire career.
General Defao started singing in 1976 in a small music group in Kinshasa. Growing up, he has musically inspired by Congolese musicians such as; Papa Wemba, Nyoka Longo, Gina Efonge Evoloko, and 4 singers of the Zaiko group in the 70s.
He broke away from his group to form his own band, The Big Star in 1991, with the aim of becoming an African star to shame his enemies. He has over 20 songs to his name, famous among which are; Moski, Zouk, Familie Kikuta, Madova, Mokolo Mosusu, Bana Congo 2, Nadine, Bolingo among others.