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In this week's African Perspective, the BBC's John James is in conversation with one of the best known and best loved voices in African music: Papa Wemba.
Born in 1949 in the former Zaire, his full name is Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba.
Now an international superstar, Papa Wemba began his musical career 40 years ago when he joined the famous band Zaiko Langa Langa. Later he founded Viva La Musica, a band he built around young talented musicians and which is still going strong today. They have just released a new album.
Known as the king of Congolese rhumba, Papa Wemba's life has not been without controversy. He was jailed in 2003 for a few months, after being found guilty of involvement in a ring smuggling illegal Congolese immigrants into France.
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