How did Lokassa Ya Mbongo die? Guitarist cause of death and obituary

Lokassa Ya Mbongo, the legendary guitarist has passed away. Let’s see how did the guitarist die and his cause of death in detail.

How did Lokassa Ya Mbongo die?

Lokassa Ya Mbongo, a Congolese guitarist has passed away. He was 77. Mbongo became ill for the last few years and passed away today. The soft-spoken Lokassa was known for mega-hits like Monica and Marie Jose.

Lokassa hasn’t been active in the US, only rarely performing with other seasoned Congolese stars.

Vincent Ateya, Mbongo’s musician friend has confirmed this sad news by saying,

“Lokassa Ya Mbongo the grand guitarist has left us. Lokassa was sick in America where he lived for many years.

Rest in peace, Papa”

Who was Lokassa Ya Mbongo?

Lokassa is well-known guitarist who was born in  Kinshasa, 1946. He became famous in his native DRC for his tenures with Tabu Ley’s Afrisa International between 1969 and 1978.

Lokassa shared the stage with famous guitarists like Michelino and Dino Vangu at that time. He earned a name for himself as a member of Soukous Stars and was one of DRC’s best rhythm guitarists, specializing in the up-tempo soukous style.

Soukous Stars:

Lokassa is a rare example of a rhythm guitarist who has achieved fame in the realm of Congolese music, where lead guitarists almost universally receive the spotlight.

It helped him to get start in one of Africa’s premier bands, Afrisaled, headed by Tabu Ley.

Beginning in 1968, when the group was still known as African Fiesta National, he spent his time in the background, playing backup for a string of well-known main guitarists, such as Attel Mbumba, Mavatiku Visi, and Dino Vangu.

Lokassa’s big rise came in 1989 when he formed Soukous Stars with other stars in Paris. Nairobi Nights-Lagos Nights, a popular composition by the band, was included on Megamix Vol. 1, their debut album.

The album was recorded by vocalists Shimita El Diego, Zitany Neil, Ballou Canta, and Dally Kimoko, among others.

The African All-Stars:

Lokassa contributed to every Fiesta National/Afrisa hit for ten years and performed at the legendary Olympia in Paris in 1970 for the band’s breakthrough shows.

Lokassa and several bandmates left Afrisa during one of their many tours in 1978 to attempt something different.

The African All-Stars were formed when vocalist Sam Mangwana, who was already in Abidjan, joined forces with Lokassa, guitarist Dizzy Mandjeku, and drummer Ringo Moya. This seminal group, together for only a year, recorded a lot of outstanding songs.

Following the dissolution of the All-Stars in Togo in 1979, Lokassa relocated to the nation’s capital, Lomé, and adopted the moniker Lokassa ya Mbongo, which translates to Lokassa the money man.

“Lokassa ya Dollar”:

Many of his admirers refer to him as “Lokassa ya Dollar”. As the number of Congolese musicians in exile increased, he then played with them, including future members of Quatre EtoilesNyboma Mwan Dido, Syran M’Benza, and Bopol Mansiamina.

His 1982 reunion with Mandjeku, Mangwana, and Moya produced another round of African All Stars recordings.

Lokassa moved to Paris in 1984 where he soon found his niche as a session player, recording with the likes of Abeti, Kanda Bongo Man, and Pepe Kalle.

The Soukous Stars were formed in 1989 by Lokassa, Ballou, guitarist Dally Kimoko, and vocalists Lukombo Shimita, Yondo “Sister” Kusala, and Neil Zitany.

Lokassa presided over a shifting cast of characters in the following years, but his Soukous Stars persisted. Only Bopol and Dechaud and Lokassa are among the most well-known Congolese rhythm players, having played for more than thirty years.

What happened to Lokassa Ya Mbongo?

Lokassa ya M’bongo, a Congolese guitarist, whose guitar wizardry accompanied many Lingala tracks in the 1990s, has became ill in 2020. He was admitted to a hospital in Nashua, New Hampshire in 2020.

He was hit with a stroke and struggled to communicate verbally. After becoming ill for a few years, he sadly passed away on March 15, 2023.

In DRC, he has known for his hits stints with Tabu Ley’s Afrisa International from 1969 to 1978. Lokassa’s death was confirmed by his friends on social media.

Lokassa Ya Mbongo cause of death:

Lokassa, a former member of Sam Mangwana’s Africa All Stars, was hospitalized in Columbia after experiencing Stroke last year. He became ill before passing away on March 15, 2023.

His fans, followers, friends and family members were saddened by the demise of great musician. Tributes flooded social media after the demise news of Mbongo broke out.

Arap Chepkindet posted this sad news saying,

“A hero has fallen. Lokassa Kasia Denis aka Lokassa the king of Soukous music has rested. Condolences to all Rhumba fans. Through Ngouma Lokito we convey our condolences to his family.”

Tributes to Lokassa Ya Mbongo:

Wambugu Wa Wairimu-Tripoh W posted,

Lokassa the grand guitarist has left us. Lokassa was sick in America where he lived for many years.
Rest in peace Papa.

James Carlos Kilai KE posted,

Democratic Republic of Congo crooner and one of the best rythmn guitarist the world has ever seen Lokassa Ya M’bongo is dead.

Denis Wuod Jasega posted,

A legend of Congolese rumba, specialist in semi-compound guitar, has just left us…. LOKASSA YA MBONGO, my big one, go in peace…May God in his love welcome you into His kingdom.

𝐊𝐨𝐦𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐰𝐢 tweeted,

The man, the myth, the legend, Lokassa, Lokassa ya Dollar, the music crooner, and great rhythmist! His music, played with the magic fingers , lives for many years to come. He belted that guitar like a devil that has broken loose! #R.I.P Soukous maestro! What a tragedy.

Ian martin tweeted,

Rest Well Maestro, Lokassa Ya Mbongo!

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