CONGOLESE MUSICIAN GENERAL DEFAO DIES AT AGE 62

Legendary Congolese musician General Defao Matumona is dead. The musician passed away at 62 after a brief illness while he was on tour in Cameroon. According to reports, Defao died on Monday night at Laquintinie Hospital, Douala where he was rushed in critical condition. It is reported that three days ago, the Congolese crooner retired to his room after a performance when he became unresponsive forcing the police to break the door before rushing him to the hospital 

Unconfirmed reports from other sources say Defao may have succumbed to covid-19 related complications. Defao started professional music in 1976 signed under Orchestre Suka Movema before moving to Fogo Stars Korotoro and Somo West in 1978.

In his career, he has collaborated with other great Congolese rhumba artistes among them the late Papa Wemba, Bozi Boziana, sweet-voiced Mbilia Bel, Kanta Nyboma Mwan Dido, and Wuta Mayi.

Defao hit the headlines locally in August 2016 after he was detained in a hotel in Mombasa owing to an unpaid bill. The Nyali-based hotel claimed the musician had not cleared Sh20,000 hotel bill. Defao was at the coast for a show at the Bobs Bar. He faulted the organisers of the event for failing to clear his bills at the Nyali’s Rick Seaside Villas. He was bailed out by musician Jaguar.