By Dan Atuhaire
He breathed his last on November 30, 2013. He was 73 or 76, depending on which source you read. Born Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu, he would later go by Tabu Ley, following then President Mobutu Sese Seko’s push for complete de-colonization among the country’s elite and A-listers. A lot has been said about his exploits on the music scene and its impact on the continent’s music fraternity. So we’ll not repeat the same here. We are talking his legacy. Something that will always remind us of his existence on this planet, aside from the music.
There is the small matter of investment. Something one could rely on when they can no longer hit the stage. A fallback plan in a case that their star fades. Not much was known about Tabu Ley’s financial status at the time of his death. Until his health deteriorated, he was the Minister of Culture and Arts, Sports, Youth and Leisure, and Tourism in the City-Province of Kinshasa. You can bet he was a satisfied recipient of a handsome monthly stipend.
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Tabu Ley is said to have been a doting father, ensuring that his children got all the basics in life. These included good education, among others. The young ones, unfortunately, may never get to live the kind of life he’d have loved them to live. It is believed that he fathered over 70 children.
Four of those, Pegguy Tabu, Abel Tabu, Philemon and Youssoupha Mabiki (who has French Citizenship) followed their father’s footsteps. They are into music, albeit in different genres. There’s Melodie, a daughter borne out his brief relationship with Mbilia Bel (Yes, their relationship went beyond the mic). She features on his last album, Tempelo, released in 2006 with the help of a friend, Maika Munan.
During his final days at St Lucas Hospital in Brussels, where he passed on, he was in the constant company of another daughter –Inna, and two sons. One of those was Marc Tabu, a France-based journalist with CFR6. He was the first person to break the news of his father’s demise, on his facebook timeline. Not much is known about the others, though. Some were barely out of their teens at the time of his death. Barely able to fend for themselves.
Other Notable artistes that had big families:
Paul Job Kafeero(Uganda): At the time of his death in May 2007, sources close to him said the Kadongo Kamu maestro was survived by 10 wives and 27 children. Because he died young (he was 36), he did not have a grown-up offspring. His eldest child was only about half his age, having sired him at a tender age of 18. He known for songs like Walumbe Zaaya, Olulimi Lwange, Buladina, Dipo Nazigala and Galenzi Mwe.
Herman Basudde(Uganda): Another Kadongo Kamu ace, Basudde died in a motor accident in 1997, and is said to have left behind a number of children, most of them still young at the time. Popular Songs of his time included: Bus Dunia, Ekyaali Mu Ssabo, Abakyaala Ba Bbeyi and Abankuseere.
Franco Luambo Luanzo Makiadi (DR Congo): Commonly known as Franco, he had one of the greatest rivalry in the history of African music, with Tabu Ley. He fathered at least 19 known Children, 18 of whom were girls. In his song: Matata Ya Mwasi, he wonders why God decided to bless him with all of 18 girls, but could only afford him 1 boy. His other hits included the timeless Mario, Mamou, Candidat Na Biso and Tres Impoli among others.
The Cautious Ones: Not all artistes bear them in droves, though. A number of them have had families with manageable sizes. Sizes that may not pose administration challenges in the management of the deceased artistes’ estate, if they left any.
Madilu Systeme (1952 – 2007): Born Jean De Dieu Makiese, he was christened Madilu by Franco. His most notable efforts were on two of TPOK’s most popular songs: Mamou (1984) and Mario(1985). He also did a couple of personal projects, the most popular of which was Ya Jean (Commonly known as Ngayo Ngayo at its peak). He had 4 children.
Cool James (1970 – 2002): Née James Dandu, he was also known as “Mtoto wa Dandu”, a Sweden based Tanzanian artiste. He is famous for his runaway hit: Sina Makosa a remix of the timeless classic by Les Wanyika. He died in a car accident in 2002, and had 2 children.
Pepe Kalle (1951 – 1998): He was born Kabasele Yampanya in Kinshasa(DR Congo), and only adopted the name Pepe Kalle in honour of his mentor Joseph “Le Grand Kalle” Kabasele. At 6′ 3”, he was a towering giant, and was affectionately known as the Elephant of African music and La Bombe Atomique. He was famous such songs like Don’t Cry Dube, and Roger Milla among others. He had 5 Children.
Lucky Dube (1964 – 2007): Probably one of South Africa’s greatest musical exports to the continent, and the world. The reggae artiste was shot dead in 2007, aged 43. He was survived by 7 children. His most popular songs included Remember me, Prisoner, Slave and Different Colors among others.
Lessons from the Educated Rich?
A cursory glance at Africa’s latest rich list reveals an interesting trend. Most of them have small families. Could this be a key factor to one’s leaving a commendable legacy?
#1. Aliko Dangote (Nigeria): Net worth: $13.8 billion; Children: 03
#2. Nicky Oppenheimer(South Africa); Net worth: $7 Billion; Children: 01
#4. Johann Rupert (South Africa): Net worth: $4.8 Billion; Children: 03
#5. Naguib Sawiris(Egypt); Net worth: $3.5 billion; Children: 04
#6. Patrice Motsepe(South Africa): Net worth: $3.3 Billion; Children: 03
#7. Onsi Sawiris(Egypt): Net worth: $2.9 billion; Children:03
#8. Mohamed Mansour (Egypt): Net worth: $2 Billion; Children: 02
One could argue that such a class of people are a lot more exposed, and easily learn to manage the temptations and supposed niceties that come with their kind of lifestyle before they mess up. Many of the artistes hardly got decent education. They may not resist the trappings that come with such levels of stardom.
Franco had what you would call very basic education, and only took his career more seriously after his father died and he could not raise school fees. It was almost a similar fate for Kafeero after his father abandoned them at an early age. He had to think outside the box for a livelihood. The same can be said of Herman Basudde.
Tabu Ley only stopped in secondary school, which was no mean feat at a time when majority of the adult population in the then Zaire was illiterate. It was not long before he started living his life in the fast lane.
The artistry and talent may be God-given and all, but such literacy levels can only attract the kind of company that is not going to hold pertinent personal development conversations in many an artiste’s spare time.
“[katogoaward]”