Aurlus Mabele, Congolese musician, dies ‘from coronavirus’ at 67

Aurlus Mabele, a Congolese music composer better known as the king of soukous, has passed on at 67.

He died on Thursday in hospital in Paris, France’s capital. He was reported to have battled with the coronavirus alongside a long-term illness.

Liza Monet, his daughter, who doubles as a French singer, took to her Twitter page to announce the tragic news.

“My dad died of coronavirus this morning (Thursday) … Thank you for honoring his memory. He is a great legend of the Soukouss that the Congolese people are losing today. I am inconsolable and collapsed. My dad whom I love so much … Aurlus Mabele,” her tweet reads in English.

Mon papa est mort ce matin du coronavirus … Merci d’honoré sa mémoire . C’est une grande légende du Soukouss que le peuple congolais perd aujourd’hui . Je suis inconsolable et effondrée . Mon papa que j’aime tant … Aurlus Mabele …

— . (@LizaMOfficiel) March 19, 2020

While Monet attributed her father’s death to the coronavirus, it is believed that the late music legend had also suffered an undisclosed illness before the current pandemic reportedly claimed his life.

Jimmy Ouetenou, his manager, told BBC that it was not confirmed he died of COVID-19.

He said the singer had also suffered long-term health problems, adding that talks are underway with the Congolese government to have him buried in his home country.

Mabele, whose real name is  Aurélien Miatsonama, was born in Brazzaville. In 1974, he had created the band ‘Les Ndimbola Lokole’ with Jean Baron, Pedro Wapechkado, and Mav Cacharel.

With more than 10 million albums sold over a 30-years of a musical career, Mabele is acclaimed to have taken soukous, his high-tempo Congolese dance music, beyond Africa.

He is popular for some of his works including ‘Embargo’, ‘Zebola’, and ‘Waka Waka’.