Mawangu Mingiedi, iconic founding member of Congolese group Konono Nº1 and inventor of the electrified likembé, has passed away in his Kinshasa home at the age of 85, it has been announced in a note on the group’s Facebook page. He is survived in the band by his son Augustin. Read the full statement and listen to Konono Nº1’s Lufala Ndonga, below.
“Mingiedi Mawangu passed away last night, in Kinshasa. He was 85. He founded Konono No.1 in the 1960s and invented his own electrified likembe, which gave Konono No.1 its distinctive sound. He led the band and toured with them until a few years ago.
He will be dearly missed by his son Augustin and the rest of the band. The funeral will take place next week”
