Celebrated Congolese crooner, highly recognised for her wonder hit 'Karibu Yangu', and popularly known by her stage moniker Tshala Muana is dead.


Tshala Muana died on Saturday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a long battle with a malady aged 64.


Her producer and long-time companion Claude Mashala broke the news about her demise via social media.


"In the wee hours of the morning” the good Lord has decided to take over the national mamu Tshala Muana. May the good n God be glorified for all the good times she has brought us to this earth…. Goodbye Mamu from me," Mashala wrote.

Claude Mashala

In his initial post, Mashala did not disclose the cause of the exact cause of Tshala Muana’s death.

Later on, he said the musician has respiratory complications which saw her spend a week in the hospital.


Tshala Muana’s health has deteriorated since June 2020, when she was hospitalised after having suffered a stroke.


Born Elisabeth Mudiakay on May 13, 1958, in Lubumbashi, she started her musical career in 1977 albeit as a dancer for Tsheke Tsheke Love band before taking up the pen and microphone and churning out great hits that kept many on the dance floors across the world.


In her vast musical career, Tshala had 20 albums under her belt and three singles among them the hit song that made her the people’s darling in East Africa; Karibu Yangu.

Tshala Muana's visit to Nairobi

Other successful tracks by Tshala Muana include Tshibola, Nasi Nabali, Malu, Mamu Wenu, Biduaya and Cicatrice (also sold as Vuluka Dilolo).

She was also crowned the Queen of Mutuashi; a dance style and genre of music synonymous with the Luba people of Kasai, which was pioneered by Dr. Nico Kasanda in 1965.


Tshala worked with many Congolese stars, including songbird Mbilia Bel, Papa Wemba, Josky Kiambukuta, Pepe Kalle among others.


She also mentored other upcoming musicians but was keen on one named Meje 30 who she carried under her wings.

Like many prominent Congolese musicians, Tshala Muana in November 2020 also had a run-in with the authorities after she released a song entitled ‘Ingratitude’ which was widely considered a swipe against the current DRC president Felix Tshisekedi.


The song saw led to her arrest by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) perhaps because she was considered a vigorous supporter of the former DRC president Joseph Kabila.