It’s goodbye to the giant. Kaly Djatou paid a vibrant tribute to Antoine Nedule Montswet known as Papa Noël, who died this Monday, November 11 in France, at the age of 83: “Another great value which leaves us silently,” he declared. “Over the years, this presence, this guitar above all others, has settled into our lives, whatever our condition, whatever our age,” underlined “Monsieur Premier Salaire”, saluting the memory of an artist who never stopped learning the Lingala language “which he knew how to bring to life”. He praised, among other things, his songs which “were never these seasonal refrains which amuse us and which we forget” and which became “remedies”.
“These valiant musicians who contributed to the building of Congolese rumba, I respectfully bow to their memory by saying thank you,” said the Congolese musician, based in Nancy in France.
Better known, on the artistic scene, by the name of Papa Noël, because born, at Christmas time, under the former Belgian Congo, Antoine Nedule Montswet (83 years old including 64 of musical career), one of the prestigious guitarists soloist of Congolese and Afro-Cuban music, in the string style of the famous Nico Kasanda and Tino Baroza, died this Monday, November 11, 2024 in France, at the age of 83, following illness.
A colossus of Congolese rumba has passed away. May God receive him into his eternal paradise!
Les Echos du Congo-Brazzaville sends its most moved condolences to his family and to Congolese artists.
Jean-Jacques Jarele SIKA / Les Echos du Congo-Brazzaville
