Mingiedi Mawangu, Founder of Konono n°1, Has Died

Mingiedi Mawangu, founder of the Congolese band Konono n°1, has died. He was 85 years old, according to the group’s Facebook. He died Wednesday night in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Repulic of Congo.

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.

While the group was founded in the 1960s, they came to international attention in the 21st century with the release of 2004′s Lubuaku and 2005′s Congotronics. They proceeded to collaborate with artists such as Björk, Herbie Hancock, and Deerhoof, and received a Grammy nomination for 2007′s Live at Couleur Cafe. Their last album was 2010′s Assume Crash Position.

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