Charles Mombaya

L. J. Zikimoto

Born in 1956 in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Charles Mombaya began his musical career in 1974, just months after his baptism at the Baptist church.

In 1975, he founded the choir "ambassadors of Christ" with which he won several awards including the best mixed choir in 1981 at the first National Festival of Christian choirs, organized by the Catholic churches, Protestant and Kimbanguiste.

He moved to Paris, where acquired a doctorate in musicology. In 1995 he formed the choir "ASIFIWE" that accompanied him on some of his tours around the world. Charles MOMBAYA holds a graduate degree in music from the Institut National des Arts (INA), a Master's degree in musicology and a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DEA) literature from the University of Sorbonne ( Paris-IV).

Charles Mombaya died Sunday May 20, 2007 at 2 o'clock in the morning at the Ngaliema clinic in Kinshasa, after a long illness, according to his entourage who did not give more details. With his death, Gospel music in the DRC lost yet another one of its leading actors. If not his character, he was very impressive in his artistic career, his academic achievements and managerial skills were unprecedented. All in all we lost yet another great human being.