Rigobert Bamundele (Rigo Star)

Rigobert Bamundele, widely known by his stage name Rigo Star, was a highly regarded Congolese soukous guitarist and composer. Born in Kinshasa (then Zaire) on August 28, 1955, he began his musical career by joining Papa Wemba's Viva La Musica around 1977 as a lead guitarist before relocating to Paris in 1981, where he became a sought-after session musician. Rigo Star's career is marked by collaborations with major soukous and world music acts, including Kanda Bongo Man, Koffi Olomide, and global star Paul Simon on the album The Rhythm of the Saints. He is particularly associated with Congolese female singer M'bilia Bel, with whom he collaborated extensively on hits like "Phénomène" and the album Ironie. Rigo Star also released solo albums such as Bazo and Attention! He passed away on October 26, 2023, in Reims, France, at the age of 68.