Congolese Singer, Koffi Olomide, Banned From Entering Zambia

Former member of the Congolese music band- Viva La Musica, Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, popularly known as Koffi Olomide has been blocked from entering into Zambia because of multiple allegations that have been brought up against him.

Koffi belonged to the band before he later set up his own Quartier Latin International band in 1986 and the Zambian government has now banned him from performing in the country due to several allegations leveled against him with charges including sexually assaulting his dancers, kidnapping them and employing them without valid permits in France.

The ban follows an appeal by the French embassy in Zambia, which requested local authorities to arrest Olomide if he travelled to the southern African country.

The Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) welcomed the ban saying:

“It is sad to note that Koffi Olomide’s illustrious music career has been marred by allegations of human rights violations and abuses, especially of women, who are in his care by virtue of employment.  In 2016, Olomide was caught on camera assaulting one of his dancers at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. He was deported before he could hold his concert in the Kenyan capital. We did watch footage of the unfortunate incident in which Koffi Olomide physically assaulted a female dancer in Kenya, an incident which resulted in his temporal ban from performing in Zambia and many other countries. What is worse is that from all indications, Koffi Olomide seems to have not reformed and has no remorse, as reports of his violent and abusive behaviour continues to surface” 

Recall that thjis is not the first time Olomide has encountered problems in Zambia. In 2013, he assaulted a photojournalist and fled the border to avoid arrest. He was also removed from the line-up of artists scheduled to perform at the Chester Dean Arena in Lusaka when the 2016 video went viral.

The singer, who is famed for popularizing the traditional Central African sound, Soukous with his waist twisting dance moves,  was billed to hold two shows in Zambia this month.