Koffi Olominde charged with assaulting female dancer in Nairobi

The Congolese musician was arrested in response to a public campaign after he kicked one of his dancers in Nairobi.

By AMOS NGAIRA; TUESDAY JULY 26 2016

 

Renowned Congolese musician Koffi Olomide (left) on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on Friday 22, 2016. Police arrested the rhumba star in his home town of Kinshasa on July 26, 2016. PHOTO | COURTESY 

In Summary

• According to reports from Kinshasa, a campaign to have him arrested was started by Congressman Zakarie Bababaswe, who had filed a petition on behalf of the Congolese public to get the musician punished for assault.
• His arrest, which was ordered by the attorney-general, was received with jubilation by locals and foreigners, who feel justice must be done for all, and especially in enforcing women’s rights. 

Congolese music star Koffi Olomide will spend the next three months in jail as he awaits a ruling on prosecutors' request to imprison him for a longer period for assaulting one of his female dancers in Nairobi.

The singer's free fall started when he kicked a woman in his band at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last Friday.

Olomide was deported on July 23 alongside three of his female dancers.

Police arrived at his residence in a continuation of perhaps the worst run in Olomide’s fortunes, a painful price to pay for his moment of madness in Nairobi. 

According to reports from Kinshasa, a campaign to have him arrested was started by Congressman Zakarie Bababaswe, who had filed a petition on behalf of the Congolese public to get the musician punished for assault.

Mr Bababaswe had in a televised press conference wondered why Olomide was “still walking scot-free and yet there was video evidence that he assaulted his dancer in Kenya?” 

Incidentally, the congressman and Olomide used to be good friends until they fell out after the musician and Cindy Le Coeur, his lead singer, were accused of belittling him in their songs. 

His arrest, which was ordered by the attorney-general, was received with jubilation by locals and foreigners, who feel justice must be done for all, and especially in enforcing women’s rights. 

Since video footage of the incident, in which one of Africa’s leading musicians lashed out with a “Kung Fu kick” at one of his dancers, came to light, Olomide has suffered a huge setback in a career the mercurial singer, composer and band leader has diligently nurtured for several decades.