Congolese songstress Mbilia Bel is in hospital recuperating from injuries suffered in a road accident in Kinshasa last Tuesday.
She was travelling to the airport to fly to Belgium for a concert when the crash occurred.
According to reports from the DRC capital, MbiliIa, who was accompanied by her manager, Jules Nsana, was heading to the N'djili International Airport to catch a flight to Brussels, where she was expected to perform on September 20.
This has cast doubt on her availability for the show, causing the concert to be postponed until further notice. Speaking to the Saturday Nation on Thursday, fellow musician Souzy Kasseya confirmed that Mbilia had been admitted to the Renaissance University hospital center (formerly Mama Yemo hospital ) in Kinshasa together with Nsana.
"The road accident is a major setback for her, particularly, as she had been enthusiastic about making a return to staging live shows in Europe after many Years. She was due to go for another chest scan on Thursday afternoon," he said.
Kasseya, a seasoned guitarist, songwriter and arranger, said he had visited Mbilia Bel at the hospital several times, and she was showing great improvement. Another top musician, Maika Munan, said they were optimistic about Mbilia Bel's quick recovery.
He accompanied Mbilia Bel during her debut tour to Nairobi in late 1981 alongside the Afrisa International Band that was then led by legendary musician Tabu Ley Rochereau.
Others in the band then included Mekanisi Modero, guitarists Mbanga Brazzos and Dino Vangu.
This was when Mbilia Bel did the vocals on the song titled, Kamunga which was one of her first hits with the Afrisa International band. She later sang on other compositions by the Afrisa International bands.
They include Eswi yo Wapi, Beyanga, Yamba ngai, Nadina and the ever-green Nakei Nairobi. Since then, Mblia has been a regular visitor to Kenya , which she has often fondly referred to as her "second musical musical home".
The Brussels tour would have been a major return to live concerts for her. As her Brussels- based counterpart, Nana Akumu (formerly of the Franco's TPOK Jazz band) pointed out last week, expectations were high amongst Mbilia's fans in Brussels.
This would have followed another concert by fellow top Congolese musician Koffi Olomide last Saturday in the Belgian capital. Mblia, like many other Kinshasa-based musicians, had been kept away from performing in Europe by Congolese anti-government groups (Les Combatants).
In the recent past, these groups appear to have softened their stance, allowing the Kinshasa artistes to perform in Europe. Mbilia Bel has also been pursuing a solo career ever since leaving the Africa International band in 1987.