Defao

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François Lulendo Matumona (31 December 1958 – 27 December 2021), known professionally as Général Défao or Défao, was a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer and bandleader. Born in Kinshasa, he began performing at the age of 17 with local groups such as Suka Movema, Forgo Stars, Korotoro, and Somo West before joining Félix Manuaku Waku's band Grand Zaïko Wawa in 1981. In partnership with Djo Poster, known as "Grand Muyaka", he quickly became a crowd favorite in Kinshasa for his stage presence and innovative dance moves. Défao rose to prominence in the 1980s as a member of soukous band Choc Stars, where his collaborations with guitarist Roxy Tshimpaka and atalaku Ditutala popularized the Roboti-Robota dance. During this period he recorded a string of successful songs, including duets with Debaba, and established himself as one of the defining voices of Congolese popular music. In 1991, at the height of his popularity, he co-founded his own band, Big Stars, which produced several hits that became staples of soukous and ndombolo, such as "Copinage", "Sam Samitanga", "Agence courage", "Maintenance", "Sala Noki", "Piss-cass", and "Famille Kikuta". Through Big Stars, he also fostered the careers of younger musicians and worked alongside leading Congolese artists, including Mbilia Bel, Papa Wemba, and Koffi Olomide. From the 2000s onward, Défao continued to perform, often from a base in Kenya, while his influence remained strong across Central and East Africa. He died in Douala, Cameroon, on 27 December 2021, from complications related to COVID-19.