At least 14 people have been killed in a stampede in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a tribute festival for the late African singer King Kester Emeneya, the local government says.
Crowds were massed in Emeneya's hometown of Kikwit to celebrate the memory of the popular and innovative Congolese singer who died in Paris in February and was buried in the Congolese capital Kinshasa.
Several people were killed in the crush on Friday, the provincial government of Bandundu said in a statement, blaming the "enthusiasm of the audience".
"A rush due to the infatuation of the public, who came in large numbers to watch events marking the first edition of the festival (...), led to the death of people and damage to property," the statement said.
"The provisional toll, which we deeply regret, stands at 14 dead - including two policemen - and eight wounded," said Camille Sesep, a spokesman for Bandundu, the native province of the late singer.
The authorities have cancelled the festival that was held in honour of Emeneya, who introduced electronic instruments such as the synthesiser to Congolese music.
Thousands of people attended his Kinshasa funeral on March 2 after he died from heart problems in France at the age of 57.
King Kester Emeneya, whose given name was Emeneya Mubiala Kwamumbu, enjoyed a three-decade career in music, with hundreds of songs to his name.
