Dieudonné Kabongo, Congolese-born Belgian comedian, musician and actor (Lumumba), died he was 61.

Dieudonné Kabongo  was a Congolese-born Belgian comedian, humorist, musician and actor. Kabongo co-starred in the 2000 film, Lumumba, portraying Godefroid Munongo.^[1] He was the first comedian of African descent to achieve widespread popularity in Belgium.^[2][3]

(1950 – October 11, 2011)


Kabongo was born in 1950 in Katanga, Belgian Congo, which is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.^[1] He immigrated to Belgium in 1970.^[2] He originally studied electromechanical engineering in Virton, Belgium, before embarking on a self-apprenticeship in theater and writing.^[3]
In 1984, Kabongo and fellow actor Mirko Popovitch jointly won the First Prize at the Festival International du Rire de Rochefort.^[1][2] His film credits included Identity Pieces in 1998, the 2000 film Lumumba, directed by Raoul Peck, and the 2005 film, Le Couperet, directed by Costa-Gavras.^[1][2] He was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Africa Filmfestival in 2010.^[2]
Kabongo collapsed and died during a performance on stage at a cultural center in Jette, a district of Brussels, on October 11, 2011, at the age of 61.^[1]


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