Biography
Jean Christophe Matata (1962 - 2011) was a famous songwriter, composer, producer and poet from Burundi. He was born in Bujumbura the year Burundi gained its independence from the Belgians. Before turning to music, he was passionate about football and played in his hometown team. At 18, he joined 'Mihingo des Grands Lacs', one of Bujumbura's legendary bands and soon he became famous as a singer and songwriter.
He later left the band to pursue a solo career; his debut album 'Amaso Akunda' in 1987 made him widely known. In his short career he created more than 200 songs in many different genres of music. He sang in Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, French and English. His songs often dealt with social issues and political injustices, and he was a famous advocate for peace and security in the Great Lakes region.
He died on January 3, 2011 in South Africa.