Papa Wemba was dubbed the King of Congolese Rumba, a continuously evolving genre that has given rise to other styles such as Soukous and Ndombolo. 
Papa Wemba alipewa jina la utani la Mfalme wa Rumba lenye mahadhi ya ki-Kongo, muziki unaendelea kubadilika na kutengeneza miondoko mipya kama vile Soukous na Ndombolo.