Carlyto Lassa, one of the most recognisable voices in Congolese rumba and gospel music, died on August 31, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 65.
He had been in the United States for an evangelisation campaign that ran over August 29 and 30 when he collapsed at the home of a fellow preacher during a fellowship gathering. The reported cause of death was a heart attack.
What we know about Carlyto Lassa’s death
Born Charles Ndombasi Lassa, the singer picked up the microphone as a teenager and never looked back.
His smooth tenor voice became a defining feature of Congolese rumba throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He worked alongside Franco Luambo as part of the legendary TPOK Jazz before moving on to become a key vocalist for Choc Stars.
Songs like Maya, Riana and Verre Casse cemented his place in the hearts of fans across the continent.
His story took a significant turn in the 1990s when he relocated to Paris, gave his life to Christ and was later ordained as a pastor. From that point, secular rumba gave way to gospel music.
His spiritual output included Makolo ya Massiya, a song that spoke to a new chapter in both his faith and his artistry.
Fellow singer Reddy Amisi was among the first to publicly mourn his passing, posting a heartfelt tribute that captured the mood of the Congolese artistic community.
“It is with deep sorrow that I learn of the passing of my brother Carlyto Lassa. I am profoundly saddened by this loss. I pay tribute to the memory of a talented artist who has left his mark on our music and made an indelible impression on the hearts of many music lovers,” Amisi wrote.
He went further, reflecting on the personal bond the two men shared over the years.
“We have shared moments, memories and many things that will remain etched in my heart.”
Amisi described the news as something that sent the wider artistic community into deep shock, given how central Carlyto had been to shaping Congolese sound across two decades.
“Today, I am at a loss for words to express my grief. I pray that God will welcome your soul and that He will comfort your family and all those who have loved you. Rest in peace, my brother Carlyto. You will remain in my heart forever,” he added.
Carlyto Lassa leaves behind a legacy that spans two very different musical worlds: the dance floors of Kinshasa’s rumba era and the church stages he graced in his later years.
His passing marks the end of a remarkable journey that touched generations of listeners across the Democratic Republic of Congo and beyond.
See the post below:
