ABIDJAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) music star Papa Wemba died on Sunday morning after collapsing while performing during an international cultural festival in Abidjan, organizers said.

The president for the organizing committee of Anouambo Urban Music Festival (FEMUA) Traore Salif Asalfo, said Wemba was performing before thousands of his fans, before falling ill and collapsing.

Medics rushed to save him and rushed him to a nearby medical center, but the artist could not be resuscitated.

The remaining activities at the festival were suspended after the announcement of Wemba's death, something that was equally received with sadness among millions of African music lovers.

In a statement released by Cote d'Ivoire's Culture Minister Maurice Bandaman, the Cote d'Ivoire government expressed its solidarity with the music star's family and African artists present in Abidjan for the festival.

Papa Wemba, born in 1949 and named Jules Shungu Wembadio, had a 40-year music career. He was one of the most popular African musicians.