The Congolese songwriter, singer and bandleader Tabu Ley Rochereau, who has died aged 76, was one of Africa's most popular entertainers – his work had an appeal that crossed ethnic, linguistic and national barriers. He composed thousands of songs and from the late 1950s his "internationalised" form of Congolese rumba, known as soukous, brought him great fame and fortune.

He came to prominence in the band African Jazz, formed in 1953 in what is now Kinshasa (then Léopoldville), capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by Joseph Kabasele, known as Le Grand Kallé. He popularised the form of local rumba by blending the use of indigenous instruments, rhythms and vocal styles with imported elements, including Latin dance beats, electric guitars and westernised arrangements. The language was principally Lingala, used by soldiers, traders and bureaucrats in a country with more than 250 dialects, although Rochereau also sang in French and Spanish.

During the economic and cultural boom that followed the second world war, several European companies had established record labels and studios, each with their own resident house band turning out seven-inch 45 rpm discs, which sold in large numbers. Rochereau joined African Jazz as a part-time member in 1956. Notable among his colleagues were the guitarist Dr Nico Kasanda and the Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango.

The band's greatest moment came during the independence negotiations for what was then the Belgian Congo in Brussels in 1959. African Jazz went, too, and recorded the influential song Indépendance Cha Cha, a frothy dance number that became a pan-African favourite. When the band returned from Europe, Rochereau became a full-time member.

He was born Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu in Bandundu province, east of Kinshasa. His mother had been a griot – a storyteller and singer – and he was a member of his local church choir. He adopted the name of Rochereau after a school lesson about French politics.

His lyrical compositions and sweet singing voice earned him almost instant success with African Jazz, but in the early 1960s he broke away to form African Fiesta, a short-lived partnership with Dr Nico. Their stream of music was always rivalled by the more guitar-based sound of Franco Luambo Makiadi and his group OK Jazz, and Rochereau was actively seeking inspiration from outside. As he said later: "An idea came to me in 1968, following a big tour of west Africa that took me from Brazzaville to Abidjan ... I could see the people knew my music and they liked me. But when I played, there was not enough passion being generated. So I knew I had to create a spectacular show."

When he took his performers to the Olympia music hall in Paris in 1970, the innovations included a fanfare introduction, fancy horn arrangements, dynamic changes of pace, choreographed steps for the musicians and a troupe of female dancers. The result was to bring African music to international attention. With a new band, Afrisa International, Rochereau consolidated his position as the country's most popular singer and an established rival to Franco.

In 1971, Mobutu Sese Seko, president since a coup in 1965, renamed the country Zaire. All citizens were required to adopt "authentic" African names – hence Tabu Ley. While Mobutu made great use of musicians to maintain his steely grip on the people and culture of the vast and disparate country, one of Tabu Ley's songs caused official displeasure. Mokolo Nakokufa (The Day I Die) was understood to refer to a spate of political executions.

Among the many musicians who worked through the ranks of Afrisa were the singers Sam Mangwana and Papa Wemba, but the masterstroke in Rochereau's career building was the recruitment of the young dancer Mbilia Bel. Emerging from the Rocherettes dance troupe, Bel soon became Rochereau's wife and vocal partner, and they performed on at least seven albums together. By 1984, the pair had travelled the world, including an appearance at the Womad festival on Mersea Island, Essex, in 1985. For six years they were Africa's principal vocal duo, but the pair split up in the late 1980s.

After living for a while in the US, Rochereau returned home. In 1997 Mobutu was himself overthrown, and the country, now named the DRC, was led by Laurent Kabila and then his son Joseph. The musician took several political appointments under them, including that of vice-governor of Kinshasa and provincial minister of culture.

Following a stroke in 2008, Rochereau's health deteriorated.

He is survived by many children.

• Tabu Ley Rochereau (Pascal-Emmanuel Sinamoyi Tabu), singer, songwriter and bandleader, born 13 November 1937; died 30 November 2013