Afrika Bambaataa
American · 68 years old · Died 30 May 2026
Hip-hop pioneer, founder of the Zulu Nation
Cause of death
Prostate cancer
Afrika Bambaataa is widely regarded as one of the three founding fathers of hip-hop, alongside DJ Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. His 1982 track "Planet Rock" — which fused hip-hop with electronic music — is considered one of the most influential songs in music history, essentially inventing electro. He founded the Universal Zulu Nation, transforming gang culture in the Bronx into a creative movement. He died at 68 from prostate cancer.
How common is cancer (all types)?
Afrika Bambaataa died of prostate cancer. Globally, cancer (all types) kills 10,000,000 people every year — that is 27,397 per day, or roughly one person every 3 seconds. It accounts for 16% of all deaths worldwide.
Deaths / year
10,000,000
Deaths / day
27,397
Deaths / hour
1,142
Deaths / second
0.32
Share of all global deaths
Risk factors for cancer (all types)
Since Afrika Bambaataa died
Live count since 30 May 2026
Total deaths worldwide since then
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Deaths from same cause since then
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