The groove is on as DRC’s capital Kinshasa hosts first edition of the World Music and Tourism Festival (FMMT) which kicked off on July 16 and curtains will roll down tonight.
Themed; “The Rumba Road to Peace,” the festival has attracted artists from more than 40 countries in Africa, Europe, and America.
This unique cultural event showcases Congolese rumba, listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO since 2021.
The festival has been featuring Concerts, shows, forums, exhibitions, guided tours, gastronomy, and excursions along the Congo River.
Several iconic locations in the city, including the Place des Artistes, the Papa Wemba Monument, the Limete Interchange, and the Tata Raphaël Stadium, have been highlighted for this first edition.
“Celebrating rumba here in Kinshasa is a fluid, pure, and universal recognition of the greatness of Congolese heritage. The DRC is much more than a territory rich in natural resources. We are a people proud of a heritage shaped by traditions, living memories, and our diverse know-how,” said, Minister of Culture Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo.
The minister added, “It is crucial to remember that behind these activities lies a major challenge for our nation: asserting our cultural sovereignty. Culture is a formidable weapon of peace, because a people who value their memory and transmit their authenticity are a powerful people.”
“This festival highlights music as a driver of cultural and emotional exchange, but above all, the role of tourism as a tool for peacebuilding in the DRC. The aim is to increase the country’s visibility, promote its image under the label ‘DRC, Heart of Africa,’ and integrate music into the tourism offering through cultural itineraries. We also aim to have a concrete economic impact for operators and restaurateurs in the sector,” Minister of Tourism, Didier M’Pambia Musanga said.
The FMMT positions itself as a platform for cultural development, tourism promotion, and economic revitalization. It embodies a space for encounter and dialogue between peoples in a Congo that dreams of unity, peace, and influence.
