Rhumba star Zao Zoba from Congo Brazzaville performed at the Amani Festival. PHOTO | JEAN-PIERRE AFADHALI | NMG
Officials in charge of culture in Democratic Republic Congo are
pushing to make rhumba music a
Unesco world heritage. The music genre is considered a national heritage. In East Africa, it is known as lingala.
Unesco world heritage. The music genre is considered a national heritage. In East Africa, it is known as lingala.
The
goal to make it a world heritage was revealed recently at the fifth
Amani Music Festival — one of the biggest cultural and entertainment
events in the Great Lakes — held in Goma town, the provincial capital of
North Kivu province, in Eastern DR Congo.
Minister of
Culture and Arts Astrid Madiya said the government has signed two orders
to make rhumba a national cultural heritage and another to include it
on Unesco’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Intangible
cultural heritage include oral traditions, performing arts, social
practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning
nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce
traditional crafts.
During the Amani Festival, some of
the biggest names in rhumba performed, such as Ferre Gola, young stars
from DR Congo and Zao Zoba from Congo Brazzaville.
DR
Congo rhumba, also known as lingala, is a genre of dance music that
originated in the Congo basin during the 1940s, with strong similarities
to Cuban rhumba. Music experts say the style gained popularity
throughout Africa during the 1960s and 1970s.
Well known artistes who helped grow the popularity of lingala
include Papa Wemba, who died in 2016 while performing in Ivory Coast.
Others are Koffi Olomide, Franco and TPOK Jazz, Tabu Ley Rochereau and
young artists such as Fally Ipupa.
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