Congolese rumba at the heart of celebrations at the eleventh Pan-African Music Festival (Fespam) scheduled for July 15-22 in Brazzaville. Having been designated Intangible Heritage of Humanity since December 2021 and classified on the representative list of UNESCO, Congolese rumba had not yet experienced full-scale celebrations. Fespam seems to be the first opportunity for such a celebration.
The theme chosen for Fespam 2022 is “Congolese Rumba: flight of the identity base towards the vertices of the heritage of humanity”, it will allow us to revisit the history of Congolese rumba from its creation to its consecration on the worldwide and to discuss the strategy for promoting and appropriating this rumba.
For the researchers, the Congolese rumba, which has experienced a setback compared to other styles of music, must be valued. For this, the creation of rumba prizes, such as that of the best song and the best orchestra, is envisaged. Fespam could thus be a lever to bring the energy of young people back from urban music to rumba.
Apart from the meetings, a national launch of the eleventh edition of Fespam is planned in Sibiti, an international launch was made at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. The opening ceremony will take place at the Massamba Débat stadium in front of heads of state. There will then be popular performances deployed throughout the city of Brazzaville as well as the opening of the symposium and a cruise on the Congo River for the rumba-river articulation.
The Fespam seems to be an exceptional opportunity to put the Congolese rumba back among the successful music in the DRC. It will also promote culture in the country as well as on a pan-African scale.