The Mboté Hip-Hop festival: a celebration of urban music in Brazzaville
Brazzaville, the vibrant Congolese capital, recently hosted the seventh edition of the urban music festival, known as the “Mboté Hip-Hop festival”. Organized by the French Institute of Congo (IFC), this event was an opportunity to bring together Congolese artists as well as artists from Ivory Coast.
The esplanade of the French Institute of Congo was transformed into a place of musical celebration, illuminated by impressive light displays. Under the attentive gaze of an audience mainly made up of young people, the artists of the Street art Congo group delivered a captivating show.
One of the members of the group, the artist Sonick, expresses his pride in participating in this event: “In Congo, we do not often have the opportunity to participate in large demonstrations or dance competitions. It is therefore an immense pride for us to be present at the Mboté Hip-Hop festival.”
Beyond entertainment, some artists have also taken advantage of this platform to convey important messages to their audience. Bak-Dan, a major star of the scene, arrived on stage wearing a t-shirt reading “Rap saves”. His goal was to raise awareness about the dangers of cannabis consumption: “Through my music, I want to convey the message that smoking cannabis destroys the lungs and is not beneficial for health. I hope that through my music, some people will stop smoking and I will be able to save them.”
The Mboté Hip-Hop festival was also an opportunity for participants to discover new Congolese talents. Ashanti, an enthusiastic spectator, explains: “I came here to see Congolese artists perform. It’s so nice to see our own talents showing us their skills. It’s a real source of inspiration.”
This festival also offers a unique opportunity for emerging artists to take the stage and make themselves known. The organizers and artists have already agreed to meet for the eighth edition of the event next year.
The Mboté Hip-Hop festival is much more than a simple musical gathering, it has become a real way to celebrate urban music and highlight local talents. This annual event allows Congolese artists to share their art, transmit strong messages and arouse the admiration of the public. The Mboté Hip-Hop festival is an unmissable event for all fans of urban music in Brazzaville.