The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing for a momentous celebration of music, culture, and heritage as it hosts the inaugural World Music and Tourism Festival in Kinshasa from 16 to 18 July 2025. This landmark event will honor the rhythms, voices, and legends that have shaped the nation’s cultural identity and global musical influence.
Held under the theme “The Rumba Route for Peace,” the festival is designed not only as a tribute to Congo’s musical giants but also as a bold investment in the future of cultural tourism. With a lineup that spans genres and generations, the festival aims to bridge past and present while promoting peace, unity, and economic opportunity through the arts.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is widely recognized as a cradle of African music. From Franco Luambo, Tabu Ley Rochereau, and Pepe Kalle to Papa Wemba and Fally Ipupa, Congolese artists have left an indelible mark on African and global music. The festival will pay homage to these icons whose work has served as the soundtrack to Congolese identity and pride. 
Organized under the patronage of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo in collaboration with UN Tourism, the event will place a special spotlight on Congolese Rumba, a genre inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Rumba is more than a sound; it is a symbol of resistance, resilience, and celebration.
The three-day festival will take place at the Central African Cultural and Arts Centre (CCAPAC) and promises an immersive experience for both locals and international visitors. Activities will include:
- Live performances featuring traditional, folk, urban, and rumba artists
- A Cultural Village with Congolese crafts, cuisine, fashion, and musical workshops
- Storytelling spaces where the history of Congolese music is narrated through archives, visuals, and oral traditions
- Special tributes to legendary artists and emerging voices shaping the future of Congolese music
By anchoring the festival in Kinshasa, organizers hope to position the city not only as a cultural capital but also as a destination for music lovers and tourists from across Africa and the world.
Officials say the festival represents a strategic turning point. It blends cultural diplomacy, creative economy, and national identity into one stage—celebrating not just songs and stars, but the power of music to build peace, promote tourism, and tell the Congolese story in its own voice.
As anticipation builds, the World Music and Tourism Festival is poised to become a new tradition for the DRC, one that pays tribute to its past while dancing boldly into the future.
