Kinshasa, April 30th, 2025 (CPA) – Congolese artistic creativity was honored on Monday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), through an art exhibition and a musical production by Congolese students, at the inauguration of a new Chinese chancery.
‘As part of the Congolese artistic creativity being showcased today, I exhibited my painting entitled ‘Memories of the past’, to appeal to the public for appeasement and not to cling to the macabre memories of the country’s wars’, said Aaron Mukendi, a young painter and finalist at the ABA. This is an exhibition by finalist students at the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Arts (ABA), who have produced paintings focusing on national current affairs and those of the chamber orchestra of the National Institute of Arts (INA).
A Chinese-style painting
Subjects such as perseverance, changing mentalities, urban banditry, the internal struggle, migration to foreign countries, memories and network abuses are the main themes exploited by the students to eradicate the war in the east of the country. In addition to the art exhibition, a musical performance punctuated by dance was also offered to the public, who marveled at the photo of the Great Wall of China, erected just behind the stage, symbolizing the historical journey of a combative and resilient people.
‘It was an honour for us to take part in this event, during which we performed Chinese songs and anthems as well as popular songs in the national languages of the DRC. Together with our group of students from the INA, who are learning the Chinese language at the Confucius Institute, we sang ‘I love China’,’ said maestro Michel Longomuka, a conductor and music teacher. There was also a combined music and dance show, presented by Liao Longbin, a Chinese teacher at the Confucius Institute, who performed the opera ‘Sichuan, change your face’.
In his opening remarks, ambassador Zhao Bin reassured the audience that open days would be organized regularly for all sections of society. ‘This is just the beginning. We are going to organize regular events of this kind to strengthen the friendship between the Chinese and Congolese peoples’, said the diplomat.