Kinshasa, June 17th, 2025 (CPA).- Two-day music festival for peace called ‘Kimia’ (peace in Lingala) has been announced for June 20th to 21st in Kinshasa, the capital of Congolese rumba in the Democratic Republic of Congo, during a press conference organised by the Wallonia-Brussels Centre. ‘Kinshasa will live through these two days of music and resistance. Kimia brings peace to the heart of the city through a reggae programme featuring committed artists and talents from Belgium, Kinshasa, Matadi, Goma and elsewhere,’ has declared Charly Mabilama, communications manager at the Wallonia-Brussels Centre Kinshasa.
The groups of talented young artists, each mastering several instruments, are scheduled to open the doors to this initiative by the general management of the Wallonia-Brussels Centre in Kinshasa. These groups, ‘Owele’ from the port city of Matadi (Kongo Central province) and ‘Ntemo wa nsilulu’ from the provincial city of Kinshasa, are unique in that they promote Kongo cultural values.
Their music is traditional yet modern, combining local traditions with musical influences (rumba, zouk, jazz). ‘This festival honours, among other things, le reggae, a musical genre that resonates with their commitment and artistic identity. The popular Matadi group called “Owele” embodies a creative youth, with an opening to the world while remaining faithful to its roots,’ has said Ms Cecile Djunga, General Director of the Wallonia-Brussels Centre in Kinshasa. Ntemo wa Nsilulu of Kinshasa, a pan-African group from Kinshasa, has been revealed during auditions at the Wallonia-Brussels Cultural Centre. « This dynamic and talented collective is strongly committed to defending human rights, preserving African cultures and promoting ancestral traditions. Through their Reggae Kongo music, they carry a message of justice, equality and fraternity beyond borders, » she has added.
On the last day, she has continued, there will be the ‘Wallonia-Brussels Kinshasa Children’s Choir,’ which was formed during the 2024 summer camp. ‘This choir brings together young people aged 8 to 18 who are passionate about music and group singing. They interpret songs of peace, unity and hope with energy and sincerity.’ A poet, slam artist, a Belgian poet, with Burundian and Italian origins, has been electrifying stages for over a decade. « She will bring an international touch to the Kimia festival alongside DJ Wendy and singer Lassa Plamedie from Kinshasa”.
JKM Rambo from Goma, in the province of Nord-Kivu, is a rising star of Swahili rap and reggae in the Great Lakes region. He is also scheduled to perform at the festival. He is the founder of the Rambo Music collective. JKM Rambo uses his music as a tool for social transformation.
He is a powerful, rooted and conscious voice. He plans to rock the Kimia festival with music that fuses traditional rhythms, reggae and urban culture. Sina from Kinshasa, muana Kongo, is also scheduled to perform at this festival. He embodies this quest for identity through music that is deeply rooted in Kongo culture. He shares his experiences to build a world of love and peace, while raising awareness about the challenges facing society. The General Director has promised capacity-building workshops for artists and cultural journalists.