Kinshasa, November 8th, 2026 (CPA).– Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) singer Faya Tess is expected in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, to attend the celebration of the 60-year musical career of Kosmos Moutouari, leader of the Bantous orchestra, a former Congolese minister told the CPA on Saturday.
“The gala dinner, scheduled for Saturday, 14 November, at the Olympic Palace Hotel and organized by Deux Rives Production, will bring together several major figures from the music scenes of the two Congos, including Faya Tess, Tchico Tchicaya, Nyoka Longo, Clotaire Kimbolo, Jean Goubald and Zao, whose artistic careers have greatly contributed to the prominence of Congolese rumba across the African continent and beyond,” announced Ouabari Marioti. “Met at the headquarters of the Embassy of the Republic of the Congo in France, in Paris, while completing the administrative formalities required for her trip to Brazzaville, Faya Tess praised the artistic longevity of Kosmos Moutouari, whom she regards as a role model for younger generations of musicians,” he added.
Mr Marioti indicated that, for the singer, who notably performed alongside the legendary Tabu Ley Rochereau in the Afrisa International orchestra, the celebration of Kosmos Moutouari’s six decades in music represents a genuine recognition of a career marked by discipline, hard work, charisma and respect for the public. “She particularly praised Mr Moutouari’s leadership qualities and his efforts to ensure the continuity of the “Bantous de la Capitale” through training, generational renewal and the transmission of the musical heritage of this iconic orchestra,” he said. Mr Marioti stressed that Faya Tess’s participation in this tribute goes beyond a simple gathering of artists. The “Bantous de la Capitale”, an example of musical heritage preservation. According to him, Faya Tess noted that the passing of several major figures in Congolese music has often led to the disappearance of their musical groups, taking with them repertoires, artistic traditions and a valuable cultural memory. She therefore considered Kosmos Moutouari’s ability to keep the Bantous de la Capitale together a remarkable example of musical heritage preservation.
Creation of a joint museum
Furthermore, he revealed that singer Faya Tess had advocated the creation of a joint museum of Congolese music between the DRC and the Republic of the Congo. Such an institution would make it possible to preserve the instruments, costumes, photographs, records and sound archives of the leading figures of Congolese rumba, in order to pass this heritage on to future generations. She also proposed establishing a joint mechanism, through a third-party payment organization, to cover the medical expenses of musicians from both countries. The initiative would seek to protect artists from the healthcare insecurity and abandonment faced by some of them after devoting their lives to promoting the cultural influence of their respective countries.
Beyond political borders, music, language and shared cultural values constitute a powerful means of communication between the two peoples. CPA/