Kinshasa, April 21st, 2026 (CPA).- The first edition of the festival titled “Congo-Meuse Literatures 2026” was launched ahead of World Book Day, celebrated each year on April 23rd, at the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation Library in the Gombe municipality of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“We, Wallonia-Brussels, through the Delegation, thought of introducing a new concept. Today, April 20, we are experiencing a historic moment, as this is the very first edition we are launching together. Through this press conference, we are officially launching a new mini-festival called ‘Congo-Meuse Literatures 2026’,” said Richard Ali, director of the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation Library in Kinshasa. “This concept aims to celebrate the literature of two rivers: the Meuse River and the Congo River. There are writers who celebrate these rivers. We have a special relationship with Belgium, particularly French-speaking Belgium, where the Meuse is located. We asked ourselves what could bring us together if not these waters. We are trying to see how the Congo River and the Meuse River meet. But these two rivers do not only meet, they also tell stories,” he added. He indicated that this four-day festival, running from April 21st to 23rd, will be held in an itinerant format under the theme: “Crossed perspectives: Congolese and French-speaking Belgian literatures today.” According to Richard Ali, the first edition of the literary prize titled “Congo-Meuse” was also launched on this occasion. This prize will annually reward ten outstanding writers—five from Kinshasa and five from French-speaking Belgium. “This event will be marked by a special activity: the launch of the first edition of the Congo-Meuse Literary Prize on April 23, on the occasion of World Book Day. We officially launched today the Congo-Meuse Literatures 2026 festival, and within it, this Prize. We felt it was important and meaningful to bring together Congolese and Belgian talents,” he specified. For her part, Belgian writer Miriam Leroy noted that the event provides an opportunity to discover Congolese talent. “It is obviously a great pleasure for us to be in Kinshasa for this festival. We are very excited to discover—and we have already begun to discover—the talents of today and tomorrow, the artists, authors and writers of Kinshasa and the Congo,” she said. Several activities are scheduled for this first edition, including writing workshops, publishing sessions, author-student meetings, and panel discussions.