Programming a festival to make art a lever for dialogue in the DRC*

Kinshasa, February 2^nd, 2026 (CPA) – The third edition of the International Festival of Artistic Creations and Encounters (Ficra), which aims to use art as a lever for dialogue, hope and social change in the Democratic Republic of Congo, will take place from February 24^th to 28^th in Kinshasa, according to the organizer contacted by the CPA on Monday. « Since its inception, the International Festival of Artistic Creations and Encounters (Ficra) has aimed to boost and revitalize Congolese artistic creation in order to rekindle public enthusiasm for the performing arts. Through this third edition, FICRA intends to reaffirm its conviction: to make art a powerful lever for dialogue, hope and social change, » said Sonville Monkwe, coordinator and initiator of the festival. According to him, ‘After two first editions rich in discoveries and emotion, which revealed young Congolese talent and consolidated a network of artists and partner organizations, this third edition is intended to be a step towards maturity. It aims to establish Ficra as an unfishable event on the Congolese artistic scene, but also as a space for intercultural dialogue and innovation.’ It was specified that this third edition of Ficra will have the theme: ‘Cultural diversity through the arts for peace’. Referring to the international scope of the event, the organizer emphasized that: ‘The Festival of Creations and Artistic Encounters (Ficra) has set itself the mission of promoting cultural exchanges, shared creation and the circulation of works and artists between the DRC, Africa and the rest of the world. France, Belgium, Burundi and Congo Brazzaville are among the countries invited to this major cultural event.’ Mr Sonville also stated that: ‘This festival has always been a space for expression, reflection and promotion of contemporary artistic practices in the Democratic Republic of Congo.’ According to the initiator, the Wallonia-Brussels Centre in Kinshasa and the Salle du Zoo have been selected as the main cultural venues for this artistic event. « The program includes a series of defined, integrated and differentiated activities covering a wide range of subjects, including theatre, storytelling, dance, slam poetry, music, comedy and percussion, which will be the subject of shows, conferences, workshops, professional meetings and exhibitions (…)« , he explained, before launching a call for applications for an acting workshop scheduled for February 20^th to 28^th, led by Belgian playwright and director Stéphanie Mangez. This cultural event is organized by the company ‘Yampa création’, a Congolese organization working in particular to conquer national and international stages in the cultural and artistic world.