Kinshasa, May 15th, 2025 (CPA).- Congolese rumba was highlighted as a lever in the artistic and fashion creation process by a Congolese stylist, at a press conference held on the sidelines of the opening of the 7ᵉ edition of the ‘Kinshasa Mboka Masano’ fashion festival, at the Centre Artistic Culture of the Countries of Central Africa, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. ‘Rumba is an invaluable part of our national heritage. It is a real lever in the process of artistic creation and fashion. During this 7ᵉ edition of the Kinshasa Mboka Masano festival, we will be incorporating rumba into our creative art. Several designers will present collections inspired by this emblematic music,’ said Lydia Nsambayi, initiator of the event adding that: ‘We don’t want to jeopardise this music, which is a national treasure. That’s why we’ve decided to celebrate it at this edition, seeing it as a source of artistic inspiration’. For her part, Chantal Kanama Tembo, Director of Information at the National Agency for the Development of Congolese Entrepreneurship, highlighted the entrepreneurial potential of rumba, which can instil a spirit of initiative and creativity in the Congolese people. ‘Rumba is now attracting interest from young and old alike. It has become a real cultural vector, capable of raising awareness among a wide audience and stimulating an entrepreneurial spirit. Rumba makes it possible to set up and run a business. By encouraging entrepreneurship, we are making a direct contribution to boosting the local economy’, she declared.
Fashion and copyright: a necessary reflection
Randy Kalay, a speaker at the event, addressed the issue of copyright in the fashion sector, stressing the importance of protecting intellectual creations and image rights. ‘The fashion sector is full of intellectual works, and protecting them is essential. Image rights, for example, prohibit photographing a model or using her image without a defined framework and without her consent’, he explained. He stressed the importance of drawing up clear contracts, saying: ‘A well-structured contract is essential to ensure that a model’s image, used to promote a brand or a creation, respects her rights. Indeed, in this context, your image can be considered as a work of the mind, and you play a central role in its enhancement’. The ‘Kinshasa mboka masano’ festival will take place from May 15th to 16th, 2025.