The Democratic Republic of the Congo is preparing to pay a historic tribute to the voices, rhythms and legacies that have defined its cultural identity.

From 16 to 18 July 2025, the country will host the first-ever World Music and Tourism Festival in Kinshasa, a bold and symbolic event that seeks to honour its musical greats while laying the foundation for a new era of cultural tourism.

Held under the theme “The Rumba Route for Peace”, the festival is more than a cultural showcase – it is a national acknowledgement of music as history, identity, and economic force. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo has a rich heritage of music, created by a wide array of great music performers from Franco Luambo to Tabu Ley Rochereau, Pepe Kalle, Wemba to Fally Ipupa; the festival will pay homage to the sounds that shaped not only Congolese identity but also resonated across Africa and the diaspora.

Organised under the Patronage of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, and in collaboration with UN Tourism, the three-day festival will spotlight Congolese Rumba, the country’s most iconic musical export, and celebrate the memory of artists whose art carried the soul of a nation. 

Taking place at the Central African Cultural and Arts Centre (CCAPAC), the event will feature an array of performances, exhibitions, and storytelling spaces, including a Cultural Village where visitors can explore the rich soundscape of Congo through crafts, cuisine, and interactive experiences. Daily live performances will span traditional, folk, urban and Rumba genres, bringing together seasoned performers and emerging talent from across the continent.

“This is a moment to celebrate those who paved the way – the legends whose voices and compositions helped the world understand Congo,” said a representative from the Ministry of Culture. “It’s also a chance to build a new future where music is not only heard but used to drive tourism, education and economic growth.”

Papa Wemba

The festival will also host a robust professional and policy-focused programme, including roundtable discussions and masterclasses on topics such as artists’ rights, copyright, digital innovation, and the role of youth in preserving musical heritage. These sessions will bring together a distinguished line-up of speakers and dignitaries, including:

•           Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, DRC

•           Didier M’Pambia Musanga, Minister of Tourism, DRC

•           Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UN Tourism

•           Michele Woods, Director, Copyright Division, WIPO

•           Jean Goubald Kalala, Congolese musician and cultural voice

•           Cultural and tourism ministers from across Africa, Latin America and Europe

Also scheduled are reflective moments, such as a fireside chat with a Congolese influencer on the personal journey through Rumba, and special guided tours of Kinshasa’s cultural landmarks – including a visit to the Papa Wemba Monument in Matonge.

A symbolic highlight of the festival will be the "Rumba Route" sunset celebration – a musical tribute staged against Kinshasa’s evening skyline, where dancers and musicians will honour the genre that became the soundtrack of a nation.

The festival is not only a tribute to the past – it is also a forward-looking investment in Congo’s creative future. By integrating music into the tourism value chain, the organisers hope to position Kinshasa as a cultural capital and build a sustainable ecosystem that supports artists, preserves heritage, and attracts international visitors.

“We have long celebrated our mineral wealth. It’s time to celebrate our musical wealth – and the people who created it,” said one festival planner.

With Rumba at its core and memory as its guide, the World Music and Tourism Festival is poised to become a defining moment in Congo’s cultural journey – one that honours the past while opening doors to a new rhythm of national pride and global connection.