The DRC prepares to celebrate the inscription of rumba as a UNESCO World Heritage site
King of rumba: Congolese music icon Papa Wemba helped bring rumba to a world audience STR AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The UN organization will open its annual session on Monday, December 13 in Paris.
Unesco has not yet taken a decision on this musical style, which has stood the test of time.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,
Pascal Mulegwa
More than a year after the filing of the joint Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville dossier with Unesco, optimism reigns on both banks of the Congo River.
The Congolese Ministers of Culture and Communication wanted to be reassuring at the end of the week in front of the press in Kinshasa.
It is a question of procedure for Catherine Katungu, Minister of Culture and Arts of the DRC.
She speaks of an outcome with certainty: “
We have been told that the decision is there, that it has already been validated.
The rumba is registered.
Now, these are the dates of the proclamation [which are expected, Editor's note].
I would like to reassure you that this is no longer a question of trial and error.
It is recorded.
"
Kinshasa first bases its optimism on the assurances of the Director General of Unesco who visited the country last October.
The country is already planning the celebration from December 14 in the capital, according to Communication Minister Patrick Muyaya.
"
Our musicians cannot perform abroad ”
However, Congolese artists have struggled to perform on European territory, especially in France for a decade.
"
Rumba is a vector of influence for our country, we have to make it our own,"
says the Minister.
Because while our musicians cannot perform abroad, there are other styles of music that are created that take up space.
We are going to propose a strategy that will allow our artists to perform in Europe.
"
Cultural players are counting on this listing which should encourage the authorities to invest in the cultural sector.
In particular by the construction of production spaces and the intellectual protection of works.
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