For decades, Congolese rumba has travelled far beyond the country that gave birth to it.

From Kinshasa’s dance halls to stages across Africa and Europe, its rhythms have shaped popular music and carried the DRC’s cultural identity across borders and generations. In October, the DRC invited the world that dances to rumba to come and experience it at home.

The second edition of the World Music and Tourism Festival took place in Kinshasa under the theme “Tourism and Music: Building Bridges Between Peoples.”

The festival brought together artists, government officials, tourism operators and international partners with a shared goal of establishing music as a driver of tourism.

Kinshasa has been a UNESCO Creative City of Music since 2015, and in 2021 Congolese rumba was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“In Kinshasa, we do not merely listen to music; we live it, we create it and we share it with the world,” said Kinshasa Governor Daniel Bumba Lubaki at the opening.

Fans enjoyed electrifying performances from rumba legends and contemporary stars including Mbilia Bel, Werrason, Felix Wazekwa and Gaz Mawete.

Beyond the stage, the festival featured exhibitions, an international tourism forum and guided circuits of Kinshasa, showcasing the city’s crafts, food and historical attractions.

These experiences are aimed at opening opportunities for artisans, food vendors, transport operators and hospitality businesses.

The festival closed on October 10 with a cruise on the Congo River aboard the Majestic River, featuring veteran rumba musician Sam Mangwana.

“Congolese rumba has given the world joy for generations. Through this festival, we are inviting the world to come home to the source and experience our music, our people, our food and our history first-hand. Our ambition is to make the DRC a must-visit destination on Africa’s cultural map,” said Hon. Didier Mazenga Mukanzu, Minister of Tourism, DRC.

The festival comes as the DRC grows its tourism sector, following the April 2026 announcement of USD 1.882 billion in Emirati investment for four tourism projects.

Recommendations from the festival included a permanent coordination mechanism for music and tourism stakeholders, marketable tourism circuits, and continued destination promotion.