Kinshasa Fights to Save Ancestral Rumba Music

The legacy of Congolese music legend Papa Wemba lives on as his former Kinshasa residence has been converted into a national museum dedicated to rumba, a genre of music deeply rooted in the Democratic Republic of Congo's cultural heritage. Recognized by UNESCO in 2021 as intangible cultural heritage, Congolese rumba is facing a significant threat of being forgotten by younger generations who are increasingly influenced by global music trends.

Despite the establishment of the rumba museum in December and ongoing preservation efforts, including the transcription of hundreds of songs and specialized training at the National Institute of the Arts, many fear for the genre's future. Limited state funding for the arts further complicates these preservation initiatives, highlighting the urgent need for continued community and institutional support to ensure rumba remains a vibrant part of Congolese identity for years to come.