Congolese Arts: A Rich and Fascinating Tradition, Part 2 of 2

Today we’ll look at the country’s music, instruments, and dance. Besides various types of drums, Congolese artists have also invented many other traditional musical instruments in the harp, lamellophone, pluriarc, and lute families. The people of Zande in the northeast region carve fine harps called “Kundi” out of wood, usually exquisitely made with curved bodies and human heads. The Kundi was favored by the Zande kings in the 19th century and was frequently played by royal harpists.

In December 2021, UNESCO added Congolese rumba music and dance to the World Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list based on its submission by two neighboring countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Regarding the place of Congolese rumba in people’s lives, Paul Le Perc Ngoie, a percussionist and artist from the DRC, says, “The rumba for Congolese represents their whole life and the history of Congo, as all its biggest historical developments were accompanied by this music.”

In 1960, Le Grand Kallé’s “Independence Cha Cha” was performed for the first time just before the DRC declared its independence. Subsequently, it became a hit song in many African nations, reflecting the mood of a continent seeking freedom and sovereignty. One of the most influential figures on the Congolese music scene is Papa Wemba, known as the “King of Rumba Rock.” In his musical career spanning more than 40 years, Papa Wemba created his own style of European-oriented pop that blended elements of Congo, Latin, and rock and won over audiences of different cultures.

The Beta Mbonda band represents the newest generation of Congolese musicians in the 21st century. They seek life’s meaning through music and friendship while proudly playing traditional instruments such as the marimba, the xylophone, the lukumbi, a six-toned slit drum, and the ditumba, an open vase-shaped drum. The inspiring story of this band was made into a documentary film in 2019 called “Kinshasa Beta Mbonda.”