What's Hot?
Netflix UK calls for “clarity” over new streaming...
Ama Ata Aidoo: Ghana’s famous author and feminist...
We Did Everything By The Book, Hilda Baci...
Anatomy of a Fall: A sharply intelligent psychological...
Revisiting The Year Lagos Hit Gold
Anatomy of a festival: French film wins prestigious...
Nollywood Mourns Seven Industry Players Five Months Into...
Seun Kuti Kickstarts Europe Tour Amid Assault Trial
Amid Opposition By Airline Operators, Nigeria Air Lands...
It’s official: France bans short-haul domestic flights in...
The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
Culture Africana

Congolese rumba, soundtrack of African history, added to UNESCO heritage list

by The Culture Newspaper December 16, 2021
by The Culture Newspaper December 16, 2021

The smooth, groove music of Congolese rumba was added Tuesday to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list, sparking delight in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congo Brazzaville, where the genre has provided the soundtrack for festivities ranging from Independence Day celebrations to birthday parties.

A UNESCO summit on Tuesday approved the two countries’ joint application to add rumba to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, where it joins Cuban rumba, the Central African Republic’s polyphonic pygmy music and the drums of Burundi.  

“The rumba is used for celebration and mourning, in private, public and religious spaces,” said the UNESCO citation. It is an essential and representative part of the identity of Congolese people and their diaspora, the UN’s cultural and scientific agency added.

🔴 BREAKING

The Congolese rumba has just been inscribed on the #IntangibleHeritage list.

Congratulations Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩 – Congo 🇨🇬 ! 👏

ℹ️ https://t.co/F3fEl1VeU0 #LivingHeritage pic.twitter.com/DqjRgJsEyF— UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳😷 (@UNESCO) December 14, 2021

The addition to the UNESCO list was welcomed by the two countries situated on either side of the Congo River.

“It’s done. The rumba has been registered by UNESCO on its intangible cultural heritage of humanity list. An event to be celebrated on both banks of the Congo River,” tweeted DRC government spokesman Patrick Muyaya.

#RDC : C’est fait la rumba vient d’être inscrite par l’@UNESCO_fr sur la liste du patrimoine culturel immatériel de l’humanité. Un événement à célébrer dans les deux rives du fleuve congo 🇨🇩 🇨🇬 #ChangementDeNarratif https://t.co/yWIVT3AxuS— Patrick Muyaya (@PatrickMuyaya) December 14, 2021

Out of Africa to South America – and back

Specialists have located rumba’s origins in the ancient central African kingdom of Kongo, where people practised a dance called “Nkumba” or “navel” in Kikongo.

Africans brought their music and culture across the Atlantic through the slave trade, eventually giving birth to jazz in North America and rumba in South America.

Traders then brought the music back to Africa through records and guitars in more recent times.

When the music of the slave colonies in Spanish Cuba arrived back in Africa on 78 rpm records, it was immediately recognised as rumba and led to a musical resurgence in the Congo basin area.

One of the best known rumba singles, “Indépendance Cha Cha”, was composed and performed in 1960 by Joseph Kabasele, better known by his stage name, Le Grand Kallé.

It was a smash hit across Africa and the postcolonial world, commemorating “The Year of Africa”, when 17 African nations finally gained independence.

The modern version of rumba lives on cities and bars in the DRC and Congo Brazzaville. Rumba draws on nostalgia, cultural exchange, resistance, resilience and the sharing of pleasure through its flamboyant “sape” dress code.

Of love and politics

Sung mainly in Lingala, rumba songs typically are about love – but political messages have also been a feature of the genre.

There have also been less glorious periods of the Congolese rumba, when the music was exploited as propaganda by those in power.

Rumba stars are occasionally controversial or mired in scandals.

A French court on Monday convicted high-profile DRC performer Koffi Olomide of holding four of his former dancers against their will during tours.

Source: www.france24.com

addedAfricancongoleseheritageHistorylistofrumbasoundtracktoUNESCO
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
The Culture Newspaper

previous post
Saudi Arabia set to become global film production destination
next post
Alleged Defilement: Prosecution Closes Case Against Baba Ijesha

You may also like

Ugandan Film Festival Announces Nominees for 10th Edition

May 19, 2023

Nigeria, South Africa Inch Closer To Film Cooperation...

May 2, 2023

African artists seek to rebuild collective memory of...

April 30, 2023

Top Egyptologist and Minister of Antiquities Criticizes Netflix’s...

April 19, 2023

Creative Vibrancy Index For Africa Set For Launch

April 13, 2023

Wildscreen Partners BBC Studios For First Ever Festival...

April 4, 2023

Kenya Film Commission Hosts Sixth Kalasha Film, TV...

April 1, 2023

Hollywood star Edi Gathegi in Kenya, seeks partnerships...

March 16, 2023

South African rapper Costa Titch dies after collapsing...

March 13, 2023

South Africa’s MultiChoice and Comcast to create Africa-wide...

March 3, 2023

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • Netflix UK calls for “clarity” over new streaming regulations
  • Ama Ata Aidoo: Ghana’s famous author and feminist dies
  • We Did Everything By The Book, Hilda Baci Says Amid Wait For GWR Validation
  • Anatomy of a Fall: A sharply intelligent psychological drama from Justine Triet
  • Revisiting The Year Lagos Hit Gold

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • Netflix UK calls for “clarity” over new streaming regulations

    May 31, 2023
  • Ama Ata Aidoo: Ghana’s famous author and feminist dies

    May 31, 2023
  • We Did Everything By The Book, Hilda Baci Says Amid Wait For GWR Validation

    May 31, 2023

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2019 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Zero-One

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality