In Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Amani festival has been canceled. The announcement was made on November 14, 2024 by management. He was to celebrate his tenth birthday. Black M and Ferré Gola were notably expected on stage for this anniversary. Amani, “peace” in Swahili, is billed as the largest festival in the African Great Lakes region. The reason for this cancellation was a decision by the town hall which considered that it had not been informed of the event.
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With our special correspondent in Goma, Guillaume Thibault
In front of the majestic Lake Kivu, it’s time to dismantle at the festival site, the Ihusi village. It is via an official press release that the mayor of Goma (east of DRC), Faustin Kapend Kamand, requested on November 12 the cancellation of the event, indicating that he had not been informed of the organization of the concerts for three days.
Despite attempts at mediation, Guillaume Bismwa, the director of Amani, made the decision to cancel and recalls that the organization has always been in agreement with the authorities: “ It’s a sadness, local level, provincial level, national level. This is always done according to the rules. To say that, as an authority, we were not aware of this is not true. »
“ Amani is not dead but there is danger »
With a budget of $350,000 and $400,000 in technical support, the Amani festival is a pillar of cultural activity in the region. Silencing the guns through music, Guillaume Bisimwa carries this ambition and believes that despite the cancellation, the Amani festival has a future: “ Amani is not dead but, still, there is danger. And I think we need to sit down and look at how to bring back a smile and give a better cultural future to young people. »
Canceled but still alive, the Amani festival can count on the support of musicians from across the African continent, notably Lokua Kanza, Youssoupha or even Didier Awadisignatories of a letter of support for the festival.