In Goma in the DRC, the organizers of the Amani festival, the largest music festival in the sub-region, travel through all the states. The three days of concerts planned for this weekend were canceled by the authorities mid-week, who changed their position and authorized the event this Friday, November 15. Problem is, the organizers are starting almost from scratch and must find financial, artistic and technical solutions in a very short time. Discussions are therefore still ongoing with the authorities.
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With our special correspondent in Goma, Guillaume Thibault
Goma has moved from disappointment to hope. According to our information, the desire to maintain this major cultural event came from the top of the State. “ I want the festival to take place »: these are the words of the president Felix Tshisekedi who called the Goma authorities in the middle of the night from Thursday November 14 to Friday November 15.
This Friday morning, the town hall, which requested the cancellation of the concerts on Tuesday the 12th, issued a new official press release. “ As the security situation is manageable, the cancellation measure for the Amani festival is lifted », indicates Mayor Faustin Kapend Kamand who continues, “ the date of the event will be communicated by the organizer. »
Financial and logistical problems
Financial and logistical problems now arise. The festival site, a huge space in front of Lake Kivu, has been dismantled. In addition, teams and volunteers must be remobilized. Another major problem is that a large number of artists have already left Goma. The organizers therefore hold meetings, in particular with the governor, to see if it is possible to organize the event, over two days, Saturday and Sunday, with a requirement from management: that the Amani festival retains its values and its reputation.
The Amani festival, whose name means “ peace » in Swahili, invites in the east of the DRC for around ten years international stars and figures of the Congolese music scene and usually brings together tens of thousands of spectators. On Tuesday, the mayor of Goma declared in a press release posted on social networks that the festival was “not not allowed » for “ security reasons “.
The event contributes “ social cohesion, trauma management, youth entrepreneurship » and has “ a significant economic impact for the city of Goma “, argued the festival organizers.
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