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Musicians sing for peace at DRC festival Musicians sing for peace at DRC festival
(about 1 hour later)
The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been the scene of armed conflict between rebel and government forces for nearly two decades. But this weekend Goma put on a different face as crowds gathered at College Mwanga, close to the Virunga market, to celebrate a music festival with the optimistic slogan "playing for change, singing for peace". The city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been the scene of armed conflict between rebel and government forces for nearly two decades. But this weekend Goma put on a different face as crowds gathered at College Mwanga, close to the Virunga market, to celebrate a music festival with the optimistic slogan "playing for change, singing for peace".
A few thousand Gomatraciens – as people living in the city call themselves – and visitors from other parts of the DRC and from Rwanda, Burundi and other countries attended the festival, which had been scheduled to take place in 2013 but was cancelled because of clashes between Congo's army and M23 rebels.A few thousand Gomatraciens – as people living in the city call themselves – and visitors from other parts of the DRC and from Rwanda, Burundi and other countries attended the festival, which had been scheduled to take place in 2013 but was cancelled because of clashes between Congo's army and M23 rebels.
The Amani festival – Swahili for "peace" – was able to go ahead this year after peace talks between the warring parties. Musicians and artists from all over the Great Lakes region, including the outspoken Kinshasa rapper Lexxus Legal and the local musician Innocent Balume , came to perform, and Martin Kobler, head of the UN mission in DRC, joined in with the festivities. The Amani festival – Swahili for "peace" – went ahead this year after peace talks between the warring parties. Musicians and artists from all over the Great Lakes region, including the outspoken Kinshasa rapper Lexxus Legal and the local musician Innocent Balume, performed, and Martin Kobler, head of the UN mission in DRC, joined in with the festivities.