Live
play
  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Coronavirus
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
  • More
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Climate
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts

In Pictures

Gallery

In Pictures: DR Congo’s dance battles

Salaam Kivu International Film Festival gives the people of war-weary eastern DR Congo a chance to forget their misery.

The "King Magic of the Dance" group performs at a dance competition in Kivu(***)s capital, Goma, on July 9.
The "King Magic of the Dance" group performs at a dance competition in Kivu(***)s capital, Goma, on July 9.
By 
Phil Moore
14 Sep 2014
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo – Dance battles have replaced gun battles in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, less than one year after the national army defeated headline-grabbing M23 rebels. In its ninth edition, the Salaam Kivu International Film Festival (SKIFF) brought together dancers, musicians, fashion designers and traditional poets in celebration of Congolese culture. Their goal? To channel the energy of the youth into arts, not conflict. Their slogan? “Tutajenga ao?” – “Will we build or destroy?” in Kiswahili.

Dieudonne Dunia Kangwindi, an aspiring rap artist who has just returned from a trip to neighbouring Kigali to record an album, sums up this sentiment. “It’s us, the youth, who must construct the new Africa,” he says. “If our ancestors had problems, it’s not for us to continue them,” he adds, talking of current difficulties between DR Congo and Rwanda. “We have to fight for reconciliation. We must think of the future.”

The fires of local traditions were also stoked. After a projection of documentary films, plastic seats were arranged around a crackling bonfire. An ageing Congolese man, who goes by the name “grand-pere”, became the master of ceremonies; not dressed in tails, but in an oversized red anorak, and with a noticeable gap in his teeth. Grand-pere is known for his poetry and storytelling, and this was to be an evening of both. He began by telling stories of elders, and how they used to get together around fires like this. When it was their turn, the younger artists took up his torch and carried the flames.

Dieudonne Dunia Kangwindi stands outside the Maison des jeunes, a cultural centre for youth in Goma, eastern DR Congo. Dieudonne is a rapper who is putting together an album, recording it in neighbouring Rwanda. "It(***)s us, the youth, who must construct the new Africa," he says. "If our ancesters had problems, it(***)s not for us to continue them."
Dieudonne Dunia Kangwindi stands outside the Maison des jeunes, a cultural centre for youth in Goma, eastern DR Congo. Dieudonne is a rapper who is putting together an album, recording it in neighbouring Rwanda. "It(***)s us, the youth, who must construct the new Africa," he says. "If our ancesters had problems, it(***)s not for us to continue them."
Advertisement
People attending the Salaam Kivu International Film Festival sit in Goma(***)s Yole! Africa arts centre. The festival brings together young artists and performers, one of very few opportunities in a region battered by conflict.
People attending the Salaam Kivu International Film Festival sit in Goma(***)s Yole! Africa arts centre. The festival brings together young artists and performers, one of very few opportunities in a region battered by conflict.
Nicolas Yanele stands in a marquee during a dance rehearsal ahead of a dance competition at the Yole! Africa arts centre. 
Nicolas Yanele stands in a marquee during a dance rehearsal ahead of a dance competition at the Yole! Africa arts centre. 
A Congolese adolescent watches a music rehearsal in a shipping container that has been converted into a practice room at the Maison des jeunes, a cultural youth centre in Goma.
A Congolese adolescent watches a music rehearsal in a shipping container that has been converted into a practice room at the Maison des jeunes, a cultural youth centre in Goma.
Pinnochio rehearses with his band in a shipping container-turned-practice room. 
Pinnochio rehearses with his band in a shipping container-turned-practice room. 
Musicians exchange ideas at the Maison des jeunes.
Musicians exchange ideas at the Maison des jeunes.
Advertisement
A Congolese dancer break-dances during an exhibition dance at the Salaam Kivu International Film Festival. The group of break-dancers comprise the three winning teams from last year(***)s competition: Rhina Crew, Magic Dance and Street Dancers.
A Congolese dancer break-dances during an exhibition dance at the Salaam Kivu International Film Festival. The group of break-dancers comprise the three winning teams from last year(***)s competition: Rhina Crew, Magic Dance and Street Dancers.
Congolese watch the finals of a dance competition. The entry fee to the event was $1, which many were unable to afford.
Congolese watch the finals of a dance competition. The entry fee to the event was $1, which many were unable to afford.
The crowd watches a dance competition. Local groups of contemporary dancers and break-dancers compete all week for a spot in the final.
The crowd watches a dance competition. Local groups of contemporary dancers and break-dancers compete all week for a spot in the final.
A break dancer performs during a dance. 
A break dancer performs during a dance. 
Handmade screen prints are pictured outside the Yole! Africa cultural centre in Goma, eastern DR Congo. As part of the SKIFF festival, American-born Congolese fashion designer, Eric Ndele, ran a fashion workshop for aspiring Congolese designers.
Handmade screen prints are pictured outside the Yole! Africa cultural centre in Goma, eastern DR Congo. As part of the SKIFF festival, American-born Congolese fashion designer, Eric Ndele, ran a fashion workshop for aspiring Congolese designers.
Eric Ndele takes a breather before the start of a fashion show, held as part of the closing ceremony of the SKIFF festival at a hotel in Goma, on July 13.
Eric Ndele takes a breather before the start of a fashion show, held as part of the closing ceremony of the SKIFF festival at a hotel in Goma, on July 13.
A model wears one of the T-shirts designed for the festival during a fashion show at the closing event in Goma. Tuta Jenga ao the slogan for this year(***)s festival means "Will we build or destroy?" in Kiswahili.
A model wears one of the T-shirts designed for the festival during a fashion show at the closing event in Goma. Tuta Jenga ao the slogan for this year(***)s festival means "Will we build or destroy?" in Kiswahili.
A respected poet from Goma leads a session around a bonfire, exchanging poems and jokes, during the SKIFF festival. The festival melded local and Western styles, incorporating traditional aspects of culture.
A respected poet from Goma leads a session around a bonfire, exchanging poems and jokes, during the SKIFF festival. The festival melded local and Western styles, incorporating traditional aspects of culture.

More from Gallery

In Pictures: Indonesia’s Merapi volcano unleashes river of lava

Mount Merapi is Indonesia's most active volcano [Agung Supriyanto/AFP]

Photos: How COVID vaccine travelled 1,700km to an Indian village

A van delivers the vaccine developed by Oxford University-AstraZeneca at Mathalput Community Health Centre in Koraput. [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

Photos: Farmers’ protests overshadow India’s Republic Day parade

A farmer covers his face to protect himself from tear gas during the protest in New Delhi. [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]

In Pictures: Rioters battle Dutch police over COVID-19 lockdown

A man is arrested by police during clashes in Rotterdam on Monday. [Marco De Swart/EPA]
Most Read

US pauses billions in arms sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE

An F-35B fighter jet lands at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in this December 10, 2013 file photo [File: Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo]

No quick fix for SEC in cracking down on GameStop-like frenzies

New market dynamics are an issue that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission will have to increasingly deal with because Twitter and online message boards are allowing armchair stock analysts to spread their views like never before [File: Joshua Roberts/Bloomberg]

GameStop: How day trader Reddit bros burned a Wall Street pro

The explosive growth in retail day trading, powered by platforms like the Robinhood trading app and forums like wallstreetbets, has turned the old order on its head [File: Bloomberg]

Netherlands: What’s behind violent anti-lockdown riots?

A man cleans up broken glass from the smashed windows in a fast-food restaurant that was damaged in protests against a nation-wide curfew in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Monday, January 25, 2021 [Peter Dejong/AP]
  • About
    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
  • Our Channels
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
  • Our Network
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners
Follow Al Jazeera English:rssinstagramyoutubetwitterfacebook
logo
© 2021 Al Jazeera Media Network