UN Tourism Joins Kinshasa’s Inaugural Rumba Route Festival to Promote Culture-Driven Development
(IN SHORT) From 16 to 18 July 2025, Kinshasa will stage the inaugural World Music and Tourism Festival under President Félix Tshisekedi’s High Patronage, with UN Tourism as a supporting partner. Branded “The Rumba Route for Peace,” the three-day Festival at CCAPAC spotlights Congolese Rumba—recognized by UNESCO in 2021—and its capacity to drive tourism, economic growth, and cultural dialogue. The agenda features roundtables on music diplomacy, artist rights, destination branding, and youth-led digital innovation; alongside a Cultural Village, live international performances, a “Fair Play” masterclass, gala dinner, and cultural tours. Minister Didier Musanga and UN Tourism’s Zurab Pololikashvili highlight the event’s role in fostering social inclusion, innovation, and peacebuilding. Partners include UNESCO, ARIPO, Sony Music, and Sound Diplomacy. The Festival is open to the public, professionals, and young people, illustrating how music unites communities and advances sustainable development.
(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 2025-Jul-11 — /Travel PR News/ — Under the esteemed patronage of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa will welcome the inaugural World Music and Tourism Festival, with UN Tourism on board as a supporting partner. This landmark event—branded “The Rumba Route for Peace”—will illustrate music’s power to unite diverse cultures, strengthen communities, and fuel economic and social development through creative exchange.
Over three days at the Central African Cultural and Arts Centre (CCAPAC), delegates and the public alike will explore how Congolese Rumba—a UNESCO-recognized heritage since 2021—can drive tourism, foster innovation, and promote peaceful dialogue. The programme features expert roundtables on musical diplomacy, artist rights and fair compensation, destination branding through music, and youth-led digital creativity in cultural sectors. Complementing these sessions, attendees will enjoy a Cultural Village and exhibition space, live performances by local and international artists, a “Fair Play” masterclass for creators and entrepreneurs, a Rumba-themed welcome ceremony, gala dinner, and guided cultural tours of Kinshasa.
Minister of Tourism Didier M’Pambia Musanga emphasizes that this Festival will convene stakeholders to examine music’s role in economic empowerment and social cohesion, enhanced by technology and innovation. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili adds that by celebrating Congolese artistry, the Festival underscores the symbiotic relationship between culture and sustainable tourism, offering a platform for peacebuilding and cross-border collaboration. Confirmed institutional and corporate partners include UNESCO, ARIPO, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sound Diplomacy, alongside cultural figures from Africa, Latin America, and Europe.
Open to professionals, youth, and the wider public, the World Music and Tourism Festival invites everyone to engage in a dynamic blend of policy discussion, creative exchange, and cultural celebration—demonstrating how music can bridge divides and unlock opportunities for shared prosperity.
Media contact:
comm@unwto.org
SOURCE: UN Tourism
