Congolese Rumba, A Cultural Pride, Has Finally Been Added To UNESCO ‘Representative List Of Intangible Cultural Heritage Of Humanity’

BY EDITORIAL
December 14, 2021

After a joint application by the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, UNESCO adds Congolese Rumba to its list of “intangible cultural heritage of humanity” with 603 other living traditions such as Côte d’Ivoire’s Zaouli music and dance of the Guro communities, Reggae music of Jamaica, and Kolo traditional folk dance from Serbia.

By joining the list, Congolese Rumba wins a “protected status” to be kept alive and a platform to ensure better awareness of its significance as one of the most influential genres of African music and dance.
Starting in the 1900s, the word Rumba which means ‘navel’ in Kikongo (one of the local languages) was adopted as a style of music in both countries which were once part of the Kongo kingdom.

The anti-colonial fight and the decades following the independence of both countries marked the golden age of Congolese Rumba. The groups TP OK Jazz and Zaiko Langa Langa, as well as artists such as Franco Luambo, Sam Mangwana, Wendo Kolosoy, Tabu Ley, Paul Kamba, N’ Yoka Longo, and Papa Wemba, among many others, are considered heroes of this cultural heritage.

Check Out These 17 Iconic Rumba Songs:

GRAND KALLE – ‘TABLE RONDE’

In 1960, the Table Ronde conference took place in Brussels, Belgium in order to discuss Belgian Congo’s future after many years of anti-colonial movements in the former colony. Among the attendees of the event were the two groups L’African Jazz of Joseph Kabasele and OK Jazz, invited to perform at the event.

Both groups would come together and perform some songs to commemorate the event. “Table Ronde” and “Indépendance Cha Cha” written by Joseph Kabasele, remain the most notable ones, along with a piece by OK Jazz vocalist Docteur Nico titled “Vive Patrice Lumumba.”

While “Indépendance Cha Cha” was celebratory, “Table Ronde” mostly triggered militant politics.