Culture of Kisangani

In the summer, many outdoor concerts are given which present performances of free plays and music in Central Park and free concerts, dance, and theater events across all six communes in the summer months. The platform creates a framework for discussion and dialogue to promote cultural activities in the city by informing, educating and raising cultural awareness. Through the cultural framework of entertainment development of talented artists, writers and designers is supported by providing the young or obscure individuals with a platform to contribute in Kisangani’s cultural society.

Other live music genres which are part of the city's cultural heritage include Kisangani Blues, Kisangani Soul, African Jazz, Rumba and gospel. The city is the birthplace of Congolese legendary musicians Aberti Masikini and Koffi Olomide and is the site of an influential Nu-Rumba scene. In the 1950s, the city was a center for African Folk, Rumba Lingala and African Jazz. This influence continued into the Rumba of the 1960s. The city has been an epicenter for Ndombolo culture since the 1980s. A flourishing independent folk music culture brought forth Kisangani Blues. The city has also been spawning a critically acclaimed underground Nu-Rumba scene with various bands gaining national attention in the Nu-Rumba world. Annual festivals feature various acts such as the Cercle Boyoma Culture Festival.

Tourism

Shopping along the avenue de l'Eglise, its many restaurants, as well as Kisangani’s eminent architecture, continue to draw tourists. The city is the RDC’s third-largest convention destination. Most conventions are held at Stade Lumumba, just north