In Pictures

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.

14 Sep 2014

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."

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.

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.

Musicians exchange ideas at the Maison des jeunes.

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.

The crowd watches a dance competition. Local groups of contemporary dancers and break-dancers compete all week for a spot in the final.

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.

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.