Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees first participation to Amani Festival in Goma, the Democratic Republic of Congo
For the first time 25 Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees members of St Joseph’s Choir in Bulengo IDP Camp in Goma, participated in Amani Festival. The Choir is composed of more than 100 persons and only 25 were selected in order to represent others in Amani Festival. The Choir had serious trainings for two months. They received two Choir Masters from Armee du Ciel Goma who helped them to go through the necessary pieces of Music. Finally on Sunday which was the climax of Amani Festival, the IDP and Refugee Choir moved to the Podium and received huge clapping for the people.
For 25 minutes, the choir animated the audience through nice songs focusing on peace and popular songs including South African Songs which were sung in the struggle against the Apartheid. Not only it was a dream which came true among the choir members who did not think that they can be among the VIPs in this event, but also this animated them and strengthened them as they continue struggling. The Choir received some financial support in order to encourage them in what they are doing.
The participation of the IDP and Refugee Choir to these events was made possible through the initiatives of the following actors:
Global Refugee Leaders Forum: This is the project of COJESKI North Kivu handling refugees and IDPs rights, which helped to identify and mobilize the choir members. In order to do this, various field visits were done in Bulengo.
Armee du Ciel Choir: It deployed two trainers who helped the choir during practices which were done thrice per month and for two hours in the afternoon.
Uwezo Africa: This is a local organization focusing on peace which mobilized the necessary in order to support the IDP and Refugee Choir to participate. The funds helped in transport of the two trainers, printing and photocopying the music, the uniforms, the lunch, soft drinks and transport including allowances to the choir.
Amani Festival was on its 10th Edition, it is a Swahili word which means Peace Festival which is held in Goma each year in November and which brings together various cultural and music actors in the great lakes region. This year Amani Festival faced challenges due to war in North Kivu, it was supposed to be held in Bukavu South Kivu, but later in August the organizers changed, it was supposed to be for four days but one day before it, the Mayor of Goma cancelled it due to security reasons and later after two days it was confirmed. Then Amani Festival was finally held on Saturday November 16th and Sunday November 17th November 2024.
Among actors who performed we had representatives from Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania, and the big show was animated by the popular musician in DRC called Frere Gola from Kinshasa who rushed the audience in music the whole evening.
Situation about Goma
Few days before the festival, some pressure groups threatened to hold demonstrations to oppose against this festival as they argued that Goma is at war, facing insecurity every night and hosts millions of Internally Displaced Persons and refugees, therefore there was no reason for peace, and for dancing. While those who supported the Amani Festival argued that it was an opportunity for people to relax, be happy and forget for a while the situation they are facing.
These events were supported by various development partners of DRC based in Kinshasa and the international media.
Thanks
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