As Congo burns, we need to come to a serious reckoning. While hands are getting greased off of the backs of the Congolese, these musicians were and still are performing in these countries that could give a f* about the atrocities taking place in the Congo. These are supposed to be ambassadors who should be raising awareness because the countries are indirectly supporting the M23 who are being financed by Congo’s neighbor.

Then on the other hand you have an artist who is besties with Macron parading him around the streets of Kinshasa drinking beer and then on the grand stage next to Tshisekedi takes a pool stick and shoves it up Congo by siding with Kagame to still allow troops in Goma, who steal the resources to sell on the international black market to fund various technologies in our very own households. Makes sense that they call Kabila Rwandese. These countries are profiting off of Congo, and they have nothing to show for it. NOTHING.

Congolese musicians need to think long and hard before they continue to perform in the UK, France, Belgium, Dubai, even here in the United States. It’s these countries that are funding Rwanda to rape the country, the Congolese people suffer and our musicians going to these countries singing and dancing who don’t even really respect our culture (they steal from that too and we get no credit).

Congo is bleeding…

although i FULLY agree with you,i find it a bit i dont find the right word,something like "too late" somehow,i have seen it from comments of the ferre visit in belgium where in his interview he apologised several times for respecting the planned visit but people still attacked either over the war or undercover over their artistic preferences
so artists might face two challenges,combattants resurgence and fans of artists themselves,exactly like it was before,its just sad that it took losing goma to get in a situation were combattants are no more the biggest devils because of their idea of blocking concerts while in reality,the artists the combattants and the population should have always been a common force together,even that clown of fatshi would have done way better if he felt triple pressure

Expecting musicians to be activists for broad and complex political change is a recipe for disappointment. Let's be honest, these guys make serious money that provide for themselves and extended families by touring abroad and doing matolo for the elites.

An organized boycott of Europe and complicit African countries hurts the pockets of Congolese musicians in the long run because they can't pay for school, medical treatment, and other expensive necessities for their families.

In the long run, a radical protest from a popular musician only invites reprisal from their government for bringing negative attention to the current regime (does Fally or Ferre really want to sacrifice the small wealth they built for a path that could lead to jail, exile, and even assassination).

First and foremost, they're musicians by trade. They're not college students, politicians, or paramilitary. Those are the branches of a successful revolution. Artisans are complicit because by singing for Kabila or Fatshi, they legitimize the Congolese government in exchange for money. Their hands are dirty as well and combatants will rightly point that out. Musicians are compromised, especially Fally and Roga Roga who are too "close" to the seat of power based on their craft.

God forbid,but i have a feeling we are on to another AFDL-like era,and this even before the goma attack,i was feeling something i dont know why
the guys are on to another city according to the news,if they reach say 3 4 cities,its major trouble loading

God forbid,but i have a feeling we are on to another AFDL-like era,and this even before the goma attack,i was feeling something i dont know why
the guys are on to another city according to the news,if they reach say 3 4 cities,its major trouble loading

Where is the army? You're telling me a couple of hoodlums with AK-47s are giving Congolese military a headache, that's crazy!

In the long run, a radical protest from a popular musician only invites reprisal from their government for bringing negative attention to the current regime (does Fally or Ferre really want to sacrifice the small wealth they built for a path that could lead to jail, exile, and even assassination).

First and foremost, they're musicians by trade. They're not college students, politicians, or paramilitary. Those are the branches of a successful revolution. Artisans are complicit because by singing for Kabila or Fatshi, they legitimize the Congolese government in exchange for money. Their hands are dirty as well and combatants will rightly point that out. Musicians are compromised, especially Fally and Roga Roga who are too "close" to the seat of power based on their craft.

Even this current regime is on record saying what Rwanda is doing is wrong and that the West and other African countries are in bed together to destabilize Congo.

Archos is right. While I don’t agree with violence, the Combattants should’ve been taken more seriously and been offered an olive branch to work together to stop the madness. These countries need to cut funding to Kagame. He wants to do to Congo what Putin is doing to Ukraine.

God forbid,but i have a feeling we are on to another AFDL-like era,and this even before the goma attack,i was feeling something i dont know why
the guys are on to another city according to the news,if they reach say 3 4 cities,its major trouble loading

Where is the army? You're telling me a couple of hoodlums with AK-47s are giving Congolese military a headache, that's crazy!

i just saw few hours ago that a group of 300 romanians who came to train the congolese army have all left via brazza to go back to romania

It would make no sense if Congolese Artists rejected going to Belgium, France and the countries you mention. They do not have that power. And  it would kill the music scene. If they wrote a song about the crisis to raise international awareness about it, that might bring some attention to the topic.


There is something that would be much more powerful to influence international politics however: if the combattants or other popular figures would start a movement on social media asking people to stop buying devices associated with mining in Congo. Even better if they could team up with American and European influencers to join the movement. And turn it to a word campaign. If that movement grew big, it would end the conflict. And no gunfire would be needed, no big monies spent on guns, troops. People just have to stop buying iPhone and other stuff, and the companies will call Kagame right away to order the troops go home. Money talks, as you know.