Long associated with massacres and persistent insecurity, the town of Beni, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, carried a different message this weekend: that of hope, peace and resilience.
From January 17 to 18, Beni hosted the fourth edition of the Tumaini music festival, a Swahili word meaning hope. In a region scarred by years of armed violence, this cultural event has established itself as a space for expression, collective healing and citizen mobilization, supported largely by young people.
For many participants, Tumaini is much more than just a festival. It is a cry from the heart, a refusal of war and silence.
"At home in Beni, in our province, we have been victims of wars. Young people are traumatized and the population has difficulty having confidence in themselves. This must stop", says festival-goer Gerlas Mukokoma.
These words reflect a widely shared feeling: that of a youth deeply marked by violence, but determined to speak out again and rebuild the social fabric.
On stage, musicians, slammers and dancers follow one another in front of an attentive audience. The texts and performances denounce the violence, pay tribute to the victims and call for peace in eastern Congo.
In this artistic space, art becomes an outlet. It allows you to express pain, but also to transform suffering into creative energy and a message of unity.
Sarah Kahamwithi, slam artist, uses her voice to challenge and raise awareness: I appeal to all those who know that we are suffering. I denounce the fact that something is wrong here, at home, in the east", she explains.
Through slam, music or dance, artists give a voice to those who, for a long time, did not have one.
Placed under the theme "Youth, peace and security", this fourth edition is part of an approach that is both cultural and civic. The festival also served as a framework to popularize United Nations Resolution 2250, which recognizes the central role of young people in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
A choice far from trivial in a region where youth represent the majority of the population, but often remain marginalized in decision-making processes.
For Benjamin Asimon, coordinator of the Tumaini festival, the issue is fundamental: It has been six years since the start of the massacres. The despair was great and dangerous. The only way to fight it is to consolidate the people as one man, so that the enemy understands that the population is united and unbeatable. "
Beyond the stage, the festival has also invested in other forms of expression. Painters and visual artists exhibited works reflecting the hope of a different future, far from fear and violence.
In Beni, art thus becomes a common language, accessible to all, and an act of peaceful resistance to weapons.
A way of saying that, despite injuries, life goes on and peace remains possible. In a city long reduced to its tragedies, Tumaini reminds us that hope can still be born, grow and bring people together.
