Goma, a living symbol of resilience and culture in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, will be deprived of its iconic festival this year. Faced with persistent insecurity in the region, the Amani Festival has been forced to leave its home city. For its 11th edition, the event will exceptionally be held in Lubumbashi from April 10 to 12, 2026.
For Augustin Mosange, director of the Goma cultural center, the relocation was inevitable. "We are aware that there are several constraints that the festival would encounter by organizing itself in Goma, notably cancellations by artists who cannot travel to an area that is not under the control of Kinshasa. So, we think that this is one of the reasons why the festival is being relocated," he explains.
Since its inception in 2014, the Amani Festival has established itself as a powerful symbol of coexistence and peace in a region scarred by decades of armed conflict. Beyond the spotlight and the thousands of festival-goers it attracts each year, the festival embodies the commitment of a generation determined to see peace triumph over war. This year, its absence in Goma leaves a bitter taste.
Francisca Dev, a resident of Goma, confided her disappointment: "I admit I was sad, because we are used to organizing this big festival which still brings together the people of Goma, which brings a smile back to some people... and well, it was hard."
For David Kas, also a resident of the city, the relocation, although disappointing, remains understandable: "It's a disappointment, certainly, but we know that it's also a way for this festival to survive despite the insecurity experienced here in the east of the country."
Since January 2025, Goma has been under the control of AFC-M23 fighters. Despite the din of battle, culture refuses to be silenced. Goma's cultural center, through the Amani Festival, maintains its commitment to peace and provides a platform for socially engaged artists. For Pinochet Kasay, a musician and regular festival participant, music is more than an art form: it is an act of resistance.
“There are messages of peace being prepared at the local level and I know that many of the artists who are here will always give strength to this festival. Already, with its objectives and values, I think we will not fail to deliver the message of peace, because it concerns the whole country, not just North Kivu,” he explains.
The Amani Festival continues to celebrate peace and living together. Each year, it brings together artists from Goma, Africa, and beyond, attracting thousands of spectators. Despite the relocation, the festival's spirit remains intact: promoting culture as a lever for peace and hope in a region where war has for too long tried to silence the voices of youth.
This 11th edition in Lubumbashi will be an opportunity to remember that, even in adversity, music and culture remain bridges to reconciliation and social cohesion.
