The Congolese rumba has been recognized by Unesco as a cultural world heritage since 2021. Although the cradle of this danceable music lies in Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville, important pages of its history have also been written in Belgium. It is therefore no coincidence that we are settling down in Matonge, the African district of our capital, with this super project.

The musicians of Super Rumba are the Belgian ambassadors of rumba congolaise and have been part of prestigious bands such as TPOK Jazz, Zaiko Langa Langa or Papa Wemba. Especially for the occasion they invited Olivier Tshimanga, one of the star guitarists of the rumba. In Kinshasa, Tshimanga founded his first group at the age of 9. Nine years later, Lutumba Simaro asked him to join the legendary Congolese TPOK Jazz (later Bana OK) of the late Franco. Tshimanga moves to Paris and is asked as a guitarist by the great stars of African music such as Tiken Jah Fakoly, Youssou Ndour, Koffi Olomide and Fally Ipupa. Since then, Tshimanga has continued his own way with committed songs, in which, in addition to an excellent voice, his guitaristic talent is particularly striking. Together they provide a festive closing in which classics from le Grand Kalle, Tabu Ley or Franco are interspersed with their own songs.

The concert takes place in the former porcelain factory Demeuldre-Coché, which after 190 years as a family business, has been transformed into the multidisciplinary arts venue Talk CEC. The magnificent building combines elements of the neo-Italian Renaissance with fluted cast-iron columns under a coffered ceiling, with wooden stair posts and banisters and profiled paneling.

This concert also takes place at 7pm.

In collaboration with