The Association des jeunes écrivains du Congo (Ajeco) has announced a workshop on rumba and writing in Lingala, focused on the song "Makolo ya Masiya" by Carlyto Lassa. The event, scheduled for September 25 at the Institut des arts du spectacle (Inas) in Kinshasa, aims to explore the intersection of music and literature. According to Florian Luzoladio Kayombo, responsible for planning events dedicated to national languages at Ajeco, the workshop seeks to create a dialogue between orality and written literature.
The workshop is part of a cycle dedicated to rumba and writing in Lingala, with the goal of promoting literary creation in Lingala by combining musical listening, literary analysis, orality, and writing practice. Participants will engage in a collective listening of the musical work, followed by a participatory analysis of its literary and cultural richness. The program consists of three stages: listening, deciphering, and writing.
During the workshop, participants will produce short texts in Lingala, which will be shared publicly. This initiative is a precursor to the Grande Dictée en lingala that Ajeco plans to organize at the end of the cycle. The workshop will be led by Bayuwa Di-Mvuezolo, a writer, Edimo Lumbidi, a Lingala teacher, and Ya Mzée, a slammer and program coordinator.
The event is open to students, young writers, poets, and anyone interested in creation in Lingala. No specific writing skills are required, as the activity is designed as an exploratory and experimental space. The workshop aims to bring together people from different backgrounds to appreciate the literary value of Congolese rumba.
According to Florian Luzoladio Kayombo, the initiative recognizes that African literature extends beyond printed books and has long been transmitted through oral traditions, songs, and collective memory. The workshop seeks to highlight the creative potential of Congolese music, particularly rumba, as a space for poetic creation and language transmission.
The Association des jeunes écrivains du Congo (Ajeco) hopes that this workshop will contribute to the valorization of literary creation in Lingala and promote a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of rumba in Congolese society. By exploring the intersection of music and literature, the event aims to foster a new appreciation for the artistic heritage of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The workshop on rumba and writing dedicated to Carlyto Lassa is set to take place on September 25 at the Institut des arts du spectacle (Inas) in Kinshasa. Interested participants can attend the event, which promises to be an engaging and enriching experience for those passionate about Congolese culture, literature, and music.
Key points
- The workshop aims to create a dialogue between oral tradition and written literature, highlighting the literary value of Congolese rumba.
