In April 2026, the Amani Festival will change venues. Forced to leave Goma for Lubumbashi due to growing insecurity, the event turns displacement into an act of cultural resistance, affirming the power of music and art over war.

Goma will not host the 11th edition of the Amani Festival, scheduled for April 10–12. The event will instead take place in Lubumbashi, more than 1,600 km south of the city, following the occupation of Goma since late January 2025.

Augustin Mosange, director of the Goma Cultural Center, said the relocation was necessary.  "We are aware that the festival would face several constraints if it were held in Goma, notably cancellations from artists who cannot travel to an area outside the control of Kinshasa. These are among the reasons why the festival is being relocated," Mosange said.

The capital of North Kivu has been caught up for years in the conflict in eastern Congo between the M23/RDF coalition and Congolese forces backed by local Wazalendo militias. Despite the insecurity, the city had sought to maintain a semblance of normal life for residents through music and artistic events.

Derived from Swahili, the word "Amani" means "peace." Since 2014, the festival has aimed to provide a space for cultural dialogue, where music, dance and visual arts serve as tools for reconciliation in a context of armed conflict.

Musician and former festival participant Pinochet Kasay said the relocation would not undermine that goal, describing music as an act of resistance.

The cultural gathering did not take place last year due to security concerns. The 10th edition in 2024 was also held amid uncertainty, after two postponements, a temporary ban and approval granted at the last minute.

Ubrick F. Quenum