Appendix 6 - International Music Council

The traditional music still lacks visibility in the DRC, just because it lacks room for
expression, although every week-end there are no less than 60-80 traditional groups
performing in different boroughs of Brazzaville. But this is only seen as a simple
curiosity which raises interest among a small category of youngsters returned from
their villages.
Young people born in the city consider traditional music as a disgrace while in the
villages an opposite tendency can be perceived, especially because a lot of young
people are not in direct contact with the exterior. This is one of the reasons that
contributed to the creation of the popular festival of traditional music in Brazzaville.
Another reason for its creation was to promote traditional music and to enable the
groups to travel as do the so-called modern groups.
Hither and yon, people start to produce this traditional music on audio and video
support.
Moreover, it is striking that lately the so-called modern groups add traditional music
to their repertory. In Congo, this phenomenon is demonstrated by the groups EXTRA
MUSICA with its “Roots” and PATROUILLE DES STARS with “Congo”, comprising a
compilation of songs from the different regions in our country.
This reality makes us believe that traditional music has a better future in our
country.
The producers of spectacles in the sub-region gather on stage several forms of
musics sometimes mixing groups from several countries. For ex: FESPAM; FIRES OF
BRAZZA; the FESPACO; etc...
Certain artists do even what we call the "potpourris", a collection of the best pieces
of big musicians of the past.
There aren't yet any examples where people would be opposed to musical diversity.
Certain authorities in search of popularity proclaim themselves as producers of
certain ensembles in a given locality. However, the cohabitation of several
authorities in the same locality has lately led to the division of the groups and
sometimes to the disappearance of some of them.
In spite of such regrettable situations, as a whole, all the forms of music are
expressed freely. Fusions are perceptible between the Western pop music and the
traditional musics.
Examples:
- the festival of Francofolies
- the festival of the Pygmee knowledge
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All these obstacles can be surmounted with the implementation of the convention on
the protection and the promotion of the diversity of the cultural expressions. For this
reason it is necessary to fight so that the various States of the sub-region ratify it as
soon as possible.
Moreover, it is necessary to develop the patronage (mecenat), the civil society and
the subsidies from authorities and international organizations
1. At all
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. No
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