DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Congolese music group croons about the importance of peace as the vast nation awaits the results of elections that took place last week

Record ID: 349534

  • Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Congolese music group croons about the importance of peace as the vast nation awaits the results of elections that took place last week
  • Date: 6th December 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) STYVES BILA, CHOREOGRAPHER SAYING: "What Congo wants is just that, peace, so that we can go forward and so can our children. If there is war you can see that we will never manage to go forward."
  • Embargoed: 21st December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Congo
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Topics: Entertainment,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA8DYL6AE84QOWLUWUOWVC7NC47
  • Story Text: In a packed stadium in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo the music phenomenon Washiba sing the chorus of Michael Jackson's 'heal the world' to rapturous applause.
    The band prides itself on spreading a message of peace in the Congo, something that has taken on added resonance as the nation nervously awaits the results from last week's election.
    Dressed in white flares and red shirts with flamboyant ruffles, the afro-sporting pop group could have stepped straight out of the 1970s. But while their repertoire includes Elvis, Jackson and James Brown their anti-violence message is very much aimed at today's troubled times.
    Lead singer Moise Illunga said he hopes their mixture of soul, gospel and pop will help unite people across political boundaries and persuade them that violence is not an option.
    "I want to say to all the Congolese to stay calm, wherever they are. The artist Moise Ilunga has just sang about peace, and he says in his songs no politician, no leader likes war. They all like peace, so we will have peace," he said adding: "The elections hide a certain hypocrisy. The African man likes power and loves being powerful and struggles to let go of power, even if he has achieved nothing. As an African, this is an embarrassment for me."
    The group has performed over 100 concerts in the space of two years. When members of the band walk around their neigbourhood in Kinshasa they're greeted like celebrities, which says Washiba manager, Junior Tchiteya, helps them spread their message of peace.
    "It's time to change ourselves. It time to put aside our selfish needs and to remember our sons and our children. It's time to ask ourselves what will their future be. If we ransack Congo today, we would only be damaging our children's futures," he said.
    The elections went ahead last week despite many concerns over the readiness of the electoral commission.
    Voting began on Monday, two days after deadly violence in Kinshasa left at least four people dead and many others injured.
    According to Human Rights Watch, as many as 18 people were killed, the majority shot by Kabila's presidential guard. The voting ended three days later amid reports of fraud, disorganisation and isolated incidents of violence.
    The electoral commission has said presidential results could be out by the end of the week and while many have congratulated DR Congo on the relative calm maintained on election day, many have expressed concern that violence could still erupt when the results of the count are released.
    But Washiba's choreographer says it's not in people's interest to cause trouble.
    "What Congo wants is just that, peace, so that we can go forward and so can our children. If there is war you can see that we will never manage to go forward," said Styves Bila.
    Four presidential candidates have since called for the elections to be annulled, but the favourites, Kabila and 78-year-old Tshisekedi, have not.
    Meanwhile Congo's government has beefed up security in anticipation of the announcement of the results and U.N. peacekeepers, Congolese riot police and heavily armed presidential guard soldiers have been patrolling the streets of Kinshasa.
    While appealing for high-level African mediation, Congo's opposition leaders, who have only united after the poll, rejected the idea of a unity government with Kabila, such as those put in place to calm post-election disputes of recent years in countries such as Kenya and Zimbabwe.
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