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Fally Ipupa begs Congolese in diaspora not to protest at his shows

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One of Democratic Republic of Congo’s biggest music stars, Fally Ipupa has begged his countrymen in the diaspora not to use any of his upcoming shows to stage protests against the government of the country.

The star whose hit track, “Un Coup” where he featured Congolese-French singer, Dadju, has been viewed more than 80 million times on YouTube, with his live performances attracting thousands of fans, made the appeal following a protest at one of his gigs at the Kinshasa’s Stadium of Martyrs last year where 11 people reportedly lost their lives while hundreds of others were injured.

Also in 2020 when he performed in Paris, France, there were riots outside the venue of the event, with protesters setting fire to bins and motorbikes, in a protest the French authorities linked to politics back home.

In the same vein, many Congolese in the diaspora have tried to stop musicians from the troubled African country from performing in Europe in order to show their opposition to politicians back home, accusing the big stars of being too close to power and failing to speak out against abuses happening in DR Congo.

As he prepares for his concerts coming up in December in London, Paris and Brussels, and with elections scheduled to hold back home at the same period, the star has pleaded with the Congolese communities not to use his shows to stage a protest.

“Most of the people know now that I don’t do political things. I am just a musician and they have realised that you cannot punish your child all his life,” he said in an interview with the BBC.

Ipupa said he did have some sympathy for those who boycotted his concerts but felt it was time to move past politics and support DR Congo’s music industry.

“I agree that things were happening politically which were not correct in DR Congo, and I’ve always told them that I agree with certain of the protesters who wanted to get the message across and raise awareness in people.

“But now the time has come to say, look guys, we have punished the artists, we have slowed down Congolese culture, it’s time to show the world that we have very, very strong music,” he enthused.

He also feels that “Congolese music has really suffered, losing its place in Europe to music from Nigeria, Ghana and Jamaica” as a result of political turmoil.

“Nigerian Afrobeats artists are now filling the major venues that Congolese artists used to fill 10 years ago,” he lamented.

But he says he is confident that this can change.

“Congolese music is one of the most beautiful and rich, we have many talented artists, so if our brothers and sisters in Europe say no more blocking of Congolese music in Europe, trust me we’re going to take our place in the world,” he predicts.

Culture

DRC authorities arrest six over break-in at Lumumba’s Mausoleum

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Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say six people have been arrested over a break-in and vandalism at the mausoleum of the country’s assassinated independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

The police had announced the six arrests late Wednesday and said they were still looking for two more suspects.

Interior Minister, Jacquemin Shabani, said in a statement that during the break-in which occurred on Monday, a case containing a single gold-capped tooth, the only part of the former leader that remained after his assassination, was broken by the vandals.

“We assure that the relic is secure and it is protected,” the minister said, without offering more information.

The return of Lumumba’s tooth from former colonizer Belgium in 2022 had been celebrated around Congo, with the tooth taken around the vast country so people could pay their respects.

Lumumba is widely hailed as the nationalist activist who helped end colonial rule in the DRC and went on to become the country’s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising new leaders, but he was assassinated within a year in 1961.

His body was dismembered and dissolved with acid in an apparent effort to keep any grave from becoming a pilgrimage site.

For many in Congo, Lumumba is a symbol of the positive developments the country could have achieved after its independence but instead, it became mired in decades of dictatorship that drained its vast mineral riches.

A military coup toppled Lumumba, who was arrested, jailed and later killed. His assassination, blamed on separatists, cleared the way for the rise of Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the country he later renamed Zaire for decades with support from Western powers until his death in 1997.

His one remaining tooth was kept by the Belgian police commissioner who oversaw the destruction of his body.

The tooth was returned to Congo after the visit of Belgium’s King Philippe, who expressed regrets for his nation’s abuses in Congo when it was a Belgian colony.

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Culture

Miss SA opens up on why she withdrew from Miss Universe pageant

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Reigning Miss South Africa 2024, Mia le Roux, has opened up on the reasons behind her withdrawal from the Miss Universe pageant which was held in Mexico, where Nigeria’s Chidinma Adetshina was the first runner-up.

While narrating her experience in a video she shared on social media on Wednesday, le Roux said her body was taking so much physical strain.

“Hello everyone, I’m back in South Africa and wanted to reach out to you all. Thank you so much for all of your kind wishes, your support and prayers,” she said in the video.

“I wanted to be transparent with you and share my story. A lot of you would’ve seen the video that I made about vertigo, while I was in Mexico at Miss Universe.

“Vertigo is a condition where it feels like you are dizzy and there’s a sense of the world spinning around you. It’s very intense and can cause major issues with your imbalance.

“Mentally I was very strong, I was ready, but physically, my body was taking strain. I had to even seek medical help in Mexico City. And even after the medical help, my condition still wasn’t improving.”

She added that during the preliminary rounds of Miss Universe, she had continued to push herself but her vertigo intensified and it became unmanageable.

She stated that while she was waiting backstage, she fell repeatedly and couldn’t stand up without support and was not in a position to safely walk on stage.

“It was not easy. As I was not doing it just for myself but for all of you in South Africa,” she said.

“I will continue to serve as your Miss South Africa, to support and uplift those who come after me. With my unbreakable spirit and an exciting year ahead, I will keep fighting for myself and for everyone with dreams and passions. I am so proud to still be your Miss South Africa,” she added.

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