Nearly 3,000 people attended the seventh edition of “Musika na Kipaji,” a women-led music festival in Goma, eastern Congo, which concluded on Sunday. The three-day event aimed to campaign against gender-based violence and showcase women’s talents in music and dance, while promoting social cohesion, peace, and unity.
Congolese rapper Clem Cléopâtre headlined the final day, delivering rapid, punchy lyrics about unity and peace. The audience swayed to her music, with some singing along and blowing kisses, as performers in colourful clothes danced on stage. Cléopâtre told the Associated Press: “I come from a place where war breaks out at any moment, ever since we were little. And for me, that's a real motivation. I encourage young people not to feel alone, especially women, because they are often forgotten.”
Goma, a prized city in mineral-rich eastern Congo, has been under the control of the Rwanda-led M23 rebel group since January 2025, when the group seized key cities in a blitz. A heavy conflict has since erupted between the group and the Congolese military, with sexual violence surging. Despite a peace deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, the conflict continues to flare with heavy artillery, according to the United Nations.
The conflict has triggered one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, displacing at least 7 million people in eastern Congo. Festivalgoers said the event has become a vital space for rebuilding social bonds. Jean Luc Maroy, a festivalgoer, remarked: “Today, we are all together as young people. A year ago, that was impossible because of the war. Here, we can express our frustration … and see young people united around culture and women.”
