Congolese music icon Werrason will lead the 12th edition of Rumba Parade in Muanda on August 29–30, with a wider lineup of artists set to perform at the free cultural festival on the Atlantic coast of Kongo Central.
MUANDA, DR Congo — August 24, 2026 — Congolese rumba star Werrason is set to headline the 12th edition of Rumba Parade, which will take place in Muanda, Kongo Central, on August 29 and 30, 2026.
The two-day cultural event will be staged at the beach of Beviour Hôtel, where performances are scheduled to run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
According to Forum des As, admission to the festival will be free, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to experience a major celebration of Congolese rumba on the country's Atlantic coast.
Werrason, whose full name is Noël Ngiama Makanda, will appear with Wenge Musica Maison Mère as one of the biggest names on the programme.
Full Rumba Parade 2026 lineup revealed
The latest festival details show that Rumba Parade 2026 will feature more than one headline act.
Forum des As reports that the programme also includes Rumba Divas, Fils de l’Homme, Merveille Diemba, Berfe, UBG Musique, Anti-Missiles, Villages des Stars and Rumba Arts.
The expanded lineup gives the event a mix of established performers, groups and emerging talent rather than presenting it as a single-artist concert.
Organisers are positioning the festival as a celebration of Congolese culture, live performance and the country's internationally recognised rumba tradition.
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Werrason to Headline Rumba Parade 2026 as Full Lineup Is Revealed
Aug 24, 2026
Aug 24, 2026
5 min read
Published
Updated:
Congolese music icon Werrason will lead the 12th edition of Rumba Parade in Muanda on August 29–30, with a wider lineup of artists set to perform at the free cultural festival on the Atlantic coast of Kongo Central.
MUANDA, DR Congo — August 24, 2026 — Congolese rumba star Werrason is set to headline the 12th edition of Rumba Parade, which will take place in Muanda, Kongo Central, on August 29 and 30, 2026.
The two-day cultural event will be staged at the beach of Beviour Hôtel, where performances are scheduled to run from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
According to Forum des As, admission to the festival will be free, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to experience a major celebration of Congolese rumba on the country's Atlantic coast.
Werrason, whose full name is Noël Ngiama Makanda, will appear with Wenge Musica Maison Mère as one of the biggest names on the programme.
Full Rumba Parade 2026 lineup revealed
The latest festival details show that Rumba Parade 2026 will feature more than one headline act.
Forum des As reports that the programme also includes Rumba Divas, Fils de l’Homme, Merveille Diemba, Berfe, UBG Musique, Anti-Missiles, Villages des Stars and Rumba Arts.
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The expanded lineup gives the event a mix of established performers, groups and emerging talent rather than presenting it as a single-artist concert.
Organisers are positioning the festival as a celebration of Congolese culture, live performance and the country's internationally recognised rumba tradition.
Werrason confirmed as Rumba Parade guest of honour
Werrason's participation had already been confirmed before the full programme was made public.
In an earlier announcement, Wallonie-Bruxelles International identified Werrason as the guest of honour for the 12th Rumba Parade and confirmed that the festival would take place in Muanda on August 29 and 30.
WBI said the event is supported by the European cultural network EUNIC and celebrates Congolese rumba while encouraging exchanges between Congolese and Belgian artists.
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The organisation also highlighted rumba's status as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
That heritage angle gives Rumba Parade a broader purpose beyond entertainment, placing the festival within continuing efforts to celebrate and preserve one of DR Congo's most influential cultural exports.
Rumba Parade takes the celebration to Muanda
The choice of Muanda gives this year's edition another distinctive angle.
Located in Kongo Central on DR Congo's Atlantic coastline, Muanda provides a different setting from the large urban stages usually associated with major Congolese concerts.
Forum des As says the event is being organised with involvement from the European Union Delegation in DR Congo, EUNIC RDC, the Délégation générale Wallonie-Bruxelles and Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, with support from the Ministry of Tourism.
By staging the performances on the beach and making admission free, the organisers are combining live entertainment with cultural promotion and domestic tourism.
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The festival could also draw visitors from outside Muanda for a weekend built around Congolese rumba and the coastal setting.
Werrason remains central to Congolese rumba
Werrason's presence gives the 2026 edition significant star power.
The veteran singer and bandleader has spent decades at the centre of Congolese popular music and remains closely associated with Wenge Musica Maison Mère.
His appearance as guest of honour places one of the country's best-known performers at the centre of a festival designed to celebrate rumba's history while introducing audiences to a broader generation of artists.
With the full lineup now public, free entry confirmed and the Muanda venue set, Rumba Parade 2026 is positioned as one of Kongo Central's notable cultural events for the final weekend of August.
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