The crew of Rumba Royale posing for a photo during the film’s premiere in Congo, Brazzaville. Photo Courtesy: Institut Français du Congo
The Congolese historical thriller, Rumba Royale, is receiving overwhelming praise from the actors who say they were marked by the unique experience that the film represented. Released during the 2025 festive season, the film spotlights the history and significance of rumba music during the DRC’s struggle for independence, placing the story at the heart of Congolese identity.
By Andrino Akuda, bird story agency
21 January 2026
The melodious vibes of rumba waft through the streets of Brazzaville and Kinshasa, an infectious fusion of central African rhythms and Spanish folk music. The distinct style emerged in the late 19th century and had its heyday in the late 1940s through the early 1980s. Designated in 2021 by the UN as an intangible cultural heritage of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, rumba is the backdrop and soundtrack for the film, Rumba Royale, which stars Congolese pop music star Fally Ipupa. Rumba Royale is now one of the most talked-about Congolese films on the international independent circuit. Directed by Yohane Dean Lengol and Hamed Mobasser, the film is set in Leopoldville (the former name of Kinshasa) in 1959, and takes viewers through the charged sociopolitical landscape as the DRC approached independence.
Ipupa, one of the DRC’s most widely-known and decorated pop music artist today, plays the role of Daniel, a bohemian photographer who frequents a rumba club where artists, activists, and figures of colonial power cross paths. Between music, love, and political engagement, the film explores the fractures of a changing society. Ipupa recounted this experience in the film in an interview with TV5 Monde.
“I was initially drawn to the script. As it also mentioned rumba, filming in Kinshasa, and a story set at the dawn of independence, I was immediately interested. I wanted to be part of the adventure. I love cinema. I’m a real film buff. I learned a lot. I don’t like shooting music videos, and directors know that. In this film, I stayed longer, but it was for a good cause. The project is really interesting,” he said.
“I’m a good actor, but I’m no Denzel Washington, but that’s okay,” he said with a laugh. “I had 18 to 20 days of shooting, every day from 8 am to 7:30 p.m. And above all, I didn’t want to play the singer in this film.”
For Hénoc Kiyombo, who plays Albert, a musician in the story, the film was much more than just a role. It was an artistic challenge.
“Playing a musician was completely new for me,” he told bird. “It showed me that cinema allows great freedom when there is commitment, and that an artist must be versatile.”
Kiyombo added that despite its title, the film should be seen primarily as a historical narrative. For Mélanie Bokata, who plays Olive, Rumba Royale marked her first major experience filming in Kinshasa.
“It was an intense and rewarding experience,” she told bird. “Discovering Kinshasa through cinema changed my perspective on the city and on my own practice as an actress.”
She highlighted the unifying power of music as one of the film’s strongest elements.
“I was struck by how music brought people together,” Bokata explained, referring to the packed cinemas.
French actor Olivier Loustau, who plays Jean-Pierre, said the film transformed his understanding of both rumba and Congolese history.
“I knew rumba for its influence on Afro-Caribbean music,” he told bird. “I did not realise it had played a role in the struggle for independence, or how present it is in daily life in Kinshasa.”
Portraying a colonial character carried particular significance.
“Cinema builds bridges between peoples,” he said. “I hope this role contributes, even modestly, to acknowledging the violence of the past.”
The actors hope that the film will encourage broader reflection on the future of Congolese cinema. Specific country-wide revenue figures are not explicitly detailed in available reports.
“This film proves that there is no shortage of stories or actors. What is lacking is real funding and a stronger commitment from the local audience to our cinema,” Kyombo told bird in an interview.
Through Rumba Royale, the actors and directors offer a cinematic interpretation of a key moment in Congolese history. For them, the film goes beyond entertainment and is part of a collective memory process, while opening up prospects for Congolese cinema to shine on the international stage.
bird story agency