Park Poétik Kinshasa 2025 @ Matete-Kinshasa
Edition 2025
Parade Kinshasa – 03 & 04/07
Nest Mont Ngafula – 30 & 31/07, 01, 06, 07 & 08/08
Park Poétik Kinshasa is now in its 3rd edition and once again filles the streets of Matete with poetry.
A new dimension this year was the street residency in the Mont-Ngafula district, where Vanessa Mbuyi – coordinator of Park Poétik Kinshasa – stayed for a while. Through new artistic initiatives and a cine-debate inspired by the documentary on the 2023 edition, Park Poétik Kinshasa aims to continue inspiring local authorities to invest more deeply in art and culture.
A bit of history
1st edition
Park Poétik Kinshasa was founded in 2023 on the initiative of visual artist Daniel Toya. who, following his residency with Park Poétik in 2022, succeeded in mobilizing a collective of artists in Kinshasa. Together, they organized two vibrant festival days, where street performers and trained artists surprised and delighted audiences with a wide array of artistic and poetic interventions. Their mission: to put the creative disciplines in the spotlight, break down prejudices about artistic professions and thus strengthen the Congolese cultural heritage.
During the first edition, in 2023, local artists from the Matete neighborhood took center stage. They showcased a wide range of artworks and performances: Plam’s Art painted a powerful live portrait reflecting the challenges faced by the Congolese people; Vainqueur, a robot costume made from recycled materials, came to life thanks to Daniel Toya; Thierry Matouz performed a participatory Michael Jackson–style dance; Peter and his band delivered a vibrant rap concert, and Clovis and his percussion group brought rhythm and energy to the streets. Meanwhile, a documentary was created remotely in Brussels, directed by Vanessa Mbuyi.
2nd edition
A year later, in 2024, poetry once again flowed through the streets of Matete. This time marked the birth of the Charrette Poétik: a go-kart-like creation, both a carrier of wonder and a symbol of unity. A mobile poetry vehicle with the ambition to infuse all of Kinshasa with creativity. This time, Vanessa was there in person to meet the artists face-to-face.
