Festival Amani

[15] To promote community engagement and support local talent, various activities are organized leading up to the festival:[15][16] Sanaa Weekends: These events, held at the Foyer Culturel de Goma, provide a platform for artistic promotion, featuring singers, dancers, musicians, acrobats, and more performing in front of audiences ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 people every Saturday.

[15][16] Projets artistiques: Financed by the Amani Festival and supervised by the Foyer Culturel de Goma, provide financial support to six local musicians with six artistic projects receiving a donation of $500 each.

The progress and impact of projects launched in 2018 are continuously supervised, with success stories of supported youth shared on social media platforms and the festival's website.

[17] Pole Institute, a non-profit organization engaged in conflict research in the African Great Lakes region, provided a platform for Amani FM to amplify the festival's message of peace and cultural unity.

[7][19] This idea took shape following the success of the Sanaa weekend, a showcase for promoting up-and-coming talents such as musicians and actors from Goma trained at the center.

[7] Initially inexperienced in organizing a large-scale event that could draw more than 30,000 people, the trainers and youth cohorts decided to take the first step and made it a great success.

[27][28][29] It garnered the attendance of 11,000 festival-goers and featured a program comprising 30 musical and dance ensembles, mentorship for ten burgeoning entrepreneurs, allocation of four grants, initiation of four enterprises in Goma, sponsorship for six artists to realize their creative endeavors, engagement of 80 innovative and associative organizations within the Kwa Kesho Bora village, facilitation of four artistic workshops, participation of 510 runners in the Ekiden, and mobilization of 400 dedicated volunteers.

[7] Notable artists at the event included: Nneka, Werrason, Ismaël Lô, Joel Sebunjo, Aly Keïta, Zao, Kode, Yvonne Mwale, Mista Poa, Sango'A, Angel Mutoni, JC Kibombo, Keren, New Young, Jazz Music, Intachogora, Black Man Bausi, Innoss'B, Matakiyo, Keyvoices, and Nsango Mbonda.

[30][31][32][33] It attracted 34,000 festival-goers and showcased the talents of 23 singers and groups, while providing a platform for 17 traditional and modern dance ensembles and facilitating 70 exhibitors within the associative and entrepreneurial realms.

[7] Additionally, the festival awarded 10 grants of $1,000 each to nurture artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors, while fostering camaraderie through a 42 km marathon involving 250 athletes with the aim of creating team spirit and cohesion in businesses.

[7] Notable artists at the event included: Sauti Sol, Jean Goubald Kalala, Yewande Austin, Fabregas Le Métis Noir, Boddhi Satva, DJ Amaroula, Bolivar M'vulu, Franc Issa Le Rossignol, the Life Story Orchestra, Thomas Lusango, Robat King, Magic Pinokio, René Byamungu, Bolivar M'vulu, JKM, Kongoloko, Enrique Makas, Demba, and Mani Martin.

[7] It boasted an eclectic lineup of artists: Fally Ipupa, Youssoupha, Baloji, Ruth Tafébé, Lady Jaydee, Alisheur Amouly, Joly Malonga, Nkento Bakaji, Alif Naaba, Mortal Combo, Yvan Buravan, Infrappa, Knowless, Gaël Faye, Dj Spilulu, DJ Alec Lomami, T- Saint Arrow, Kareyce Fotso, Nasfi Power, Life Song, Anick Michael, BCUC, La Monteska, among others.

Other artists in attendance included: Faada Freddy, Didier Awadi, Professor Jay, Innoss'B, Dobet Gnahoré, Gaz Mawete, Euforquestra, Céline Banza, Serge Cappuccino, UsX & Izoard, Grand Mike Jazz, Alphaz, Honoman, Glomaneka, SLM, Bill Ruzima, Ndaane, Kris Dane, Slam, among others.The eighth edition was initially planned for 4–6 June 2021.

However, due to the state of siege prompted by security concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was postponed to 4–6 February 2022,[46][47][48] in Kituku in the Keshero neighborhood of Goma commune.

[49] As a precautionary measure for security reasons, the ninth edition was hosted in Bukavu at the Athénée d'Ibanda from 10–12 February 2023, while some ancillary events remained in Goma.

Amani Festival third edition in 2016
Bintou Keita at the Amani Festival in 2022