An important commercial centre, it is home to a stadium and is known for its traditional dances, in particular the Bapende dancers whose geographic origin centers on the village of Gungu.

Bapende dancers often wear traditional costumes comprising colorful masks and attire made from raffia.

In April 2014, a tribute concert held in Kikwit to honor King Kester Emeneya ended in disaster, and at least thirteen people in the stadium died in a stampede following a power failure.

Kikwit is also connected to Kinshasa by road and river transport.

This Democratic Republic of the Congo location article is a stub.