SATURDAY | 10:30pm

Alan Brain

1h34m | 2021 | Peru/DRC | New England Premiere

The award-winning musical documentary film The Rumba Kings celebrates the epic quest of the Democratic Republic of Congo, an African nation that fought colonial oppression, found freedom, and forged a new identity through music. In the 1950s, when the DRC was a Belgian colony, a generation of Congolese musicians fused traditional African rhythms with Afro-Cuban music to create the electrifying beat of Congolese Rumba, a beat that would carry Congo through its independence and conquer the entire African continent with its infectious groove, captivating guitar licks, and smooth vocals.

Awards: Best Feature Length Documentary at Festival Int’l du Film PanAfrican de Cannes, France; Global Impact Award at Richmond Int’l FF, USA; Best Documentary Limited Competition at Doc'N Roll FF, UK; Audience Award at Musical Ecran, France; Best Music Doc at Melbourne Documentary FF, Australia; numerous international screenings as an Official Selection.

Sponsored by Arlington Jazz Festival