A stampede at a music concert in Kinshasa, the capital city of Congo, Africa, claimed the lives of nine individuals, including a 10-year-old child and at least two women, on Saturday, July 27, 2024. Numerous others were injured during the incident.
The tragedy unfolded at the Stade des Martyrs stadium, an 80,000-seat venue, during a performance by Mike Kalambayi, a renowned Congolese gospel singer. The Governor of Kinshasa, Daniel Bumba, and the DRC Health Minister, Roger Kamba, confirmed the death toll and the number of injured, many of whom are in intensive care.
The concert, put together by local music management firm Maajabu Gospel, drew a crowd of approximately 30,000. With several musicians and pastors in attendance, the event attracted a large, enthusiastic audience. However, excitement quickly gave way to panic as a stampede started. Videos from the incident showed huge crowds outside the stadium barriers, waiting to get in, while inside, people were seen rushing towards the center stage.
The exact cause of the stampede is still under investigation, with authorities yet to provide a formal statement. The event organizers, Maajabu Gospel, suggested that the chaos started when officers attempted to control a few disruptive attendees. Notably, about 2,000 police officers were on duty at the venue, raising questions about the efficacy of the crowd management measures in place.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing problem with crowd control at large events in Congo. Just last October, 11 people lost their lives in a similar incident at the same stadium during a concert.
In response to the tragedy, Governor Bumba offered his condolences to the bereaved families and promised a thorough investigation. He attributed the fatalities to “overflows and crowd movements” at the stadium.
Maajabu Gospel, in its statement, emphasized the importance of enhancing security protocols to prevent such incidents in the future. “It is with deep sadness that we learned of the deaths of our compatriots who lost their lives, while the security services were trying to neutralize some troublemakers,” they said.
The concert was intended to be a joyful gathering, uniting music enthusiasts and religious leaders for entertainment and spiritual enrichment. Headlining artist Mike Kalambayi, known for his uplifting gospel music, enjoys a large fan base in Congo. His highly anticipated performance and the resultant mass turnout underscore his popularity.
As the probe into the incident continues, there are growing demands for stricter regulations and improved planning for large-scale events. Ensuring the safety of attendees to prevent such tragedies from happening again is of paramount importance.
