Rumba Royale, which stars Congolese music star Fally Ipupa, is set for release on December 12. The film marks the acting debut for Ipupa.
One of the Congo’s best known music acts, Fally Ipupa’s albums include such as “Droit Chemin”, “Arsenal de Belles Melodies”, “Power Kosa Leka”, “Tokooos”, “Control”, and “Formule 7”. Throughout his career, he has won numerous awards, including the 2010 MTV Africa Music Award and the 2013 Trace Urban Music Award for Best African Artist.
“I’m convinced that audiences will love this film in Congo and beyond,” Ipupa said to Deadline, expressing his confidence in the film project. “I think they’ll be surprised in a good way, and I hope my position in Congo and internationally will attract people to this film.”
Ipupa added: “It’s one of the two or three biggest projects made in Congo—maybe not in terms of budget, but in terms of ambition, and a lot of people have worked here. We had a vision, we knew what we wanted to present and the story we wanted to tell, so we’re confident this project will resonate with a wide audience.”
Pathé Touch Afrique, an African film production and distribution company has acquired the pan-African rights to the film. The company plans to release Rumba Royale into French, English, and Portuguese-speaking territories across Africa. It will also host special screenings in Europe and the United States, further expanding the film’s reach.
Rumba Royale is directed by Yohane Dean Lengol and Hamed Mobasser. Mobasser also produced the film alongside Kevin Dwyer, Marie G Sambay, Eric Mukuna, Eric Kasongo, Emmanuel Lupia, Alain Ilunga Tshovo, and Ronny Law. The film is set against the backdrop of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s pre-independence era in 1960, and explores Congolese rumba music and the country’s political struggle.
The film’s other cast members include Mélanie Bokata, Cécile Djunga, Olivier Loustau, Hénoc Kyombo, and Patrick Kabundi.
“We have always believed that these local stories could reach a universal audience,” said the film’s directors, Lengol and Mobasser. “It is this conviction that has allowed us to overcome every challenge we encountered. Everyone involved in this project has given far more than we could have expected, with incredible passion and generosity.”
