A stampede that occurred during a music concert in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo, Africa, resulted in nine fatalities, including a 10-year-old child and at least two women. The incident, which took place on Saturday, July 27, 2024, also resulted in numerous injuries.
The tragic event transpired at the Stade des Martyrs stadium, which can accommodate around 80,000 people, during a performance by Mike Kalambayi, a renowned Congolese gospel singer. The governor of Kinshasa, Daniel Bumba, together with DRC Health Minister Roger Kamba, confirmed the casualties and the number of injured individuals, some of whom were admitted to intensive care.
Local music management company, Maajabu Gospel, organized the concert which attracted an approximate crowd of 30,000. The event, which featured various musicians and pastors, drew a large and enthusiastic audience. However, the atmosphere turned chaotic when a stampede broke out. Video footage from the scene showed massive crowds outside the stadium, gathered in front of barricades in wait to enter. Inside the stadium, people were seen rushing toward the main stage.
The exact cause of the stampede is yet to be determined by authorities, who stated that an investigation has started. According to Maajabu Gospel, the chaos began when law enforcement officers attempted to deal with some disruptive attendees. With around 2,000 police officers present at the venue, questions have been raised about the efficiency of the crowd control measures that were in place during the concert.
This incident brings to light, once again, the ongoing problem of inadequate crowd control at large-scale events in Congo. In a similar occurrence at the same stadium last October, 11 people lost their lives during a music concert.
Expressing his condolences to the bereaved families, Governor Bumba pledged a thorough investigation into the incident. He attributed the fatalities to “overflows and crowd movements” at the stadium.
In a statement, Maajabu Gospel stressed the importance of improving security protocols to prevent future occurrences of such incidents. “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,”
The concert, which was supposed to be a joyous event bringing together music enthusiasts and religious leaders, turned tragic. Headlining performer Mike Kalambayi, known for his uplifting gospel music, has a large following in Congo. The sizeable turnout was a testament to his popularity.
As the investigation is ongoing, there have been calls for stricter regulations and improved planning for large-scale events. Ensuring the safety of attendees has been underscored as a paramount consideration to avoid the repetition of such tragedies.