▪️Fimbu jigs and boxing rhythms: Kinshasa grooves to a fan-powered beat
October 25, 2026
Beta libumu! (punch the stomach!)
The roar tears through the packed Stade des Martyrs Gym, riding a wave of thumping drums and brassy fanfares. Defending African light-heavyweight champion Nlandu Mbeli Nathan hears it. He leans into the sound, unleashing a devastating combination that pounds Chad’s Sindigue Baglong back against the ropes.
This is the round of 16 at the African Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships on October 24, and Kinshasa is on fire!!
In the corner, head coach Baoba Ilunga and National Technical Director Toussaint Lofalanga are on their feet, their voices cutting through the dynamic chaos. They want a stoppage. They want it inside the distance. Mbeli obliges with brutal, beautiful precision, stopping his Chadian opponent cold in the second round.
The arena explodes.
Mbeli turns to the stands where his teammates are seated. He locks eyes with them and breaks into the fimbu—the whipping dance jig made famous by the Leopards, the DR Congo national football team. The crowd mirrors his steps, a sea of synchronized hips and ecstatic grins.
In Africa’s undisputed music capital, rhythm is not just a pastime. It is a weapon, a celebration, and a way of life.
Twice the overall continental crown has eluded them, slipping away in 2023 and 2024. But this year, the Congolese juggernaut feels unstoppable, fueled by an arena that breathes with every jab and hook.
And the terrifying part for the rest of the continent? DR Congo’s most lethal weapons have barely even stepped into the ring.
The charge will be led by three-time champion Pita Kabeji. Moving up to heavyweight, Kabeji is hunting an unprecedented fourth consecutive African title. His quest begins on October 28 against Cameroon’s Ebony Emmy Abel.
Behind him stands an army of boxing royalty waiting for their cue two-time middleweight champion David Tshama, light-welterweight force Mbalayi Mbamba chasing her second African crown, and 2025 Africa Zone 3 heavyweight champion Tshimwanga Sulamite. Add to that the explosive energy of Munga Zalia and bantamweight sensation Kolongo Bakora.
Meanwhile, the gold rush is already on. Defending minimumweight champion Bénédicte Diyoka and flyweight queen Nyembo Gisèle have already punched their tickets straight to the finals since they’re only two of them in their respective categories.
The drums continue to beat. The fans continue to dance. At the Stade des Martyrs, the message to the rest of Africa is deafeningly clear: the Leopards are hungry, the music is playing, and the fimbu is ready.
