Kinshasa Symphony premieres in Berlin

Le seul Orchestre Symphonique de RDC à Kinshasa
Uploaded by pollux91. - Watch more music videos, in HD!On 17th and 18th February, the film Kinshasa Symphony premieres at the Berlinale, the 60th Berlin International Film Festival. Hopefully that will give the documentary the publicity it deserves because it's a wonderful project. The film (by Claus Wischmann and Martin Baer) is subtitled "Symphonie im Grossstadt-Slum", which, if you've seen Berlin Sinfonie der Grossstadt, makes sense.

"Kinshasa Symphony" shows how people living in one of the most chaotic cities in the world have managed to forge one of the most complex systems of human cooperation ever invented: a symphony orchestra. It is a film about the Congo, about the people of Kinshasa and about music."

The Congo isn't a wealthy place. Basics westerners take for granted (like electricity) don't come easy, and life's a struggle. Yet these musicians are so dedicated that they find time to practise nearly every day. They make their own instruments! No one can justify a million pound Strad here. They also make their own uniforms and share scores with each other. Yet they persist. The Kinshasa Symphony is the only orchestra in central Africa. People in the west have no idea how tough life can be in other places. I can't say how much I admire these people for their dedication. We in the west could learn something from them about true values.

Please read about the project HERE. It's a good cause. I hope the news will be picked up in the western media and the film shown around the world. Please pass this clip on. These people deserve respect.