The Rumba Kings (2018): cast, story & where to watch
2018 · Film
Released in 2018, The Rumba Kings is a documentary film directed by Alan Brain, running about 94 minutes. “Congo's real treasure does not lie underground” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The Rumba Kings is a documentary that unveils the brighter and ignored side of a country that the mass media has always associated with rape, war, poverty and corruption: The Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rumba Kings shows us that in the Democratic Republic of Congo, not so long ago, there were bands and musicians as talented as The Beatles, and as famous in the African continent as The Rolling Stones are in the West. Congo’s capital Kinshasa was the musical center of Africa for more than 30 years. Furthermore, the documentary tells us that Congolese Rumba is disappearing, leaving almost no trace since there are no video archives, no master audio tapes of the best bands and musicians, and not even musical notation documents of the thousands of songs produced in that era.
Who’s in it. The Rumba Kings stars Papa Wemba as Self, Manu Dibango as Self, Simaro Lutumba as Self and Paul Mwanga as Self, among others.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Rumba Kings page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Rumba Kings tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Rumba Kings (2018)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Rumba Kings change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Who stars in The Rumba Kings?
- The Rumba Kings stars Papa Wemba, Manu Dibango, Simaro Lutumba, Paul Mwanga and Augustin 'Roitelet' Muniania.
- When was The Rumba Kings released?
- The Rumba Kings was released in 2018, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.