DRC’s fimbu dancers leave mark

They may be out of the tournament, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s footballers will be forever remembered by Africa Cup of Nations fans for their dance moves on the pitch.

The DRC’s players danced the Fimbu seven times at the CAN 2017 tournament in Gabon — once for each goal scored — as their supporters cheered with delight.

After each goal, the players would gather side by side, hold their left arms up and wave their right as they moved down the pitch in unison.

The move is based on a much more elaborate dance for the Congolese pop hit Fimbu by Felix Wazeka. In a YouTube video that has attracted more than half a million views, dozens of men and women perform in colourful dress.

“Everything about this dance is easy,” singer Wazekwa said.

“But what it expresses is huge. It’s the fact that we won, and that we’re looking for the best way to celebrate our goals.”

The DRC’s music is already known worldwide for its upbeat tunes — superstar “rumba king” Papa Wemba led the Kinshasa music scene for four decades until his death last year.

In the Lingala language, the word fimbu refers to a type of whip that was once a symbol of Belgian colonial violence in the vast Central African nation and is still used in many schools and homes, despite a ban on corporal punishment.

Despite the dark overtones, football stars and fans say the fimbu dance is all about fun.

“The idea was never to mock the opponent or to go against the spirit of sportsmanship or fair play,” said Kabulo Mwana Kabulo, director of sports at the DRC’s national radio and television service.

“The goal is to entertain the audience, it’s just a way to express joy.”

Neeskens Kebano, the squad’s number 10, is more provocative.

“It means ‘whip’ — and, quite simply, it’s about whipping our opponents,” he said.

The dance seems to be spreading around the world, with French player Blaise Matuidi of Paris Saint Germain and Cédric Bakambu, who plays for Spain’s Villareal, doing the fimbu to celebrate their goals.

Congolese players first danced the fimbu in 2016, during the African Nations Championship in Rwanda.

Far from favourites, they surprised their fans by defeating Ethiopia 3-0 at the opening game. They won one match after another, and ended up bringing the trophy back home to euphoric supporters in the DRC.

This time, the team, nicknamed the Leopards, has fared worse, and was eliminated by Ghana in the quarterfinals.

But rather than mourn their loss, fans are already looking forward to the next big challenge: the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

And just for the occasion, Wazekwa is working with rappers Maître Gims and Youssoupha on a new version of the dance.

“My goal is for the fimbu to be danced at the World Cup,” Wazekwa said. — AFP

After each goal, the players would gather side by side, hold their left arms up and wave their right