DR Congo: Kinshasa Comics Festival Returns After Six Years
DR CONGO · CULTURE
Key Facts
—What happened: SABDAM returns to Kinshasa from 11 to 13 September 2026, its first edition since 2019.
—How big it is: The 2019 edition drew nearly 2,500 visitors and more than 30 cartoonists; the 2026 edition is expected to be larger.
—What it means: Organizers want to make Kinshasa Africa’s comic-book capital, with Senegal as guest of honor.
—The catch: The venue changed from the judo center to the Beaux-Arts academy, and no budget is public.
—Who it hits: Artists from Goma and Bukavu may not attend because rebels hold those cities.
—What comes next: A three-country comics corridor linking Kinshasa, Dakar, and Tetouan launches at the festival.
The Kinshasa comics festival returns in September 2026 after a six-year pause. Senegal is the guest of honour, and organisers will launch a three-city African comics corridor.
A long-awaited return
SABDAM returns to Kinshasa from 11 to 13 September 2026. It is the first edition since December 2019.
The salon began in 1991, making it one of Africa’s oldest comics festivals. Its return after six years is the news, and organizers are billing it as a comeback.
Who runs the show
SABDAM is organized by ACRIA, an arts workshop founded in 1989 and chaired by cartoonist Barly Baruti. His deputy is Thembo Kash, and they work with the Agence congolaise pour l’action culturelle (ACAC).
Baruti is the public face, but the salon is a team effort. The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage has declared its support, though no budget has been published.
Senegal takes the spotlight
Senegal is the guest of honor, with a large delegation expected, as Radio Okapi reported on 5 September. Belgium, Mexico, Colombia, Canada, Gabon and the Central African Republic are also sending artists.
Japan was an earlier headline guest, paired with the DRC as rumba’s home. The salon’s full name includes ‘the other music.
This year’s music strand is curated by guitarist Pépé Felly Manuaku Waku, a Zaïko Langa-Langa founder.
A corridor for African comics
In May, ACRIA approached the DRC’s ambassador in Dakar, Christophe Muzungu, and Senegal’s culture minister. Baruti told ACP that Kinshasa must become Africa’s comic-book capital.
In June, Baruti announced a three-hub corridor at Dakar’s third comics festival. Kinshasa serves the east, Dakar the west, Tetouan the north.
The goal is visa-free artist travel. The corridor launches at SABDAM.
Venue questions linger
The salon was announced in April for the Centre sportif de judo in Lingwala, a symbol of Congo-Japan friendship. But Radio Okapi reported on 5 September that it will be at the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
No official explanation has been given for the change. The Académie is a working art school, which fits the program’s focus on heritage.
A tribute to a sculptor
The program includes an immersion in the work of Alfred Liyolo, a pioneer of bronze sculpture in Congo who died in 2019. Baruti told Radio Okapi that the salon will honor ‘these giants’ in the academy’s gallery.
A mural on the academy site shows miners as bees producing honey that flows from Congo to a queen bee. Baruti reads this as the theme: life, nothing but life.
The shadow of war
ACRIA has promised that authors from Goma and Bukavu will attend, but those cities remain under rebel control. As of September 2026, the AFC/M23 group holds both, and the government has not restored control.
Whether those artists can travel is the real question. The salon’s theme of resilience is tested by the east’s ongoing conflict.
Government support, with limits
Prime Minister Judith Suminwa received Baruti on 13 August, and he asked for help with visas for international guests. The culture minister, Yolande Elebe, has given an agreement in principle.
The salon’s partners include the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, the Angoulême festival, and the Kyoto Manga Museum. No budget has been made public.
Who is Barly Baruti?
Barly Baruti is a Congolese cartoonist and the president of ACRIA, the workshop behind SABDAM. He has been a central figure in Congolese comics for decades.
His deputy, Thembo Kash, is also a cartoonist. Together they run the salon with the Agence congolaise pour l’action culturelle, a state cultural agency.
What is the Genocost?
Genocost refers to the cost of the genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a term used by activists to describe the ongoing suffering from decades of conflict.
At a meeting on 13 August 2026, Baruti discussed the salon with Prime Minister Judith Suminwa. The Genocost was mentioned in that context, as reported by Congo Quotidien.
What else is on the program?
Besides the Liyolo tribute, there is a comics-and-song competition for young people. Winners will be presented in September.
The music strand, called Autre Muzik, is curated by guitarist Pépé Felly Manuaku Waku. He is a founder of the legendary band Zaïko Langa-Langa.
What to watch
Watch whether the Goma and Bukavu authors make it to Kinshasa. Their presence would be a statement against the war.
Also watch for the corridor’s launch and any publishing deals. The measure of success is what artists take home.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Kinshasa comics festival?
SABDAM runs from 10 to 14 December 2026 at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Kinshasa. It is the first edition since 2019.
Who organizes the festival?
ACRIA, an arts workshop founded in 1989, organizes it with the Agence congolaise pour l’action culturelle. Barly Baruti is the president.
What is the theme this year?
The theme is ‘Bomoyi, Kaka Se Bomoyi,’ Lingala for ‘life, nothing but life.’ It reflects resilience and creativity.
What is the Genocost?
The term refers to the deaths from decades of conflict in Congo, as used by civil society. It was mentioned at a meeting with the prime minister in August.
Why is Senegal the guest of honor?
Senegal is the guest of honor, and a large delegation is expected. The festival also launches a comics corridor linking Kinshasa, Dakar, and Tetouan.
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