The government adopted, on Friday, August 30, 2024, the bill on the fundamental principles relating to culture and the arts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This text was presented and defended by Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo, Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, during the eleventh meeting of the Council of Ministers.

This text sets out the fundamental principles, in particular on the financing of the cultural sector, the protection and promotion of national and local languages, the policy of restitution of cultural goods illicitly exported abroad, the economy of culture (its contribution to the national economy and sustainable development) and the promotion of the arts (music, literature, cinema, dance, etc.)," ​​she explained in the minutes of the meeting read by the government spokesperson.

Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo specified that this legislative framework complies with international standards and takes into account the valorization of the cultural identity of the Democratic Republic of Congo in its diversity and artistic protection. According to her, this framework will thus facilitate the smooth running of the country's cultural sector as a whole, especially since artists and cultural operators have been calling for its adoption for more than 20 years.

"Based on several strategic axes, this bill aims to place culture at the center of national societal issues by creating synergies with other sectors in order to generate jobs, play its role in economic development, facilitate the inclusion of certain categories of the population and pacify intercommunity relations," she argued in her argument.

The appointment of Yolande Elebe Ma Ndembo to head this portfolio was considered a wise choice by several cultural actors, who are delighted that finally a person who masters this sector is taking the head of this ministry, formerly considered the poor relation. According to operators in the sector, providing the Democratic Republic of Congo with a cultural policy, a law on the status of artists and the management of copyright are among the priorities of Minister Yolande Elebe at the head of this portfolio.