DRC band Kin'Gongolo Kiniata make music out of discarded objects they find on the streets. Their aim with these unique instruments is to raise awareness about the massive problem of litter and waste pollution in Kinshasa and across the country.
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00:00One man's trash is another man's treasure, or in this case, a musical instrument.
00:15Kinshasa music group Kingongolo Kinyata makes music with things they find on the streets
00:20of the megacity.
00:22Plastic bottles are turned into a xylophone, there's a single string guitar made from
00:27a tin can, and the carcass of an old TV serves as a bass drum.
00:34There's a trend in Kinshasa, we're musicians, but there are also visual artists who make
00:40costumes out of trash, cans collected in the streets, in the rivers.
00:48It's a kind of appeal, an ecological message, telling people not to throw cans and so on
00:54into the gutters, because it can clog them.
00:58You can take them, do something with them, or just recycle them.
01:05With their music, Kingongolo Kinyata want to raise awareness about the massive problem
01:10of litter and waste pollution in Kinshasa and across the country.
01:18Even in the scorching afternoon sun, the members set out on a treasure hunt through the streets.
01:29And it's not long before they find something they can use.
01:35This styrofoam here, I can put it in a bass drum.
01:39It makes the kick sound deeper, like in rock music or in electronic music.
01:47Anything they can find can get a second life as an instrument.
01:50No need to go to a shop to get spare parts.
01:56I've just picked up a string.
01:57I had a problem with my bass, a string broke in the middle of a concert.
02:01So when I was out on the street, I found one, and now I can replace it.
02:07Kingongolo Kinyata's music is inspired by their ecological vision.
02:11This year they're touring America and Europe, performing their unique blend of music with
02:16their unique instruments.