NGWAKA SON SYSTÉME was set to tour Europe this July and share their unique sound and spirit with communities across the continent. Sadly, the Schengen visa authorities in Kinshasa have not issued a response in time — effectively blocking their travel and forcing the cancellation of the band’s entire tour, including our Berlin concert and workshop.
Instead of staying silent, we’ve decided to reshape our event.
On Wednesday, July 16, we will gather at Lovers & Leaders Space not just to share music and community, but to open a conversation:
How do we continue to build intercultural connections in a political climate that increasingly shuts its doors? How can we use our own platforms — cultural, local, and artistic — to expose and challenge these limitations?
Join us for an open, creative session of dialogue, listening, music sharing, and collective reflection.
For our evening, Eck Echo founder and promoter of NGWAKA SON SYSTÉME’s Europe tour Diego Hernández will present the band and premiere the video for their single “BENDA SINGA”. He’ll also offer insights into Kinshasa’s buzzing DIY music scene by showing a documentary he has produced during his recent travels in Congo.
Following a Q&A session, we’ll transition into DJ sets by Eck Echo & Groove Script label-heads, featuring some unreleased music from the African continent and beyond — including Afrolatin rhythms and futuristic electronica championed by both labels.
We’ll also have vinyl copies of NGWAKA SON SYSTÉME’s debut album Iboto Ngenge and other releases from ECK ECHO and GROOVE SCRIPT available for sale.
Event Details: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 (19:00-22:00)
Presentation & Panel • Video premiere, band portrait, talk & Q&A DJ Sets • Music by Diego Hernández & Marcus Rossknecht Admission: Donation-based (to support the artists) • Presentation & Panel: Free • DJ Sets: Suggested 8-10€
