Stade des Martyrs

Stade des Martyrs
The Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte (formerly known as Stade Kamanyola), or simply the Stade des Martyrs, is the national stadium of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), located in the Kinshasa commune of the capital Kinshasa. With a seating capacity of 80,000, it is the largest stadium in the DRC and the fourth-largest stadium in Africa. It serves as the home stadium for the Congolese football national team, AS Vita Club, and DCMP, making it the largest multifunctional venue in the country.
Originally constructed in 1993, the stadium was renamed in 1997 to honor the ministers, including Évariste Kimba, Jérôme Anany, Emmanuel Bamba, and Alexandre Mahamba, who were publicly hanged in Léopoldville (present-day Kinshasa) on Pentecost, 2 June 1966.
It hosted the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, which accommodated approximately 3,000 athletes from over 40 countries, featuring athletics, basketball, football, wrestling, and cycling.
History
Etymology and construction
Originally named "Stade Kamanyola," the appellation Kamanyola is rooted in the Kamanyola groupement, situated in the Walungu Territory of South Kivu Province. The region was a border town and historic site where Mobutu's Forces Armées Zaïroises landed a key victory against the Mulelist insurgency and captured the Kamanyola Bridge in 1964. To commemorate this pivotal victory, Mobutu immortalized the name Kamanyola into various aspects of his opulence, including his extravagant yacht, Kamanyola Division, and later commissioned the construction of "Stade Kamanyola." The construction commenced on October 14, 1988, and it was complete five years later on October 14, 1993. The official inauguration took place on September 14, 1994, with a friendly exhibition match between the Leopards of Zaire and Malawi. The financial investment amounted to approximately $38 million and was expertly overseen by a Chinese consortium, in consonance with the grandiloquent projects emblematic of Mobutu Sese Seko's reign. It replaced the former National Stadium, Stade Tata Raphaël. Tout Puissant Mazembe, a Congolese professional football club based in Lubumbashi, frequently contested away fixtures at the stadium.
From Stade Kamanyola to Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte
Following the ousting of Mobutu from power by AFDL (Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo-Zaïre) led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila in 1997, the stadium was renamed "Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte" in memory of four ministers purged by Mobutu Sese Seko and hanged at the site on June 2, 1966: Évariste Kimba, Jérôme Anany, Emmanuel Bamba, and Alexandre Mahamba.
In 1998, during a football match between AS Vita Club and Motema Pembe at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, government troops opened fire, resulting in the tragic loss of four people. On December 5, 2004, the Democratic Republic of the Congo achieved its first victory over South Africa in a historic match at the Stade des Martyrs.
Controversy
In the early days of Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rule, the stadium became the center of controversy and criticism from human rights organizations. It was alleged to have been used as a prison for dignitaries of the former Mobutu regime and individuals suspected of collaborating with it. Reports from organizations like Journaliste en danger (JED), a Congolese non-governmental organization for the defense of press freedom affiliated with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), highlighted the use of the stadium as a military camp, where many people were held for extended periods in dungeon-like conditions.
Renovation (2008–2023)
In 2008, the government underwent a major renovation of the stadium in response to FIFA's recommendations to bring it up to international standards. The rejuvenation included upgrades to the wardrobe facilities, sound systems, lighting, electronic marker tables, seating arrangements, press gallery, security systems, and fire safety measures. The project cost a significant $15 million and involved a team of four experts, including technicians from the Netherlands, South Africa, and Norway. To ensure top-quality turf, the Dutch company Edell Grass brought in 140 tons of synthetic rollers and 150 tons of sand in containers from the port of Boma to Kinshasa.
In June 2021, the former Ministry of Sports, Serge Tshembo Nkonde, allocated almost $5 million for the Stadium's renovation in anticipation of an inspection visit by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, after completing the renovation and applying to host international matches, the CAF deemed it unsuitable on February 19, 2023. The CAF noted that the Congolese state must complete the necessary work before requesting a new inspection for CAF's approval. The CAF found that the overall quality of the work completed in the stadium was not satisfactory according to the standards required for a modern stadium. The detailed February 9 report highlighted several issues, including the "non-existent" media space, internet connection, press conference rooms, medical facilities, and referees' locker rooms that required improvements. Additionally, the stadium's outer perimeter areas "do not guarantee a safe and secure environment for hosting international football matches, as these areas are abandoned and without any proper maintenance."
As of April 2023, the construction and site development work was approximately 80% complete. The ACGT (Agence Congolaise des Grands Travaux) was already carrying out the work at the Martyrs' stadium, according to a dispatch from the presidency's communication unit. On May 17, President Felix Tshisekedi visited the two gymnasiums under construction, with capacities of 3000 and 2000. During this inspection visit, President Tshisekedi also went to the Tata Raphaël Stadium. By July 2023, student homes and numerous infrastructures had been rehabilitated, and the Stadium was supplied with water with cisterns installed by Regideso (Régie de distribution d'eau).
Other uses
While primarily serving as a sports venue, the Stade des Martyrs also hosts cultural events, concerts, and gatherings of national significance. Some notable high-profile appearances include:
In August 2003, Wenge Musica BCBG delivered a legendary performance in front of 80,000 fans at the stadium.
On June 25, 2016, Quartier Latin International celebrated the band's 30th anniversary at the Stade des Martyrs.
On June 30, 2022, Wenge Musica BCBG reunited for a performance at the venue.
On December 25, 2022, Héritier Watanabe held a sold-out performance here.
On October 29, 2022, Fally Ipupa delivered a legendary performance at Stade des Martyrs, drawing 120,000 fans, surpassing its 80,000 capacity, for his album Formule 7.
Pope Francis presided over a congregational assembly attended by 80,000 youthful Congolese and catechists at Stade des Martyrs on February 2, 2023, denouncing tribalism, xenophobia and corruption.
On June 24, 2023, Ferré Gola performed at the stadium alongside Victoria Kimani, attracting over 100,000 fans.
See also
Stade Cardinal Malula
References
External links
Photos at cafe.daum.net/stade
Photos at worldstadiums.com
Stadium picture
Photo at fussballtempel.net
Sports venues completed in 1994
Stade des Martyrs
Stade des Martyrs
Sport in Kinshasa
Athletics (track and field) venues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo, Democratic Republic of
Football venues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Chinese aid to Africa
1994 establishments in Zaire
Lukunga District