The Pentecost Martyrs Stadium (French: Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte), commonly referred to as the Stade des Martyrs and formerly known as Stade Kamanyola, is a national multi-purpose stadium of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located in Lingwala, Kinshasa. With a seating capacity of 80,000, it is the largest stadium in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the fourth-largest stadium in Africa. It serves as the home stadium for the Congolese football national team, Association Sportive Vita Club, and Daring Club Motema Pembe, 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.
History
Etymology and construction
Originally named "Stade Kamanyola," the name has its origins in the Kamanyola groupement, within the Walungu Territory of South Kivu Province. It was during these conflicts that Donatien Mahele Lieko Bokungu, then a young Warrant Officer, first distinguished himself, later rising to prominence in the national army. Construction began on 14 October 1988, a date symbolically chosen to coincide with Mobutu's birthday, and concluded exactly five years later on 14 October 1993.
Stade Kamanyola was officially inaugurated on 14 September 1994 with a friendly match between the Leopards of Zaire and the Flames of Malawi. In 1998, during the Second Congo War, the venue again became the scene of violence when government troops opened fire during a football match between AS Vita Club and Daring Club Motema Pembe, leaving four people dead.
On 5 December 2004, Congo achieved its first victory over South Africa in a historic match at the Stade des Martyrs. On 12–14 October 2012, the venue played host to the 14th summit of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. From 28 July to 6 August 2023, it presided over the IXes Jeux de la Francophonie, a notable multi-sport event, marking the first occasion that the games were held in the country.
Renovation (2008–2023)
Initial efforts
By the early 2000s, Stade des Martyrs had fallen into a severe state of disrepair. In February 2006, Radio Okapi described the stadium as "slowly dying", with unsanitary conditions caused by supporters and street children (shegués) urinating throughout the facility. The stench of urine and feces made many parts of the stadium unbearable for spectators. According to local residents and stadium officials, these informal structures had occupied land reserved for future development linked to the stadium complex. The Fédération Congolaise de Football Association (FECOFA) was asked to select an alternative stadium on neutral territory where "home" matches would be played. FIFA granted a one-month reprieve, providing the Congolese government a final opportunity to renovate the stadium in line with inspection recommendations. In response, the Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Gervais Ntirumenyrwa Kimonyo, launched renovation efforts on 15 April 2008. The project involved ten companies and was initially budgeted at $3.5 million. Minister of Youth and Sports Willy Bakonga explained the multi-contractor approach was intended to expedite work and meet deadlines. Renovation tasks included refurbishing the locker rooms, upgrading lighting and the electronic scoreboard, installing seat numbering, and constructing a new press tribune. By 4 May 2008, the site still resembled a construction zone with unpacked furniture and construction materials scattered about. According to project architect Trésor Lufwakenda, significant progress had been made, particularly in repainting and refurbishing internal facilities. However, delays and incomplete tasks prompted the government to involve military engineers to ensure the stadium was ready on time. On 19 May 2008, FIFA ultimately reinstated the stadium's eligibility to host international matches.
Second and third phase
A second wave of rehabilitation began in March 2020 under the Ministry of Sports and Leisure, initially focusing on modernizing the locker rooms. However, progress was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the shipment of essential equipment from Europe.
On 9 April 2021, President Tshisekedi launched development and rehabilitation efforts aimed at preparing the stadium to host the 9th Francophone Games. Despite these efforts, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspection on 4 May 2021 excluded Stade des Martyrs from the list of approved African stadiums, citing failure to meet FIFA's international standards. On 16 July 2021, the Council of Ministers approved renovation plans for seven stadiums nationwide, including Stade des Martyrs, with projected costs ranging between 3 million and 8 million USD per facility. Minister of Sports and Leisure emphasized collaboration with the Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL) to ensure proper electrification. Renovations included the replacement of the stadium's lighting system, along with plans for the installation of a new artificial turf and seating, featuring a hybrid pitch. FECOFA was instructed to select an alternative stadium by that date or face CAF designating a venue, potentially in the opponent's country. The stadium reopened following the installation of the new pitch. However, after subsequent assessments, CAF deemed the stadium unsuitable on 9 February 2023. The governing body reported that the completed renovations did not satisfy modern stadium standards. Key deficiencies identified included inadequate media facilities, lack of reliable internet connectivity, insufficient press conference rooms, under-equipped medical services, and inadequate locker rooms for referees. On 17 May 2023, President Félix inspected two gymnasiums under construction with capacities of 3,000 and 2,000 spectators. By July 2023, Stade des Martyrs was supplied with water through newly installed cisterns by REGIDESO. On 13 July 2024, Stade des Martyrs, alongside Stade TP Mazembe, received CAF approval to host matches for the 2024–2025 season.
Controversy
During 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.
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:
Concerts and cultural events
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!Artist and event
!Attendance
!Ref.
|-
|15 November 1997
|King Kester Emeneya and Victoria Eleison
|Nearly 95,000
|
|-
|1999
| JB Mpiana
|–
|
|-
|15 December 2001
|
- JB Mpiana and Wenge BCBG
- Concert de vérité ("concert of truth") offered as a holiday gift to Kinshasa
|
- 135,000 inside
- 15,000 outside
|
|-
|30 March 2002
|
- Koffi Olomide and Quartier Latin International
- To celebrate their return from international tour
|80,000
|
|-
|4 January 2003
|
- Werrason and Wenge Musica Maison Mère
- To celebrate their return from their European tour (May–December 2002)
|Over 190,000
|
|-
|21 June 2013
|
- Werrason, Wenge Musica Maison Mère, JB Mpiana, Papa Wemba, Ferré Gola, Jossart N'Yoka Longo, Félix Wazekwa, Blaise Bula, Reddy Amisi, Mabele Elisi, and Bayuda du Congo, among others.
- Bralima World Music Day Concert
|–
|
|-
|25 June 2016
|
- Quartier Latin International
- 30th anniversary celebration
|–
|
|-
|30 June 2022
|
- Wenge Musica
- Reunion performance
|–
|
|-
|29 October 2022
|
- Fally Ipupa
- Golden World Tour
|Over 120,000
|
|-
|25 December 2022
|Héritier Watanabe
|Below 80,000 – requested limit due to safety concerns
|
|-
|24 June 2023
|Ferré Gola
|Over 120,000
|
|-
|12 August 2023
|
- Félix Wazekwa
- CPV show
| Nearly 7,000 people
|
|}
Political and religious events
{| class="wikitable"
!Date
!Figures involved and the event
!Attendance
!Ref.
|-
|1 June 2019
|Étienne Tshisekedi's funeral, which drew significant political figures, including Félix Tshisekedi, Denise Nyakéru Tshisekedi, Paul Kagame, and João Lourenço.
|Over 100,000 people
|
|-
|2 February 2023
|
- Pope Francis
- Congregational assembly denouncing tribalism, xenophobia, corruption
|80,000
|
|-
|19 November 2023
|
- President Félix Tshisekedi
- Launch of his 2023 re-election campaign
|–
|
|-
|20 January 2024
|
- President Félix Tshisekedi
- Swearing-in ceremony for second term; military parade and 21-gun salute; attended by African heads of state
|Over 80,000
|
|-
|19 May 2024
|
- Moise Mbiye
- Concert du peuple
|Over 120,000
|
|-
|27 July 2024
|
- Mike Kalambay and Maajabu Gospel
- Explo Celebration
|Over 120,000
|
|}
Crowd crush incidents
Fally Ipupa
thumb|Fans of the [[DR Congo national football team|Congolese national football team at the venue|251x251px]]
Stade des Martyrs has been the site of several crowd-crush incidents, which have led to countless deaths and injuries over the years. One of the most significant incidents took place on 29 October 2022, during the Fally Ipupa mega-concert, which resulted in eleven deaths, including two police officers. Reports from Le Monde revealed that by 3 p.m., the stadium had reached its full capacity, with more people attempting to gain entry. Le Monde reported that the high temperatures precipitated cases of suffocation among some spectators. A fatality was recorded prior to the concert's commencement, with the individual succumbing to asphyxiation. While authorities refrained from speculating on the cause of the crowd-crush, citing an ongoing investigation, the local music management company responsible for organizing the event attributed the chaos to an intervention by security services dealing with potential disruptors.