From Stage to Community: Leadership & the Arts with Nkumu Katalay
Turning Vision into Collective Action
Leadership guides activities toward meaningful goals. In communities, leaders act as the "conscious mind," turning scattered efforts into clear projects. Nkumu Katalay applies this both in community work and in his artistic projects — a revolving group shaped by his vision and changing musicians. This flexible structure mirrors New York’s fast pace, teaching him to guide without rigid control. His Lifelong Project Band trains new leaders while sharing Congolese culture. By treating his band as a project, Nkumu fosters both musical and personal growth through shared vision and collaboration.
Leading with Clarity, Adapting with Grace
Nkumu emphasizes treating performances with professionalism — showing up early, coordinating attire, and adjusting to each venue and its audience.
He balances guiding his group while allowing for individual expression. Managing diverse personalities and adjusting to different settings — from Harlem's Shrine to the Apollo Theater — strengthens his leadership. Even during his return to Kinshasa after 28 years, he gathered local musicians to create new music, showing how his leadership transcends borders and continues to connect communities.
About Nkumu Katalay:
Nkumu Katalay is an artist, speaker, multi-instrumentalist, and social activist committed to promoting humanity.
Born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, he now lives in New York. Nkumu emphasizes the significance of Congolese cultures in modern history and founded the musical group "Life Long Project," which highlights positive narratives of Congolese culture through music and educational initiatives. He also established an Afro-Congolese dance program, offering weekly dance activities throughout New York for all ages in schools, businesses, and cultural centers.
For Nkumu, music is a means to navigate the world and unify his identity's fragments. He is fascinated by musical notes and rhythms, exploring their movements and patterns alongside human cultures. He believes that musical notes are cultural fragments in sound, and their interactions create music, similar to how cultures seek alternative expressions. His musical journey is deeply rooted in the Congolese "Mbonda" or "Ngoma" (drum) and dance traditions.
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