An orchestra made up of 200 amateur musicians practices for a concert on the national holiday of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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As the grandson of Simon Kimbangu, the national anti-colonial hero and founder of a church, Armand Diangienda, seems to have inherited his grandfather’s gift for bringing people together. Since the age of 15, he has directed the Kinshasa l’Orchestre Symphonique Kimbaguiste. Despite heat, exhaustion, hunger, misery and discouragement, the musicians practice every evening for a concert scheduled for their national holiday. Will they be able to meet the challenge?

When one has nothing, music offers comfort and hope for a better life. On the program of this unique orchestra are works taken from the European repertoire, such as Beethoven's 9th and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. While some participants recognize an African beat in the music, others see the project as a way to get on TV. But what they all have in common is the need to surpass themselves, giving an enthusiastic audience the best they have to offer. A splendid ode to life!