My grandparents danced to indépendance Cha Cha and my parents to Elombe Sese. The former inherited it from the colonials; those who came after them didn’t build anything and, in addition to being unable to maintain their heritage, distinguished themselves by their ability to tear everything to shreds. Perhaps they didn’t realize or pretended not [...]
Some changes have been noticeable recently in the Kinois’ behavior. It’s a big change not to see people hanging dangerously from buses or cars in the city. It’s a relief not to be made to sit in twos next to the driver in a cab, and it’s reassuring to be able to fasten one’s safety [...]
It was slated originally for December 27, 2007: the Conference on peace, security and the development in Kivu will open on January 6, 2008 unless there is another change.
At most, 500 people, leaders of Congolese armed groups operating in the East of the country, honorable deputies and senators, members of the civil society, soldiers and [...]
Exactly one month after the previous one died, I have a new camera. I can therefore continue my adventures this time with a Canon Ixus 860IS delivered to Kinshasa on Christmas Day by a person who prefers to remain anonymous. I can only express my gratitude towards those which contributed to the purchase of this [...]
Early this week, I was in the municipality of Bandalungwa, gathering the stories of the residents of a compound visited by some armed men in uniform who took with them the jewellery, money and cell phones. The next day I was in the municipality of Selembao, with another family who had a similar story to [...]
The big food chain’s domination hasn’t reached the Congo yet. No need for a MacDonald or a Quick joint when one feels a little hungry but doesn’t want to cook. You will find fast-food made in Congo practically all over the place. Goat meat, grilled fish, kebabs, chicken, you have a wide choice and it’s [...]
Despite the turbulences endured by the Congo in the last few years, there are two survivors: the alcoholic beverage industry and the music industry. With the terrible pilfering that happened in 1991 and 1993, almost all businesses, both public and private, were devastated. The last years of Mobutu’s rule and ten years of warfare have [...]
This morning, the demonstration organized by students of ISC, Institut Supérieur de Commerce (Higher Trade Institute), was repressed by the police in Kinshasa. The students were marching against the fact that their faculty’s strike continued, although they had paid their tuition fees.
There was a very strong police presence when I arrived on the spot. All [...]
Today I visited the Kimpoko camp in the municipality of Nsele, approximately fifty kilometers from the center of Kinshasa, on the road to Bandundu. Nearly one hundred and sixty families, soldiers’ widows and orphans are living there. When they were expelled from the military camps of Kinshasa, these families were assigned to this place bought [...]
Two weeks already since the municipality of Kinshasa introduced new cabs in the city. Not only are they brand new and air-conditioned, but these new cabs are in the colors of the Congolese flag and have an identification number, and the cab drivers are dressed in shirt and tie.
There is now eighteen of them altogether, [...]
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