My little sister was was born in the DRC, and adopted and brought to America by another family (She ended up with our family after an emergency). As she is getting older she is wanting to learn about her original culture, country, and its customs.... but I'm having so much trouble finding books that aren't mostly about war or colonization. I understand how much both have shaped the nation, but I DO NOT want to give that to a teen needing Connection. Does anyone know of good media I can share with her (books, movies, anything) that are are not socio-political in nature but instead focus on fashion, food, art, architecture, and stories?

People from Ghana can look at the little things Jamaicans do and say, and notice they are unwittingly doing and saying stuff from our culture

Example: lu-fuki was a word that means odor in Kikongo, but in USA, the people enslaved from Congo changed it to “you funky” in English.

Or ever watched the videos of the dances and drum beats, performed at Congo square New Orleans , or saw the blue bottle trees in South Carolina (suppose to be from kingdom of Kongo)

n’guba - for peanut in Kikongo and kimbundu was changed into goober in USA

Other Kimbundu and Kikongo words that’s changed into English words.

Kimbumbo= gumbo Mbanza = banjo Kuku = kook Lalakana = lollygag Mpala disonguela = play the dozens

Supposedly benne seed was the word for sesame seed in a bantu language and was taken to USA and now called “benne wafers” cookies.

Not gonna lie…the taxi operators in Kinshasa are money-hungry hyenas!

I’m planning for a trip to Bouansa. How much will it cost me from Kinshasa?

So I arrived yesterday in Kinshasa…

The Airbnb is okay but the staff is just questionable. I asked one of them to get me oranges and this is what he has brought. 3 lousy oranges for $5!!!

He asked me for $5 yesterday and then brought a Vodacom SIM card with just 2GB of data! I might be new in Kinshasa but I didn’t leave my brains at the airport

I’m planning on doing a trip to the DRC. I was thinking about getting the gorilla visa as it is the easiest visa to get. Has anyone done this recently? I was thinking about flying into Goma and then heading down to Bukavu. However, I’m reading the news about the current crisis at Goma and wondering if it will be too dangerous in Goma right now and if I should cross into DRC from Rwanda or Burundi instead.

Does anyone have any recommendations of a guide for the gorillas? Can you trek up the volcanoes by yourself or do you need a guide for that? Also, are there flights to Kisangani from the airport near Bukavu?

Hi all, I am working in kinshasa since a few month and I would like to visit around the city a bit. Is is safe to travel by car from Kinshasa to bombo lumene via N1. Any advice is welcome ! Thanks 😊

Hello everyone. I am working on a history of Congolese catch (catch Congolais), aka pro wrestling. I’ve spoken to a lot of the wrestlers and have some good information but I was wondering a couple things.

1. Does anyone have any memories of wrestling events or wrestling stories from the past? Regarding Edingwe, Puma Noir or any of the other wrestlers that were popular in the Congo throughout the 1970’s-90’s or even before or after that?

2. Does anyone know of any newspaper archives from Zaire/the Congo? I would love to uncover some of the past media coverage of wrestling in the Congo. I know it has existed in the newspapers in the past since I have seen some clippings here and there. But I would love to find some more.

Thanks so much for your help!

hey,

are there any reliable charities to donate through? i just want to ensure the funds are actually reaching the victims or those in need.

I'm not African, but I am interested in leaning about the continent (and need to pass a French course). I found Radio Okapi through allafrica.com , and have a few questions:

1. How biased is Radio Okapi? What other sources should I use?

2. Can I listen to its live broadcasts from outside the DRC?

My mother-in-law's birthday is in a few days, we would like to buy a gift for her.

We were either thinking a small weekend get away at a nicer hotel and spa or Amazon or another online shopping could deliver a physical gift.

What are recommendations? Ways to ensure she actually she receives the gift without problems?

Is USD commonly accepted in the DRC?

Why M23 is fighting in the east of DR.Congo?

The rebellion took the name “M23” in recognition of March 23, 2009, the date of the peace treaty that integrated Ntaganda’s armed group (the National Congress for the Defense of the People, or CNDP) into the FARDC. The M23 rebels claim that the Congolese government has not held up its side of the agreement, and they say they are rebelling due to the “obvious failure of the integration of elements of political-military movements into the Congolese armed forces.”

The key dates of the M23

• March 23, 2009 : the Congolese government signs a peace agreement with a pro-Tutsi militia. The M23 fighters are named in reference to this agreement.

• May 2012: the M23 was born from a mutiny by former CNDP rebels (the National Congress for the Defense of the People).

• November-December 2012: M23 fighters occupy Goma, the capital of North Kivu, for around ten days.

• December 2013: the M23 rebels are driven out of the DRC.

• January 2017: witnesses report the presence of ex-M23 combatants in the Rutshuru region.

• November 2021: rebels are accused of attacking army positions in Rutshuru territory.

• March 28-29, 2022: M23 fighters attack the Congolese army.

They are double. Firstly, “union” demands: the M23 demands better behavior from the Congolese army, with better salaries and less inhumane living conditions. Regional demands, then: the rebels are fighting for the return of Congolese Tutsi refugees to the DRC, and for better protection of these Tutsis in the two Kivu provinces.”

https://kivuhub.net/qui-est-derriere-le-m23/

As a congolese American myself I’m trying to see something I know there’s a lot in Texas and ga (especially the Arlington and Atlanta area) but I wonder where else?

Hi all, a traveling journalist friend has asked me to join him on a trip to Central Congo this summer. The trip begins in Kinshasa and then heads to the Tata Gonda headquarters, the Pende region, and the Kuba Kingdom. The trip is primarily a cultural immersion, witnessing the Mukanda rite of passage, meeting the Yaka, and other tribes and groups along the way.

To be perfectly honest, the trip sounds incredible, but I am from the U.S. and my moral outrage and guilt towards my country knows no bounds. In short, I long for revolution in my country and an end to its imperialist reign as it manufactures suffering and genocide across the world, including DRC. I won’t ask the self-righteous question of “how do Congolese feel about Americans?” because I VERY much despise my own country and its lack of moral integrity, but I am curious to inquire about whether travel to DRC this summer would be irresponsible given the political climate.

I can’t imagine going without giving back to communities in some fashion, or illuminating the cultural diversity and traditions. But I don’t seek to document for myself or for personal gain, especially considering my country’s hand in perpetuating human suffering.

Hi! Everyone I'm from Kongo Central and when we travel in the national road (Muanda-Kinshasa) we see villagers selling their products to passenger of cars ,moto and bus . They sell products either at the village (those who border the road) or at checkpoint,it seems that all the family is involved in the selling even children and they can make "good" money some day .They also do agriculture either directed to the consumer market or the industry ( ex:brewing) . Some villagers drive motorcycle as taxi and do intervillage and intercity travel. Traditional products (chikwangue, orange,etc..)are often good quality and have lower price than in Matadi or Kinshasa. I wonder how villages folks from your region live and do money ?