congo
Staff Benda Bilili, voice of the voiceless in Congo
‘We're all handicapped people, ain't we?’ runs their myspace byline. After more than a month of touring through Europe, this group of paraplegic street musicians from Kinshasa left crowds elated and bewildered almost a year after releasing their debut album Très Très Fort, courtesy of Belgian producer Vincent Kenis of Congotronics fame. A French documentary on the group has been underway for seven years
congo, documentary, bands, music, label, culture calendar, disable people
Matonge district: heart of darkness
Marked by the imposing office high-rises of the European Union, the institutional centre of Brussels symbolises the power of European civilisation. Beside it, the African quarter of Matongé follows life in a completely different rhythm
congo, matongé, bruxelles, europe on the ground, multiculturalism, society
The ABC of EU peacekeeping abroad
Europe is the largest contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. But does strengthening the EU’s own channels threaten its commitment to international peacekeeping?
congo, european union, nato, north africa, war, defence, society
A vote for a piece of soap
In the interior of the humid Congo basin, amid corruption and endemic poverty, the preparations for the elections on the 30 July were a huge challenge
congo, elections, education system, corruption, development, politics, democratisation
Kinshasa-Paris: life at the margins of the state
8000km from home, the Congolese community in Paris remain as concerned as ever by the politics in their country – and unconvinced the elections that took place on the 30 July will change anything
congo, integration, paris, france, immigration, traditions, discrimination
Painting Congolese history: Tshibumba Kanda Matulu
Amid the clichés of contemporary media coverage, the paintings of Tshibumba Kanda Matulu offer an unparalleled opportunity to understand the hopes and fears underlying the history of the Congo
congo, contemporary art, art market, culture, identity, human rights, politics
The state in Africa
Rémy Bazenguissa-Ganga, a researcher at the Centre for African studies in Paris, speaks about corruption in subsaharan Africa and a state imported from Europe
congo, european democracy, racism, identity, corruption, development, human rights
War, peace and a ballot box
The Congolese people voted for a president and parliament in the first democratic elections in the country for decades. In a country ravaged by conflict, the election process faced some tough challenges
congo, discrimination, elections, education system, corruption, development, human rights
Dieudonné Kabongo: lethal comedy
As the former Zaïre prepares to have its first democratic elections in 45 years, Congolese-born comedian Dieudonné Kabongo talks about Africa and the disillusionment of young immigrants who try their luck in Europe
congo, belgium, nationalism, racism, culture, discrimination, identity
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