Dr Yvonne Seon - From Washington to the Congo: How I met Lumumba

This Saturday, Congolese cultural worker, Sabrina Moella joined us. She is the creator of the remarkable one-woman play "Made in Congo: From Kinshasa to Broadway." We discussed her career as an artist and how Congolese are making a difference in their communities.

Sabrina Moella is a writer, a performer, a producer and a filmmaker based in Toronto. Born in France from Congolese parents, she grew up in Paris and started writing as soon as she was old enough to hold a pen.

Made in Congo: From Kinshasa to Broadway: Sabrina Moella

Congolive engages JJ Bola, London-based poet, educator, and speaker in a wide-ranging discussion on culture, history, politics and the Congolese Diaspora in the UK. Much of Bola's work focuses on his origins in the DR Congo and experiences of migration and otherness-but also of hope, and humanity. “What is most striking about JJ Bola is his ability to express through poetry the injustices that mar our world today.”

A Conversation With Congolese Writer and Poet JJ Bola

Today's show features Muadi Mukenge, Program Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at the Global Fund for Women. Muadi's work focuses on female leadership in conflict resolution and empowerment for rural women.

The Role of Congolese Women in Peace Building Featuring Muadi Mukenge

Professor Dawson shares more in this episode about the ways that ‪‎Kongo‬ culture continues to influence life in the global Congolese diaspora! Professor C. Daniel Dawson joined Congo Live for another informative journey into the traditions of the ancient Kongo Kingdom that manifest in contemporary traditions in the Americas. 

Beyond Africa: The Presence and Influence of the Kongo Kingdom in the Americas! Part 2

This Congo Live episode features opportunity in ‪Congo‬ and across the continent in the areas of business, technology, politics, and art. Our guest, Mr. Ngozu Kulya, is a Congolese businessman, analyst, and art collector based in the Washington, DC area. Mr. Kulya specializes in topics such as Sino-African relations, African governance, African art, and business and technology investment on the continent. 

Consulting For Global Businesses With Kulya Nzogu

This Congo Live episode features the inspiring story of Mrs. Regina Bakala, a Congolese mother of two whose story inspires us all to stay faithful in time of adversity.

Mrs. Bakala shares with us how she ended up in jail awaiting to be deported back to Congo and how her community fought for her to stay in this country. She is now a US citizen since May 2015.

Becoming a US Citizen: The Journey of Regina Bakala

"Emerging African Young Professionals: A conversation between CongoLive's Patricia Lokwa and a New York 1 TV Personality, Naomi Yane."
Naomi Yane joined NY1 as a traffic reporter in July of 2010. She previously worked as a traffic producer with Metro Networks/Shadow Traffic at WCBS-TV. Prior to that, she interned as a reporter and writer at the United Nations English-language radio unit. Yané is a New York native with roots in The Democratic Republic of the Congo. She speaks four languages and is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Emerging African Young Professionals: Naomi Yané

A conversation with Congolese journalist and filmmaker Sarah M. Kazadi based in New York City. Her work has been featured in the NYTimes, CBS Sports, Newsweek and other news outlets.

Sarah has spent the last few years reporting and producing news stories in the United States, Haiti, Italy, Brazil and her homeland of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Her first short documentary, "ELIKYA," showed how young women in the Congo use basketball as a ticket to a brighter future. It was an official selection for the International Black Film Festival of Nashville. Her latest short film, "The Renewal", uses dance and poetry to tell a love story. Sarah is currently working on "TELEMA," a documentary on the role the Congo's youth is playing in the country's pivotal 2016 elections. The first installment of the film will premiere at the 2015 Congo In Harlem Festival.
Sarah has covered politics, war, culture, sports and other topics. She especially enjoys covering neighborhoods and demographics that are under-served and misrepresented, and telling sports stories that go beyond the final score.

Sarah was born in the Congo and grew up in New York City. She still believes that good journalism and film have the power to change the world.

A conversation with Congolese journalist and filmmaker: Sarah M. Kazadi

The Legend of an African Music Giant: Franco Luambo Makiadi' s Revolution In Music: Franco pioneered and popularized Rumba style in the 1950’s, 1960's, 1970’s and 1980's.

"The African Music Giant" well known as Franco Luambo Makiadi was one of the most celebrated and innovative African musicians in the history of 20th century music in Africa. With a career that lasted about 4 decades, Franco Luambo Makiadi truly was bigger than life, inspirational, revolutionary and iconic throughout the continent.

The Legend of an African Music Giant: Franco Luambo Makiadi' s

Ghislaine Sabiti, an interdisciplinary Congolese-born artist who was raised on the outskirts of Paris in France. She was introduced to art at a very young age. At twelve years old she studied fine art at Atelier Chantier du Coq and graduated with honors in fashion design from Atelier Chardon Savard in Paris, France. 

She highlights the technical form used in both Congolese and European arts, which stress form and color. Her works develop projects between communities and collecting fractured narratives for social change through identity.

Her experiences of inter and cross-continental migrations developed her sensibility to cross-interculturalism.

Ghislaine Sabiti: An interdisciplinary Congolese-born artist

Born in Kinshasa (Congo) in May 1976, Dédy Mbepongo Bilamba is a second child in a family of 4. He grew up in the rough neighborhood of Grigny La Grande-Borne project, in Suburban Paris (France), an experience that has helped him understand the struggle of marginalized communities. After graduating in Human sciences from Paris XII University, he started a career in Marketing. But since an early age, he felt the need to express himself through art (drama, dance, song writing) 

Trying to reconnect with his African roots, Dédy published his first book « À nous de le faire » (It's Our Duty To Do) in 2009. He started the writing of this book back in 2004, when he discovered a poem that his father wrote 18 year before he passed away. Deeply grateful for what he calls a « gift from heaven », all of Dedy's writings intends to promote justice, peace, joy and provide an inspiration to fulfill any dreams. Considering himself as an “Artivist”, Dédy often says: « writing is my weapon of mass reconciliation »

Dédy is proud that his writing could help bring back joy and hope in people's life in the DRCongo, Africa and hopefully around the world.


Dédy Mbepongo Bilamba: Writing Our History One Book at A Time

This episode of Congolive brings a young Congolese entrepreneur, Nyenemo Sanguma, to discuss how his organization has been able to help over 300 farmers in the Equateur province in D.R. Congo to bring their produce to the market.

Guest Bio:
Nyenemo Sanguma was born in the D.R. Congo and moved to the USA at the age of 14. After having earned a master's degree in International Public Service from DePaul University in Chicago, Mr. Sanguma developed the Congolese Community Development (CCD), an organization that trains and assists rural farmers to increase agriculture production and enable them to bring their produce to bigger, more lucrative markets. Mr. Sanguma has six years of experience in the field of economic development in Central Africa, and currently serves as CCD's Executive Director.

Nyenemo Sanguma: Realizing Congo's Agricultural Potential

This #CongoLive episode featured Marie Claire Faray, one of the most active and inspiring Congolese women working for change in Congo. It focused on looking at the history of Congolese women’s resistance from Kimpa Vita to the women network of Common Cause UK.

Marie Claire Faray, a Congolese mother of two beautiful daughters,  is a Postgraduate Medical Information Adviser and Research Scientist in infectious diseases at Barts Hospital and the Queen Mary University of London. 

She is also an active campaigner for peace, human rights and women’s participation and representation in decision making arena. She is a member of the UK section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

She is an active member of the executive committee for COMMON CAUSE UK, a platform of Congolese women in the UK and a member of the Million Women Rise, a national coalition of women in the UK.


Marie Claire Faray: The History of Congolese Women's Resistance from Past to Present

This CongoLive episode focused on a retrospective look in the life of young Congolese entrepreneur Eric Ndelo. This young man and his team have been building a fashion empire they call DRC Apeparel focusing on creating products that raise consciousness about Africa and connect in breaking cultural barriers.

Fashion is often seen as a reflection of social, economic, political and cultural changes. It is the most powerful art there is. It helps create cultural understanding and influences our way of thinking on what beauty is.

In the central region of Africa, both in Brazzaville and Kinshasa, a fashion movement was created in the early 1900s called “La Sape” based on the elegance in style. Professor Gondola said “Today, with both countries in turmoil, la sape, with its exuberant flamboyance may well serve as a lighting rod for the Congolese disenfranchised youth to map out their itinerary from Third World status to a modern cosmopolitanism and to cope with their social dereliction.”

We believe this is true not only in the Congo, but also in the United States. Today, our guest Eric B. Ndelo joins us to discuss how as a Congolese born fashion expert and creative director of his company DRC Apeparel, he has been able to influence the American society. 

DRC ApeParel, the Afrikan Streetwear and Lifestyle company, seeks to marry revolutionary consciousness and runway chic. Established under the brand philosophy “We are the Cool and the Conscious,” DRC ApeParel designs are walking billboards for global awareness, street storytelling, and Pan-African pride with street sensibility.

Bio
Charlotte, NC born, as Congolese Eric B. Ndelo (1979), graduated from North Carolina State with a degree in Digital Media Production and Electrical Engineering, and shortly thereafter launched his own apparel brand. Eric co-founded DRC ApeParel, LTD. in 2004 alongside Congolese Roderick Vakala. The Afrikan Street wear and Lifestyle company seeks to marry revolutionary consciousness and runway chic. Established under the brand philosophy “We are the Cool and the Conscious,” DRC ApeParel designs are walking billboards for global awareness, street storytelling, and Pan-African pride with street sensibility. Office headquarters are located in Charlotte, North Carolina where the company is known to host various awareness raising events throughout the year, in partnership with local community acts and non- profit organizations. 

Eric Ndelo: DRC ApeParel "We are cool and the Conscious"

This Congolive episode focused on exploring the intersection between the African American community in the US and the Congo. It discussed the historical ties that exist with black missionaries who came to the Congo in the late 1800s, 30 years after the Emancipation proclamation by Abraham Lincoln. It also delved into the current state of black Americans with the Black Lives Matter movement and their contribution to peace and stability in the Congo.

Our guest was the Rev. Dr. Joan R. Harrell, a Public Theologian and Strategic External Communications Consultant at the National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care at Tuskegee University.

Her scholarship explores the intersecting of media, public health, religion, xenophobia, racism, sexism, classism and the history of the African American Church. She is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Senior Associate Editor of the Journal of Healthcare, Science and the Humanities, founder of www.RacismContradictsChristianity.com and award winning broadcast journalist and documentary producer.

She also worked as the Director of Public Communications for Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago where she researched, created, wrote and developed multimedia communications.

Within this context, she became a proactive member of the Friends of the Congo Movement; collaborated with Friends of the Congo and the DuSable Museum of Chicago to feature the forum, “Crisis in the Congo” to educate the public domain about the atrocities impacting children, women, men and families in the Congo.

Rev. Dr. Joan R. Harrell: The African American connection to the Congo

On this episode of Congo Live, our guest Pitchou Malaba discusses how Africa can rise with much of its intellectual capital outside of the continent. He explains how the sons and daughters of Africa living outside the continent ca return to rebuild their home. As part of the Cheetah Generation, he believes the African youth can make a difference in Africa? 

Pitchou Malaba is a young congolese entrepreneur and political strategist with a solid understanding of the fortunes of Africa and the subsequent political quagmires as the result of the African continent mismanagement by both African leaders and the West.

He has worked in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopie, Zambie and Botswana, mainly in the field of Neurophysiology. He has served as NuVasive Spine Foundation Ambassador since October 2011 and is responsible for leadership and management of the NSF direct mission trips.

He holds a Technical Engineering Degree from the Advanced School of Applied Technologies (ISTA), a B.S. in Industrial Technology from Illinois State University, a Master in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University, Certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Neuro Monitoring (CNIM) and the coveted NuVasive eXtreme Lateral Interbody Fusion (XLIF®) certification. Pitchou has an ardent passion for helping change lives by introducing innovative care to developing Countries.

Pitchou Malaba: Can the Cheetah Generation Make a Difference in Africa?

On this episode of Congolive, we were blessed to have with us in the studio a very special guest, Nzanga Mobutu, the son of the late Congolese president Mobutu Sese Seko.

Being in the public life since birth, Nzanga took us on a journey to get a glimpse of his life as a political leader, an art collector and a father.

Bio
Nzanga Mobutu is the oldest surviving son of the former Congolese president Mobutu Sese Seko. Born on March 24, 1970 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nzanga was educated in Belgium during his elementary and high school years. He graduated from Collège Saint-Vincent de Soignies with concentration in Economy. 

He received a degree in Arts and Sciences with concentration in Communications from Université de Montréal. He also received a degree in International Relations from American University in Paris.

His political career started in 1996 as the communications adviser of the Executive Office of the President in the last days of the Mobutu Regime. He founded the political party UDEMO in 2006. That same year, he ran as a candidate in the Presidential Elections and placed fourth, with about 4.8% of the vote.

He served in the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo under President Joseph Kabila from 2007 to 2011 as the Deputy Prime minister, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. In November 2010, he walked away from his ministerial position given the long crisis between himself and President Kabila around transparency in government's affairs.

Nzanga Mobutu is married to his childhood friend and sister of Jean Pierre Bemba, Catherine Bemba.They are parents to three beautiful children.

A passionate of art, movies and politics, Nzanga loves to play soccer and tennis. Lately, he has become a fan of American basketball.

The Legacy of Zaire - A conversation with Nzanga Mobutu

On this episode of Congo Live Congolese economist Noel K. Tshiani Muadiamvita discusses his proposed "Marshall Plan" for the Congo.
- On January 22, 2016, an article written by Congolese economist Noel K. Tshiani Muadiamvita was published in The TIME titled “How to Reform the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” In it, Tshiani argues that Congo needs a Marshall Plan similar to the one post-world war II in Europe. He adds that this should be funded in a period of 15 years and will cost about $800 billion funded by Congo, international aid and direct foreign investment.
On today's show, we will discuss if this plan is viable and how it could be implemented.

How to Reform the Democratic Republic of the Congo  A conversation Dr. Noel K. Tshiani Muadiamvita

Our Congo Live guest, Nii Akuetteh who has spent decades monitoring, analyzing and teaching international relations, with special emphases on African affairs and how global issues and actors--especially the US--impact Africa. His ultimate goal: to produce significant positive change in these Africa-impacting policies and processes.
To this end, Nii also works as a democracy activist & NGO executive. In particular he is an organizer helping to transform the African-born community into a potent force & voice. Currently he serves as the founding Executive Director of AIC, the African Immigrants Caucus.

A DC-based analyst and public speaker who occasionally testifies in & briefs the US Congress, Nii is a respected analyst and essayist. His essays, TV and radio analyses and comments have been carried on global media, including: MSNBC; The PBS Newshour; Democracy Now; Al Jazeera; BBC; CCTV; Press-TV; CBC; RT; Vatican Radio; Pacifica; RFI; The New York Times; The Washington Post; and Pambazuka News, among others. 


A panafrican struggle to free to the Congo : From Accra to Kinshasa with Nii Akuetteh

Our Congo Live guest, Nii Akuetteh who has spent decades monitoring, analyzing and teaching international relations, with special emphases on African affairs and how global issues and actors--especially the US--impact Africa. His ultimate goal: to produce significant positive change in these Africa-impacting policies and processes.
To this end, Nii also works as a democracy activist & NGO executive. In particular he is an organizer helping to transform the African-born community into a potent force & voice. Currently he serves as the founding Executive Director of AIC, the African Immigrants Caucus.

A DC-based analyst and public speaker who occasionally testifies in & briefs the US Congress, Nii is a respected analyst and essayist. His essays, TV and radio analyses and comments have been carried on global media, including: MSNBC; The PBS Newshour; Democracy Now; Al Jazeera; BBC; CCTV; Press-TV; CBC; RT; Vatican Radio; Pacifica; RFI; The New York Times; The Washington Post; and Pambazuka News, among others. 

Part 2 - A panafrican struggle to free to the Congo: From Accra to Kinshasa with Nii Akuetteh

Claude Gatebuke is a Rwandan genocide survivor, a Civil War survivor, and Human Rights advocate. He is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the African Great Lakes Action Network (AGLAN); an organization focused on justice, peace and prosperity in the Great Lakes Region of Africa, based in Nashville, TN. 
 
He is also a member of the African Great Lakes Advocacy Coalition (AGLAC). The AGLAC unites over a dozen advocacy organizations with a common vision for a peaceful Great Lakes Region of Africa, found throughout the United States
 
His advocacy work focuses on genocide and mass atrocities prevention and includes lobbying on Capitol Hill in D.C. and across the US. Mr. Gatebuke is a regular presenter at colleges, universities, churches, community organizations and conferences Nationwide and Globally. He has appeared on local, national and international radio and television programs. He has also been a guest at the White House for a briefing of leaders in the community. 
 
His media repertoire includes appearances on Al Jazeera, NPR, Straight Talk Africa, Arise TV, NPT,  WKRN-NBC in Nashville, WZTV-CBS, Voice of America TV, WTAE, radio interviews and contributions on America Tonight, Bess FM, Heart of Africa, Black Agenda Report, Pacifica KPFA, WSKY, WFSK, WBAI, Transafrica Forum Radio, Afrobeat Radio, BlockReport Radio and Voice of America, and newspaper interviews on the San Francisco Bayview, Afrobeat.net, The East African, Blackstar News, Triblive, JamboNews, Pittsburg Tribune Review, Pittsburg City Paper, the Block Report and Christian Chronicle among others.


Claude Gatebuke: A Purpose-Driven Life in the face of adversity

PAPA WEMBA! Congo Live pays tribute to a Congolese icon and the "King of Rumba", musical pioneer Papa Wemba.

Learn about the impact of his music world wide, his innovative rhythms and sounds that set the stage for a new era in the time of Zaire to what we know now as The Democratic Republic of Congo. May your soul rest in peace. 

TRIBUTE TO PAPA WEMBA!

Dr. Tongele N.Tongele, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a reknown scientist. He holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering. And teaches mechanical engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwarsville and The Catholic University of America.

In his recent book, “Rise and Shine: Resilient People and Immense Resources in the Shadow of Death”, Dr. Tongele lays out a vision that includes concrete ideas, proposals and steps the DRC can take immediately for a transformational renaissance that utilizes the enormous natural and human resources of the country to bring lasting peace and eradicate poverty in the DRC, and become producer and exporter of goods, services, clean energy and green technologies.


Congo’s Role in Saving Planet Earth A conversation with Dr. Tongele

Congo Live interviews Michel Dzaringa, a member of the US military, a father and a Congolese American leader striving to inspire Congolese youth to take control of their country’s destiny. 

Mr. Michel Dzaringa is currently serving as a reservist in the Maryland National Guard 244th Engineering Company and pursuing his education in Public Safety Administration at the University of Maryland. He has over 4 years of experience as a chemical biological, radiological nuclear and explosive specialist.

He is the founder and Executive Director of Africa United/Congo United, exploring better ways to promote African Leadership Development and build value.

Mr. Dzaringa frequently speaks at and attends leadership events, sharing his passion for all things related to African Leadership development. His passion for leadership development stems from living in his war-torn native country the Democratic Republic of Congo and experiencing the negative consequences of what poor leadership can do to a nation.

A life of service and leadership in the face of adversity: Michel Dzaringa

REMEMBRANCE is a special program in which CongoLive pays tribute to departed pioneers of Congolese culture, arts and music. This Saturday the tribute is for those who have influenced Congo from the third generation of music to 2016. We'll be playing their legendary hits, From Shaba Kahamba, Bimi Ombale, Likinga Redo to Emeneya Kester. 

The significance of REMEMBRANCE is to pay tribute not only to pioneers of our great popular music heritage but also for the younger generation to learn about the valuable contributions our musicians who paved the way for the current form of music that we hear today throughout the world.

This show aired live on May 21, 2016.

Remembrance: A tribute to Congolese Musical Pioneers

This episode had as a guest Ms. Ndona Nkembi Nyomo, the President and Founder of Festival Congo, Inc. She shared with #CongoLive hosts and listeners her career in the financial sector, her passion for the arts, her perspective on the role of women in the transformation of Congo and also the work she is doing for the Congo Festival which takes place in Atlanta this Summer.

This show aired on June 4, 2016

Bio
Ndona is a surrealist artist, and writer with a background in finance, investment translation, and sales. A licensed stock broker, who holds both the FINRA Series 7, and Series 63 brokers licenses, Ndona has worked in the investment industry for 10 years in New York, NY, and Toronto, Ontario Canada, prior to relocating to Georgia in the summer of 2015.

With clients in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, she had the opportunity to use her diverse background, and language skills as leverage when educating clients on foreign, and domestic capital, and commodities markets.

Ndona has worked with such industry giants as Barclays, Black Rock, Citigroup, and most recently E*Trade. In addition, she has experience in mergers, and acquisitions, as well as financial proxy, where while employed at Computershare, she translated investment, and research documents for dissemination to the public.

With years of experience in sales and management, she has taken her knowledge of the investment markets, and love of education, and applied it to her passion for connecting individuals through what brings so many together, the arts.

The daughter of a jazz musician, and professor from Congo-Kinshasa, and an American mother who was a model, and dancer, Ndona grew up surrounded by what she refers to as the United Nations. Surrounded by artists, and professionals who spoke a multitude of languages, from diverse cultures, her view on the world was formed at an early age.

Ndona Nkembi Nyomo - Career and Destiny: Understanding the Finance Sector and Being Congolese woman

Our #CongoLive guest for this episode is Samuel Yagase, a community leader in Isangi, a town northeast of Congo. He shared with us how his community is organized for self-sufficiency right in the heart of Africa.

This show aired on December 10, 2016.

Bio
Samuel Yagase is a key player in mobilizing rural communities for local development mainly in Tolaw, Isangi Territory, Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He is the founder of the the organization GOVA (Group of Village Organizations for Self- development ) that works on promoting local initiatives and leadership. He is very committed to improving matters related to local governance in the DRC.  He is interested in fighting against injustice (especially traditional customs that discriminate against women) and fighting for the promotion of human rights.

He works on promoting dialogue and collaboration between the two medicines (Traditional and Modern ). He is the initiator of the Solidarity Fund for the fight against sleeping sickness in Isangi. For Samuel, development aid has virtually failed. It is in the process of reviewing, with his group, the perception of aid by paying more attention to local assets, helping the population to be the masters of its situation by mastering its agenda that Samuel sees lasting solutions for change in the DRC.

Congo Live

Samuel Yagase: Building Self-Sufficient Communities

On this episode of Congo Live, US Special Envoy Tom Perriello joined us to discuss his work as an envoy for the past 18 months and some anecdotal stories on his experience in central Africa. We will also discuss U.S. policy in the region, respect for constitutions, and opening of political space in the Great Lakes region in Africa and beyond. With the new US administration, his term is coming to an end.

Bio
Tom Perriello is the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, appointed by Secretary of State John Kerry on July 6, 2015. Prior to this role, he served as Special Representative for the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review for the U.S. Department of State.

Mr. Perriello previously served as a Congressman from Virginia, Special Advisor to the Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, a conflict analyst, and CEO of Center for American Progress Action. He has worked and conducted research in a dozen countries and taught courses on transitional justice at the University of Virginia School of Law and University of Sierra Leone.

Mr. Perriello was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia’s Fifth District in 2008. He served on the Veterans Affairs Committee and received distinguished marks from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association. He was a founding member of Leader Hoyer’s National Security Working Group, and received the Truman National Security Project’s annual award for wise leadership on foreign policy. He also advocated strongly for a national energy and climate strategy.

Outside of government, Mr. Perriello has co-founded and managed justice entrepreneurship platforms and faith-based organizations advancing human rights, poverty reduction and sustainability. He supported the peace processes in Sierra Leone and Darfur and has conducted periodic research in Afghanistan on justice and security. Since early 2011, he has conducted field research and analysis on reformist movements and leaders in Egypt and the Middle East independently and as Counselor for Policy to the Center for American Progress.

He is from Charlottesville, VA, and is a graduate of Yale University and Yale Law School.

Tom Perriello – Prospect for Peace and Stability in the Congo

Long time Congolese opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi Wa Mulumba passed away on Wednesday, February 1st at the age of 84. The congolive team produced a show to help our listener know who he was.

Our guest, Dr. Nzongola Ntalaja, a professor of African, African-American, and diaspora studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a professor emeritus of African studies at Howard university, served as a diplomatic advisor to Tshisekedi when he was a prime minister in the 90s. He shared with us what impact Tshisekedi had on Congolese politics over the decades.

Tshisekedi was born on December 14, 1932 in Kananga, formerly Kasai-Occidental. He obtained a doctorate in Law in 1961 from the Lovanium University in Kinshasa. He was the first Congolese to receive such a degree.

When Mobutu took over in a coup in 1965, Etienne Tshisekedi joined his government as Minister of Interior. It was shortly after this period on June 2, 1966 where the four Pentecost martyrs were publicly hung by the state for plotting to overthrow the regime. 

Tshisekedi later played a key role in drafting the original documents of Mobutu's single party state enshrined in the Popular Movement for the Revolution - MPR in French. He served Mobutu and the MPR faithfully until 1980 when he and 12 others spoke out openly about the ravages of the dictatorial Mobutu regime. This initial outspokenness would presage the founding of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress, UDPS in French in 1982. Thus began his non-violent struggle for democracy and the rule of law. He courageously confronted Mobutu and paid a deer price with jailing, beatings, house arrests and internal exile.

By the early 1990s, Etienne Tshisekedi firmly ensconced as leader of the opposition to Mobutu, served a brief stint as Prime Minister, which came about as a result of pressure on the Mobutu regime by the non-violent, pro-democracy forces. Just as he resisted Mobutu, Etienne Tshisekedi would later resist both Laurent Desire Kabila and his son Joseph Kabila. Although he boycotted the 2006 elections, he ran for President in 2011. Joseph Kabila claimed victory in the fraudulent elections. Tshisekedi refused to recognize Kabila as president and swore himself in, unfortunately to little effect. 

Following the 2011 elections, Tshisekedi was subject to extended illness that saw him spending most of the time in Belgium. In July 2016, he returned to Kinshasa after having unified opposition forces to resist Kabila's efforts to remain in power in contravention to the Constitution that required him to step down.

His final major contribution as leader of the loyal opposition was to join with the Catholic Church to broker a deal between the Kabila regime and the opposition on December 31, 2016 that called for elections to be organized in 2017 and Kabila to step down upon the election of a new President.

His overriding legacy will be a fight for democracy and rule of law through non-violent means.

CongoLive

Remembering Étienne Tshisekedi

Congolive is a weekly radio show, providing listeners with views and news from the richest and mostly forgotten country in the heart of Africa showcasing the cultural strengths and beauty of Congolese people revealing the richness of the land and its people.

The show is aired on WOL Baltimore, every saturday (1 pm Central, 2 pm Eastern - US time). It is hosted by Patricia Lokwa and Kambale Musavuli. #CongoLive.

Call-in details: +1 410-481-1010
Toll-free Call-In: +1 877-704-1010

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