Congolese Cultural Awareness
Because the lands of DR Congo are so huge, there is a great amount of variety in the traditions, languages, and life styles in this African nation. Generally the languages are split up like this Kikongo: in the southwest, Lingala in the northwest, Tshiluba in the center and Swahili in the east. There is also French as a general language that is mostly spoken and understood throughout the whole country. However counting every spoken language in the country there are more than 215 languages known, making Congo one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. As a result of European missionaries, there is a firm hold of Christianity in Congo, with around half of the current population being Roman Catholics. There are also other widely popular Christian groups in Congo. Most Congolese take these Christian beliefs and mix them in with traditional indigenous practices, such as things relating to the worship of spirits and ancestors. Islam can also be found in Congo, although it is mostly found in the parts that were part of the Arab slave trade. As with all other religions there are superstitions and the ones ere often have children (who are thought to have close ties with the spirit world) being accused of witchcraft and being ostracized by society. However besides that the religious practices of the people of Congo have given them unity, and have given inspiration for protesting for political reform. Music and dance are a big part of the culture of Congo, with the most popular form being the local ‘musique Zaïroise’, a style that shares its name with the original country in that area, Zaire. There has also been a rise in the last century of jazz and rumba during the 1940s and 50s. These styles blended in the culture to create a form of music called soukous. Most of the instruments used in these styles are handmade and often bands can be seen in the streets of towns and cities. Congo also has both poetry and film scenes, these interests meet annually at the city of Goma for an art festival. Ironically as a final point, the customs of greetings in Congo are quite different from those of Western Europe. Preliminary introductions consist mostly of right handed handshakes, it is common for male friends to hold each others hands as a sign of their friendship; this sign of closeness is however not seen between men and women and in fact there is not supposed to be any physical contact when the two talk. Another interesting custom is that eye contact is seldom direct, with children mostly having to look away when talking to show respect. If you are visiting, try to refrain from any comment on ethnicity or on civil wars, as both of those topics are very sensitive subjects that at best make interactions very awkward. Informal meetings in Congo are not often punctual however business meetings are supposed to be very punctual. So over all, there are many unique traditions and practices in Congo, whether it be original or adapted from other cultures, Congo has its own diverse feel that should be clear to people visiting or living there. |
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