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News and Upcoming Events for Congolese in Cleveland


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Out & About - Photos and Event Recaps

2023

African Heritage Day - Cleveland Cultural Gardens World on Stage

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation 2023 World on Stage events in the Gardens are showcasing various heritages. The first 2023 event was African Heritage Day on July 1, 2023.

MC Sia Nyorkor with Ethiopian coffee

MC Sia Nyorkor with Ethiopian coffee

Audience members came from a variety of African countries including Liberia, Ghana, Congo, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia. One attendee from Pretoria, South Africa said, "This is the first time I've felt like home since I came to Cleveland."

There was delicious West African food, an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, drummers, dancers and fun for families.

Main Page and photos and videos of 99 Treasures performance

See photos and videos of the Black Beanz performance

See photos and videos of the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

See photos and videos of the Djapo dancers and drummers performance

It was a great day to celebrate the heritage of the Cleveland People from the 54 countries of Africa.

Djapo Cultural Arts Institute drummers and dancers

Djapo Cultural Arts Institute dancer



Fashions from Democratic Republic of Congo at Cleveland multicultural party

A highlight of the 8th annual ICC-WIN Cleveland Multicultural Holiday Celebration on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at the Global Center for Health Innovation in Cleveland was the International Fashion Show featuring almost 100 models from about 30 countries.

Shekinah Kidjana and friends represented the Democratic Republic of Congo. She wore a kitenge blouse with a kitenge shirt.

Shekinah Kidjana

Democratic Republic of Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo


See more from the Cleveland Multicultural Holiday Celebration



Organizations and Resources for Congolese in Cleveland





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Cleveland Congolese Feedback and Memories



Democratic Republic of the Congo History and Culture

Map of Congo

Established as an official Belgian colony in 1908, the then-Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire.

MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several sham elections, as well as through brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion backed by Rwanda and Uganda and fronted by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by a second insurrection again backed by Rwanda and Uganda.

Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support KABILA's regime. In January 2001, KABILA was assassinated and his son, Joseph KABILA, was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying the eastern DRC; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; it held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures took place in 2006.

In 2009, following a resurgence of conflict in the eastern DRC, the government signed a peace agreement with the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP), a primarily Tutsi rebel group. An attempt to integrate CNDP members into the Congolese military failed, prompting their defection in 2012 and the formation of the M23 armed group - named after the 23 March 2009 peace agreements. Renewed conflict led to large population displacements and significant human rights abuses before the M23 was pushed out of DRC to Uganda and Rwanda in late 2013 by a joint DRC and UN offensive.

In addition, the DRC continues to experience violence committed by other armed groups including the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the Allied Democratic Forces, and assorted Mai Mai militias. In the most recent national elections, held in November 2011, disputed results allowed Joseph KABILA to be reelected to the presidency; the next presidential election is scheduled for late 2016.

(From the CIA World Factbook)

Map of Congo


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