Ernest Wamba dia Wamba

Prospects for Sustained Peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo

otabenga1 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:40:02 -0600

Professor Wamba dia Wamba is a leader of the Rassemblement Congolais la democratie (RCD-Kisangani), and is based in Kinshasa, the capital town of the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is a recipient of the prestigious Prince Claus Award for Culture and Development in recognition of his “scholarly contribution to the development of African philosophy and for sparking off the philosophical debate on social and political themes in Africa.” He has written innumerable articles in various scientific and non-scientific journals on the politics in Africa. He has taught at Harvard University and at the University of Dar-es-Salaam, to name but a few. He is a member of the Honorary Board of the Ota Benga Alliance. We are pleased to present this thoughtful analysis from July of 2003, recently posted on Transcend Africa Network, September 15, 2008.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Since the creation of the Congo, at the Berlin Conference (1884-1885) as a result of the resolution of the conflict opposing imperial Africa conquering powers, the struggle for or against the Congo has always been international, roughly opposing two camps: the pro-Congolese people camp and the Congolese people ignoring/marginalizing/repressing camp. The identity of the various actors in each camp is very complex and situational. In the 1960’s, President Kwame Nkrumah, in his Challenge of the Congo (1967), gave an interesting indication of some of the then actors. read more »

L'Afrique repoussera...

otabenga1 — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:52:24 -0700

Another poem by Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, director of our sister organization in Kinshasa, the Center for Human Dignity. read more »

Pour que l’université redevienne le cerveau de notre pays

otabenga1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:03:40 -0700

Click here for English Translation read more »

Reviendras-tu de si tot?

otabenga1 — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:57:14 -0700

The following poem was submitted by Honorary Board member Ernest Wamba dia Wamba who lives in Kinshasa, DRC. read more »

Comment Comprendre Notre Situation Actuelle, en RDC?

otabenga1 — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:18:32 -0700

1. Nous sommes dans une situation d’après les élections nationales et provinciales avant les élections locales. Les premières ont eu lieu dans des conditions d’ignorance civique et des textes de base dans la grande population ainsi que de la grande misère des celle-ci. Le choix était affecté par les urgences d’exigences de la survie (tant alimentaire que sécuritaire) humaine. read more »

Latest issue of Mbongi A Nsi

otabenga1 — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:06:50 -0600

From some of our work in the Congo comes a newsletter and discussion of what a Mbongi is. The files are in both jpg and pdf formats, and they're appended below in order of pagination. They're a little large, but for French readers, this is an important document.

La parité homme/femme, en RDC, comme specificité de la 3ème République?

otabenga1 — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:36:57 -0600

English translation coming soon.

LA PARITE HOMME/FEMME, EN RDC, COMME SPECIFICITE DE LA 3EME REPUBLIQUE ?

ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA read more »

La Constitution de la Troisième République consacre la parité homme/femme. Voici ce qu’elle en dit, dans son préambule:

Lettre ouverte à son Excellence Sassou N’Guesso, Président de la République du Congo

otabenga1 — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 11:28:33 -0600

For an English translation, click here.

MONSIEUR LE PRESIDENT,

Nous vous écrivons suite au traitement récemment infligé par les organisateurs du Festival Pan Africain de Musique au groupe de pygmées invités à y participer. Nous espérons qu’en lisant cette lettre vous comprendrez les raisons qui nous amènent à vous adresser ainsi, faisant fi des pratiques protocolaires. read more »

The Beginning of the DRCongo Third Republic

otabenga1 — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:47:46 -0600

1. “Democratic elections” have taken place, the first ones in about 37 years or so. As a UN diplomat said: ‘not the best ones’. Outsiders claimed them to be fair and free, with only minor cases of fraud. But many Congolese felt that they were manipulated and fraudulent. More precisely: would-be Congolese demos was manipulated to the extent of getting it to accept a somewhat imposed conception of democracy. Less than 1% of the electorate in the referendum on the Constitution had read the text before going to vote for or against it. read more »

Experiences of Democracy in Africa: Reflections on Practices of Communalist Palaver as a Method of Resolving Contradictions

otabenga1 — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 00:41:19 -0600

This article by Ernest Wamba dia Wamba originally appeared in Philosophy and Social Action XI (3) 1985, and has been edited for clarity. You can read it below, or click here to download it in PDF format. read more »