Category: Congo
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Meeting the Pope
My handshake with the Pope. I was somehow invited to meet the Pope during his visit to the DRC.
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Another year in the DRC gone by
Since the 1950s our family has been in the DRC, since the 1950s things have gotten harder for most Congolese. Seeing a country get worse and worse for 73 years can be heartbreaking. From the 50s there have not been many families that have stayed in the DRC for so long.
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Discussion on power in the DRC
A quick guide to power generation issues and projects in the DRC in 2022.
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Hotel Metropole in Matadi
The Hotel Metropole in Matadi was built between 1925 and 1930. It seems to have officially opened in 1930 according to Wikipedia. It is a gothic revival styled building (Wikipedia) and apparently designed by architect Ernest Callebout.
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Mama Lufuma, a single mother and child shelter in Matadi
I recently went to Matadi to visit a non profit organisation helping young mothers and their children called Mama Lufuma (Website is in Flemish. A translation to English is in progress). There are 15 or so kids that are between 6 months old and 10 years old. Their mothers also live in the shelter. There […]
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A short summary of my family’s history in Congo
Everyone calls me Emilio but my full name is Khalid Emilio. It’s Khalid because I’m of Indian descent and also Nicaraguan on my mother’s side. My father and his father (my grandfather), Sultan, came to the Belgian Congo in the 1950s with his brothers Badhur and Sadru. They were among the first Indian Ismailis (Nizari) […]
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Things to do around Kinshasa
So you’re in Kinshasa. What can you do outside the city? Here are a few.
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Motorcycle adventures in Kinshasa
Today I got stopped by the Police while on my motorcycle. They had no uniforms. The supposed cop walked up to my motorcycle and just removed the keys. Motorcycles are not allowed in Gombe apparently but they’re everywhere. I am one of the few with a motorcycle with a number plate, insurance and permits to […]
Emilio in Congo (DRC) 