Tag: Congo
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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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Remote life
Everything is remote these days Remote jobs Remote friends Remote girlfriend Remote dancing Remote life Remote sleep Remote fun Remote families Remote death Remote birth Remote holidays Always working and messaging Always on the phone Always distracted Maybe you are now your phone’s remote? When will we realise that remote means far and disconnected Be […]
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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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Kinshasa : Fuel shortages, traffic and wewa godfathers
You wake up and step outside and notice a massive queue of cars around the block at the fuel station next door. You’re not sure what the cause is. You hear it is about unpaid government fuel subsidies, the war in Ukraine or some other confusing issue with fuel companies.
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Emilio in Italy
Sometimes it’s nice to get away. Living in Kinshasa is a bit intense. Getting out here and there, if you can, is a good thing to reset your mind. The madness of the city and country can get you down and narrow your mind.
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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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Childhood memories in Congo
Here are some childhood memories from the 90s I still remember that I’m sure many others can relate to and that I hope I’ll never forget.
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The Democratic Republic of Gombe
As you may well know, the upmarket borough of Gombe is not like the rest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Locals cheekily call it the Democratic Republic of Gombe It is only in this tiny part of a country the size of Europe that you can think it is a “normal” city or country
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A list of NGOs and other organisations in the Democratic Republic of Congo
There are thousands of non-profits, for-profits, non-governmental organizations, foreign and national programs to help the DRC out of poverty, to end wars, to stop malnutrition or to end corruption (among many other projects). Here is a non-exhaustive list of various NGOs and for-profit projects that are or have done significant work in the country (alphabetically).
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Is it normal?
Is it normal to… Sit in traffic for hours everyday? Get asked for bribes or “coffee” or “fuel” by cops? Be nervous and anxious every time you drive to work or around the city in case you get stopped by cops? Having to wave or greet every single person you cross on the street? Being […]
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Christmas in Congo
How can you wish someone a merry Christmas when they are living on the street? How can you send someone a WhatsApp « best wishes » when their town got bombed on Christmas Day (Beni CNN article)? But we live in a bipolar world, where we can go eat a nice warm French croissant while […]
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Pink Floyd and 24 Novembre
Pink Floyd and 24 Novembre As the hawkers pass by And the motorbikes zip pass As the kids laugh and joke As the taxi drivers say “Lemba Lemba” As the dust flies over your face As the smoke enters your lungs Pink Floyd soothes your ears, heart and mind The Great Gig In The Sky Live at Knebworth 1990
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Living in the Democratic Republic of Congo
What’s it like to live and work in the DRC? Um. It’s okay I guess. For you, it will different. I can only talk about my experience.
Emilio in Congo (DRC) 