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colonial era

orchestre symphonique kimbanguiste
Reportage

The Nganga, the Prophet, and the Orchestra

The Europeans in the audience were hearing an African orchestra play European music. The musicians on stage were playing Christian music. I sat between those two sentences for an evening in Kinshasa in November 2022, and have been turning them over ever since. The story of how the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste came to play Rodrigo in a wedding hall runs back to 1706, to a Kongolese woman burned at the stake for preaching in her own language, and forward through a century of a faith the West has never quite known how to hear.

By Skander Kacem
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Interviews

Pilipili Mulongoy: A Master’s Story in His Own Words

In a rare 1979 interview, Pilipili Mulongoy—once a humble plumber—reveals how sketching a simple wooden figure ignited his rise to prominence in modern African art. Raised by a master drummer, he first learned the communal power of creativity before honing his signature “petit point” style under mentor Pierre Romain-Desfossés. Now, his reflections illuminate the unbroken thread between traditional craftsmanship and modern expression. Discover how one man’s relentless curiosity bridged worlds and inspired a new generation of Congolese artists.

By Skander Kacem
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A painting by tshibumba kanda-matulu (TKM) about belgian rule in Congo called: Culture obligatoire
Investigations

A Visual Tour of Congo History (Part 1): From Stanley to Belgian Rule

Through five striking paintings by Congolese artist Tshibumba Kanda Matulu, discover how colonial power was established in Congo, from Stanley’s first arrival to Belgian rule. His artwork reveals the calculated stages of colonial control: exploration, betrayal, deception, and systematic elimination of indigenous power. This visual journey through history, seen through Congolese eyes, reveals how one of history’s most brutal colonial enterprises was built – and the extraordinary resilience of those who endured it. More than historical documentation, these paintings offer a uniquely Congolese perspective on events usually told by Western voices.

By Skander Kacem
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