‘Saving the Congo’: transnational social fields and politics of home in the Congolese diaspora

Émeutes à Matonge et… indifférence des pouvoirs publics ?

“…La politisation des Congolais est concomitante de leur présence en Belgique et prend dès les années 1970, la forme de manifestations dénonçant la politique du pays d'origine [Tshimanga;2003 ;Bodeux et Demart, 2013]. Lors de la transition (2001-06) ouverte par l'assassinat du président Laurent-Désiré Kabila, ces manifestations vont s'intensifier et s'élargir à l'espace transnational des migrations sous l'impulsion des « Combattants » [Godin et Garbin, 2013] qui entendent bien faire pression sur le pouvoir de Kinshasa et sur la « communauté internationale » dont l'(in)action est collectivement perçue dans les milieux congolais, comme tributaire des convoitises occidentales des richesses du soussol congolais.…”

Rellen in Matonge en… onverschilligheid van de overheid?

“…De politieke bewustwording van de Congolezen gaat gepaard met hun aanwezigheid in België en komt vanaf de jaren 1970 tot uiting in betogingen die het beleid in hun land van herkomst op de korrel nemen [Tshimanga;2003;Bodeux en Demart, 2013]. Tijdens de overgang (2001-06), die werd ingeluid door de moord op president Laurent-Désiré Kabila, neemt het aantal betogingen toe en breiden ze zich uit tot de migratielanden onder impuls van de « Combattants » [Godin en Garbin, 2013], die van plan zijn om druk uit te oefenen op het regime in Kinshasa en op de "internationale gemeenschap", waarvan de passiviteit in Congolese kringen wordt toegeschreven aan de honger van het Westen naar de rijkdommen van de Congolese bodem. 6.…”

Regrounding the sacred: transnational religion, place making and the politics of diaspora among the Congolese in London and Atlanta

“…The parallel organization of a mass celebrated in an established church and public prayers held on the street not only reflected the different ways Catholics and Pentecostals relate to spatial sacralization and religious performance but also crystallized tensions within the wider Congolese politico-religious landscape between leaders of competing factions who sided with different Catholic priests or Pentecostal pastors (Garbin and Godin 2013). The parallel organization of a mass celebrated in an established church and public prayers held on the street not only reflected the different ways Catholics and Pentecostals relate to spatial sacralization and religious performance but also crystallized tensions within the wider Congolese politico-religious landscape between leaders of competing factions who sided with different Catholic priests or Pentecostal pastors (Garbin and Godin 2013).…”

“…Because two separate religious events-a Catholic service and a Pentecostal gathering -took place during the Marche des Chrétiens, it was difficult for the participants to uphold a unified 'Christian vision' for the cause of the homeland. The parallel organization of a mass celebrated in an established church and public prayers held on the street not only reflected the different ways Catholics and Pentecostals relate to spatial sacralization and religious performance but also crystallized tensions within the wider Congolese politico-religious landscape between leaders of competing factions who sided with different Catholic priests or Pentecostal pastors (Garbin and Godin 2013).…”