“We leave the mission compound and drive across a packed mud square strewn with schoolchildren in blue uniforms. The walls of the cathedral, which looks as though it was transported whole from Belgium, are decorated with graceful cars of bullet holes and the roof sports car-sized holes. Ten masses a week are still held here, despite the fact that tiles from the roof fall on the congregation during services.”
Hello!
So I am listing to Radio Congo while typing this article. Listen to it here. If you followed my blog for a while, you know that I will be traveling to Congo soon with my son to spend time with my husband who works there for the United Nations. Of course I am preparing myself mentally for this trip by reading whatever I can get my hands on. Especially about the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kinshasa and what is going on there. This is how I discovered Ben Rawlence. He is awesome. I read his latest book “City of Thorns” and just got hooked. He describes how he lived and worked in Africa; also a lot what he has experienced. He also gives great insight on how the United Nations helps and operates in this country. “Radio Congo” is a great book if you get yourself prepared to travel to Congo. The author wrote mostly about Manono and Goma which is east of Congo and close to Rwanda. I will be in Kinshasa which is west. I attached a map so you know what I am talking about. Believe me, I had to look this up too.
I am a huge fan of travel writing. Rawlence travels the country by motorbike, canoe and mostly by foot and meets so many people who he then introduces and writes about in his book. Many are full of faith and hope that this war will end. I thought it was great how he met Colonel Ibrahim but I won’t give away any spoilers. The author knows his way with words and his collection of adventures in Congo are eye-opening. The story ties nicely together, is interesting and makes you turn page after page in search for more. He met Jean-Baptiste who told him that “Radio Congo is the spider’s web that is holding this country together.” I believe it does, too.
Rawlence’s job is at Human Rights Watch and you get great information on what he needs to get done. You will learn about rebel groups in Uganda and Rwanda and many more major problems this country has. He describes real people and their daily lives and kindness which is somehow a recurring topic in Rawlence’s book. You discover insight on community centers, the local health service (scary!) and so many places he traveled where people have never seen a TV, car, or newspaper. When you decide to read the book, be prepared to read about serious expat views. Rawlence has seen it all! You will learn about curiosity and courage. You probably asked yourself how it is possible to live in a country where war is present on a daily basis for a long time. How do people do it? What do they eat? Where and how do they live? They simply try to survive. Living one day at a time. The scary thing is, that nobody really talks about these people in Congo. You barely hear anything about it on the news.
Overall I would say that this is an awesome read. It is important to have hope and Rawlence shows in this book that one should try to preserve hope. Only like this, one can change circumstances in life into something better. He shows with his book that it is important to not give up. Not give up on yourself and not give up on these people in Congo either. I have written to Ben Rawlence asking him for some advice on traveling to Congo. Besides being very helpful he said: “Just do as the locals do and you will be fine.” Let’s see.
I attached an interesting lecture by Ben Rawlence on his work in Congo and Human Rights Watch.
Thank you for reading my blog.
