The Chief, The Chicken And The Challenge!

Talking dogs, women that morph into insects and phallic roots that taste like feet are a staple it seems, of a traditional Congolese evening. I am not talking about the witchcraft and mystery that so many westerner’s associate with the ‘Dark Continent’ but a jovial experience of sharing stories, songs, traditional food and good company even through a common language barrier we now found ourselves in.

It was hard therefore, as I sat grinning with the chief or ‘Papa’ of ‘Kinkosi’ under a star littered sky and discussed the movements of the smoke in the wind from our glowing fire with much gesticulation and repetition, not to attach a friendly face to every one of the thousands of people fleeing their homes and livelihoods a thousand miles away on the other side of the country that we had learned of less than one hour ago.

Beer in hand and legs outstretched the words “thousands fleeing their homes” hung upon my conscience. I stared up at the night’s sky and tried to get my head around the many miles of political legislation and moral conflicts that needed tackling before bringing about real change in this war torn state.

Before leaving from London a leading manager for Christian Aid posed the question “Is the two week trip essential to your Gap year experience?” He asked this question in relation to the responsibility that Christian Aid has to reduce its carbon emissions for the year, not an invalid question at all but not one that I am going to answer here.
Congo needs help. I didn’t know quite how much up until now. If carbon was a currency I may have paid over the odds but the rewards will prove to outweigh the price as more and more people learn of the modest lifestyles that most Congolese people aspire for but so many are denied.

Tonight over ten thousand people in the DRC are huddled together in fear not knowing what their future holds. Two hours flight to the west I will be in a heavily secure compound thinking about the hospitality and love that these people have shown me. I think the gap year has started.

Jim