WAR AND PEACE IN THE DRC- TIME FOR A CULTURAL CELEBRATION!
After 6 months in Kinshasa as Chief of the MONUC Video Unit, I am happy to report that things are definitely looking up in this war-torn country. For sure, in many areas, such as basic infrastructure and social services, the DRC has a long way go, but the positive changes in the country since the MONUC mission began almost 10 years ago have been extraordinary; sadly, they have also been overlooked by most of the Western media in their customary hunt for material of the "if it bleeds, it leads" ilk.
Anyone interested in what is going on the DRC should take a look at our MONUCVIDEO channel on YouTube, which has most of our most recent shows. The story here is a textbook case of Post Conflict Reconstruction, and it should be studied in depth for lessons learned.
Instead, the BBC and others seem preoccupied with allegations of Peacekeeper misconduct that are, quite frankly, truly trivial when taken in context. Any military operation with over 16,000 troops in action is going to have incidents involving financial and sexual misconduct, and MONUC is no exception - but at least, we haven't heard the tales of collateral damage and friendly fire that seem to be regular occurences among US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What this country now needs is some real international support - where, for example, are all the musicians who are always talking about how much they care about Africa? Here in Kinshasa we have one of Africa's liveliest music scenes, and we have the infrastructure to support a music festival to salute the rebirth of the DRC for the first time as a democratic nation. Why not have a music or arts festival to focus some positive attention on this country as it emerges from a century of colonial and neo-colonial oppression?
Sometimes it seems that there are those with a vested interest in maintaining the
perception that the DRC is still a horror show and that the people are primitive
savages beyond redemption. Well, as far as I am concerned, that is a racist excuse
for doing nothing to assist this country - all the while plunderings its ample
mineral resources and leaving the local population a few crumbs.
As anyone who comes here can see, the DRC is a very wealthy country, and it is time
for that wealth to remain in this country and to be used to help reconstruct the nation. That would be a timely theme for a cultural event here - and the keynote performer should be Mama Africa herself, Miriam Makeba, who was here recently to support victims of sexual violence. In spite of her age and poor health, she remains a powerful performer who puts younger artists to shame by actually coming here and showing the local population her support.
May some other younger artists emulate her wonderful example!
Anyone interested in what is going on the DRC should take a look at our MONUCVIDEO channel on YouTube, which has most of our most recent shows. The story here is a textbook case of Post Conflict Reconstruction, and it should be studied in depth for lessons learned.
Instead, the BBC and others seem preoccupied with allegations of Peacekeeper misconduct that are, quite frankly, truly trivial when taken in context. Any military operation with over 16,000 troops in action is going to have incidents involving financial and sexual misconduct, and MONUC is no exception - but at least, we haven't heard the tales of collateral damage and friendly fire that seem to be regular occurences among US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What this country now needs is some real international support - where, for example, are all the musicians who are always talking about how much they care about Africa? Here in Kinshasa we have one of Africa's liveliest music scenes, and we have the infrastructure to support a music festival to salute the rebirth of the DRC for the first time as a democratic nation. Why not have a music or arts festival to focus some positive attention on this country as it emerges from a century of colonial and neo-colonial oppression?
Sometimes it seems that there are those with a vested interest in maintaining the
perception that the DRC is still a horror show and that the people are primitive
savages beyond redemption. Well, as far as I am concerned, that is a racist excuse
for doing nothing to assist this country - all the while plunderings its ample
mineral resources and leaving the local population a few crumbs.
As anyone who comes here can see, the DRC is a very wealthy country, and it is time
for that wealth to remain in this country and to be used to help reconstruct the nation. That would be a timely theme for a cultural event here - and the keynote performer should be Mama Africa herself, Miriam Makeba, who was here recently to support victims of sexual violence. In spite of her age and poor health, she remains a powerful performer who puts younger artists to shame by actually coming here and showing the local population her support.
May some other younger artists emulate her wonderful example!
Labels: NationBuilding
posted by Ted Folke at 10:46 AM
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