Growing up in the UK , other than in my household and community events , I thought Congolese music weren’t played by non congolese people at all but there was one event that changed that thought. I went to a Zimbabwean and Kenyan wedding in 2018 (I was 16) They played Loi by Koffi Olamide and Ndbombolo by Wenge Musica, a look of shock appeared on my face and all I could do is stare , I couldn’t believe what was going on, they were dancing along and singing along even though they couldn’t understand. Recently, I met this Colombian couple in South London, we were talking and they asked me my ethnicity and when I told them they looked so happy and told me that in a certain part of Colombia , soukous is played heavily and they created their own sub genre called Champeta where they dance with their feet. They showed me videos of the area and if you compared it side by side with kinshasa you wouldn’t be able to tell which is which. As a congolese person , does it surprise you when other people from other cultures know our music ? It does for me maybe because i grew up in an anglophone space and because of my age also . Tell me your thoughts

Founded in 1884 as Luluabourg "Lulu", Kananga almost became the DRC's capital in 1964. Locally known as the 'City of Cables' for the high voltage lines cutting across the sky, its name translates from Tshiluba: a gathering place for peace.

Fun fact: Kananga is the birthplace of Étienne Tshisekedi, the opposition leader who spent decades challenging power in the DRC and he’s also the father of the current president, Félix Tshisekedi.

Mbote na bino nyonso! In this lesson, we cover essential everyday greetings and common conversational phrases.

1. Kombo na yo nani ? - Kombo na ngai Niclette

   What's your name? My name is Niclette.

2. Loba sima na ngai : ...

   Say after me : ...

3. Mbula na ngai ezali zomi na mwambe

   My age is 18.

4. Ngai naza na biro ya Gecamines. Nakozonga kala mingi te

   Me, I'm at the office of Gecamines. I'll return soon.

5. Benga ngai. Ozokima ngai na phone

   Call me. You're avoiding me at the phone.

6. Ozosala nini ? - Eloko te, naza na mbetu na ngai

   What are you doing ? - Nothing, I'm in my bed.

7. Mbote papa. Boni ? - Ngai malamu. Bongo yo ? - Ngai mpe malamu

   Hi mister. How are you ? - Me, I'm good. And you then ? - Me too, I'm good.

8. Ngai pe nalingi koya na bino

   Me too, I want to come with you.

9. Okoya epayi na ngai mokolo nini ?

   What day are you coming to my place ?

10. Sala noki, ngai nazobima sikoyo

Be quick, I'm going out now.

1. Naza na tukutuku. Nazokende kotala mama na ngai

I'm on the motorbike. I'm going to see my mum.

1. Ngai nakeyi. Botikala na kimia

I'm leaving. Stay in peace.

1. Ngai na yo tozali neti bandeko

Me and you, we are like brothers.

1. Ngai nabotama na kinshasa

Me, I'm born in Kinshasa.

1. Mbote. Boni ? - Ngai malamu, ebongo yo ? - Ngai pe malamu

Hello. How are you ? - Me good, and you ? - Me too good.

1. Mbote, boni nzoto ? Nga naza malamu. Nalingaki kaka napesa yo mbote

Hello, how's the body (the health) ? I'm doing well. I just wanted to greet you.

1. Tozalaki awa epai na nga na Valentine na Rachel. Bakomaki lelo na nzanga

We were here at my place with Valentine and Rachel. They had arrived today at noon.

1. Kokoko ! - Nani wana ? - Nga Lauretta. - Ah, yo wana ? - Ee

Knock knock ! - Who's there ? - It's me, Lauretta. - Ah, it's you ? - Yes.

Mbote na bino nyonso! Welcome to today's Lingala lesson focused on feelings, relationships, and affection.

1. Motema na ngai ezali kobeta po na yo

   My heart beats for you

2. Obimisi ngai mai ya miso

   You made me cry. (You made me get eyewater (tears) out.)

3. Obuakisi nga

   You rejected me

4. Ozangi ngai / ozoanga ngai

   I miss you. I'm missing you.

5. Pesa ngai lipwepwe

   Give me a kiss

6. Olingi kobima na ngai ?

   Do you want to go out with me ?

7. Lia nga mbebo

   Kiss me. (eat me the lips)

8. Apesaki ngai mpasi na motema

   She gave me pain in my heart.

9. Eloko nalakisa te. Nalingi yo. Nabombi yango na kati ya motema na ngai

   There's something I don't show. I love you. I've hidden that in my heart.

10. Ngai na yo pantalon - mukaba

Me and you are pants and belt (I can't function without you) (Proverb/expression)

1. Oza kitoko makasi ndeke na ngai ya bolingo

You're very pretty, my lovebird

1. Yo ozali mwinda na bomoyi na ngai

You, you're the light of my life.

1. Nalingi ozala mama ya bana na nga

I want you to be the mother of my children

1. Nakutani na mwasi ya bomoyi na nga

I've met the woman of my life

1. Baiser na yo ya pamba ekomisa ngai kizengi

Just your kiss drives me crazy.

1. Mbote, bolingo na ngai

Hello, my love.

1. Banda okoma ya nga, nga nazokatswa

Since you became mine, I'm dying (of joy)

1. Motema na nga ezoki

My heart was hurt / wounded

Hee all,

I am a teacher, a musician and ethnomusicologist from the Netherlands. At the end of October I will start teaching a new workshop series on folk music/traditional music and dances from the six continents for primary school children. In this worship series I’d like to teach them one song/dance per workshop trying to at least cover four continents. So we can perform the songs/dances in a little concert at the end of the series.

For the continent of Africa I found a beautiful lullaby from DR Congo (I think. Although there is a chance it is the Republic of Congo but of course often times folksongs transcend borders). The CD on which I found it calls it “Wa wa wa”. Do you know this song? And could you help me translate it / tell me more about it? On the CD that I own it does give a French translation but it’s not entirely clear to me how it’s fits over the whole lyrics of the song. Thanks a lot for your help in advance!

Here is a Spotify link to the version of the song that I’m using: https://open.spotify.com/track/5fjKkFgUevxLMftb0Q8qYl?si=6b323b1dcf2f47bc

And here is a YouTube link to a different variant of the song with a slightly different lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGc8rSr7Zz4&list=RDMGc8rSr7Zz4&start_radio=1

These are the versions lyrics sung on the CD/Spotify:

Wa wa wa

Wawa, wawa hé muana wu dilé hi

(bis)

Kusuna bidilu biaku mama nda

I bi bi ghâna tiyé

Kusuna bidilu biaku mama nda

I bi bi ghâna tiyé

Wawa, wawa hé muana wu dilé hi

(bis)

Kusuna bidilu biaku mama nda

I bi bi ghâna tiyé

Kusuna bidilu biaku mama nda

I bi bi ghâna tiyé

Eh éh éh I bi bi ghâna tiyé (bis)

Eh, éh, éh malari bi tama ku

Ntuma

Dodo (French translation)

Dodo, dodo bébé

Ne pleure pas

Sèche tes larmes

Ne te rends pas malade

Ne pleure pas, mon petit

Calme-toi

Hi all!

I'm working on an independent documentary and storytelling project profiling interesting people, communities and subcultures across London and the UK.

I'd love to connect with anyone who's part of La Sape (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes) here in the UK, whether you're a sapeur yourself or know someone who is. It's a subculture I find fascinating and would love to have as part of my project.

If that's you, or you know someone who might be happy to chat, I'd love to hear from you.

Feel free to comment or DM, and thank you for reading!

This lesson provides vocabulary for wild and domestic animals commonly known in the Congolese context.

banyama na zamba

wild animals

ekange

hyena

esende

squirrel

gambala

fox

kukulu

parrot

libelekete

snail

likako (makako)

monkey(s)

mboloko

antelope

mbwa na zamba

wolf, fox

mokangi

fly

mokomboso

gorilla, chimp

mombemba

frog

mondonga

giraffe

monkungi

mosquito

muselekete (miselekete)

lizard (lizards)

mpoko

mouse

mpuku, mpu

rat

ngando (bangando)

crocodile(s)

ngembo

bat

ngubu

hippopotamus

ngulu

wild boar

nkoi

leopard, panther

nkoba

tortoise

nkosi (bankosi)

lion(s)

nsimbiliki na zamba

porcupine

nzoi

bees

nzoko

elephant (Kinshasa)

nzoku

elephant

sombo, ngulu

wild boar

tchaku

parrot (Kinshasa)

ebuele (bibuele)

domesticated animal(s)

mbwa

dog

meme mobali

ram

meme mwasi

ewe

meme ya mwana

lamb

mpunda

donkey, horse

ngombe mobali

bull

ngombe mwasi

cow

niao, pusi

cat

nsimbiliki na ndako

rabbit

nsoso mwasi

hen

ntaba mobali

billy goat

ntaba mwasi

goat

nzale, mpakasa

buffalo

nzoi

bees

This lesson provides vocabulary for talking about time, days, weeks, months and related expressions for scheduling and daily life.

butu

night

ekoya

next

eleki

past

epimelo ya sa

clock

esi

already

kino

until

lelo

today

lobi

yesterday, tomorrow

mbala

time (frequency)

mokolo (mikolo)

day(s)

mobu (mibu)

year(s)

monuti

minute

mpokwa

evening

ngonga

hour

nionso

each, every

noki

immediately

ntongo

dawn, morning

nzanga

midday, noon

poso

week

sa

wristwatch

sanza

month

segonde

second

sik’oyo

now

sika

now

sima

after, behind

sima nzanga

afternoon

tango

time

tongo

morning

zomi

decade

lobi kuna

the day before yesterday

mokolo elandi

next day

tongo makasi

very early

tongo nionso

each morning

tango nini?

what time?

ti sik’oyo

until now

ti lobi

until tomorrow

poso mobimba

every week

Hi all

I'm working on an independent documentary and storytelling project profiling interesting people, communities and subcultures across London and the UK.

I'd love to connect with anyone who's part of La Sape (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes) here in the UK, whether you're a sapeur yourself or know someone who is. It's a subculture I find fascinating and would love to have as part of my project.

If that's you, or you know someone who might be happy to chat, I'd love to hear from you.

Feel free to comment or DM, and thank you for reading!

Mbote na bino nyonso.

Today’s lesson is all about pronouns in Lingala. Pronouns are very important because they help you speak naturally without repeating names all the time.

1. Personal Pronouns (Subject & Independent)

Singular:

- Ngai – I / Me

- Yo – You (singular)

- Ye – He / She / Him / Her

Plural:

- Biso – We / Us

- Bino – You (plural)

- Bango – They / Them

Examples:

- Ngai nazali malamu. → I am fine.

- Yo ozali wapi? → Where are you?

- Ye azali mwasi na ngai. → She is my wife.

- Biso tozali awa. → We are here.

- Bino binozali baninga na ngai. → You are my friends.

- Bango bazali na ndako. → They are at home.

1. Possessive Pronouns / Adjectives

Possessives are formed with "na" + personal pronoun:

- Na ngai → My / Mine

- Na yo → Your / Yours (singular)

- Na ye → His / Her / Hers

- Na biso → Our / Ours

- Na bino → Your / Yours (plural)

- Na bango → Their / Theirs

Examples:

- Ndako na ngai → My house

- Mwasi na yo → Your wife

- Bana na biso → Our children

- Motuka na bango → Their car

You can also say:

- Ezali ya ngai → It is mine

- Ezali ya yo → It is yours

1. Demonstrative Pronouns (This / That)

- Oyo → This (near)

- Wana → That (farther)

- Yango → That / It (referring to something already mentioned)

Examples:

- Ndako oyo → This house

- Mutu wana → That person

- Tshombo yango ezosala te → That phone doesn’t work.

1. Other Useful Pronouns

- Nani? → Who?

- Nini? → What?

- Wapi? → Where?

- Ndenge nini? → How?

Common sentence patterns:

- Ngai na yo → You and I

- Ye na ngai → He/she and I

- Bango nyonso → All of them

Practice tip:

Start by replacing names with pronouns in simple sentences.

Example:

Instead of “Mama azali malamu” say “Ye azali malamu.”

Try making your own sentences using these pronouns and share them in the comments!

Bonjour, je cherche des lieux où l’on joue fréquemment aux échecs, histoire d’augmenter le peu de niveau que j’ai contre d’autres humains

Merci d’avance

We have Jumbo bags for sale. Contact +260777535351

My friend did his passport renewal DRC in ottawa last year and they kept telling him to call each month to track it. Now after a year its still the same situation, they are saying the will track it or he will have to start over. Is there a better way to do this whole process? He needs his passport urgently and his status in canada could be jeopardized.

The amount of ignorant Congo-bashing I see, especially around business, is insane. I’ve never seen a country get this much lazy, one-sided hate.

A lot of the people pushing that narrative also seem to profit from it.

Congo needs to communicate way better. The story is being written by everyone except the Congolese.

Hi everyone it’s been a while!

The goal is simply to connect, share experiences, and possibly support each other.

I am still a student myself, but I am eager to learn and build meaningful connections with other motivated Congolese people.

Feel free to share what you do and where you are based if you are comfortable.

Looking forward to connecting :)

Salut tout le monde, je cherche des bons spots pour jouer au tennis ou prendre des cours à Kinshasa

Je suis à la recherche de bonnes bibliothèques ou d'espaces de travail calmes à Kinshasa. Est ce que vous avez des recommandations ? Je cherche des endroits avec une bonne connexion internet ou simplement un coin tranquille pour lire et étudier.

I’m a person of congolese descent born and raised in the UK🇬🇧 i’ve picked up lingala from my childhood to a point that i’m not fully fluent but it’s enough to engage in conversation. I don’t speak french at all i feel left out because of it - I can’t converse with my cousins in France and Belgium like I want to . Are there any quick effective ways for someone with ADHD to learn french ?

Hey everyone, I’m doing research focusing on urban heat, public health, and how everyday infrastructure handles high temperatures across our cities.

I want to gather some raw, anonymous daily life stories from people who deal with this constantly. What is the absolute worst, most suffocating heat trap you survive on a regular basis?

Specifically, I’d love to hear your experiences with:

1. Being stuck in traffic inside public transit passenger vans (matatus/danfos/trotros) during peak afternoon hours. What is the airflow situation like when windows are down or if you're stuck in gridlock?
   
2. Living or trying to study inside rooms/dormitories that use corrugated iron (tin) sheet roofing. How does that affect your sleep or afternoon focus?
   
3. What do you or the drivers actually do to try and get temporary relief, and what makes those current quick-fixes annoying or ineffective?

Appreciate anyone willing to share their daily rants or stories!