‘PEOPLE OF LEUVEN'  BUT WITH STRONG TIES TO CONGO

Here is The Voice’s interview with Rina Rabau of Bana Leuven, an organization borne out of the desire to bring people with affinity for the Democratic Republic of Congo together. She spoke to us about their various activities, among which count those that aim to contribute to the improvement of their members’ beloved DRCongo.

The Voice - Where does Bana stand for?

Rabau: In Lingala, one of the many spoken languages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bana means ‘people’. So, in its literal meaning, Bana Leuven means ‘people of Leuven’, but with strong ties to the DRCongo.

The Voice - When was your organization founded? Who started it?

Rabau: The organisation was founded five years ago in Leuven by a group of friends with Congolese origins. Their aim was to create an organisation that gathers youngsters with Congolese affinity and to promote the culture of the DRCongo to the citizens of Leuven.

The Voice - What are the main aims or objectives of your association?

Rabau: Bana Leuven has three objectives. These are to bring together everyone with intrests in DRCongo, to introduce people to DRCongo’s culture and society, and to help the development of DRCongo. To reach these objectives, we organise different activities such as debates, conferences, movie-screenings, concerts, diner, etc.

Within the scope of the third objective, we started the SALISA project in 2008. The main aim of this project is to promote awareness of the direct impact of the lack of hygiene on the population, health, and the environment in the DRCongo. The project hopes, with help of Belgian and local associates, to organize a garbage service in Kinshasa. This service should contribute to a general attitudinal change regarding garbage management and to a cleanup of Kinshasa’s most polluted areas. A documentary about the hygiene-problem in Kinshasa and the SALISA project can be found on our website.

The Voice - How many members do you have? Do you have both Belgian and non-Belgian members?

Rabau: Our organisation has 25 active members and over 150 persons supporting and contributing to our activities. We are open to everyone interested in the DRCongo, so our members have very diverse backgrounds. Some of us came to Belgium to study, others are of both Belgian and Congolese parentage, some are Belgians interested in Africa and in particular in Congo.

Last year we welcomed 5 new members. Two of them are students. Most of our members were students when Bana Leuven was founded, but they have finished their studies in the meantime. The composition of assocociation is thus changing.

The Voice - What are your usual activities?

Rabau: Every month we organise what we call “CongoReflex” which is a forum where we discuss Congolese subjects. Past editions treated, among others, the influence of president Mobutu, the natural resources in eastern Congo, the health situation in Congo, and the Lumumba affair. In October, we will organise a discussion about the society of Congo before the colonisation era.

We also organise a yearly conference to reflect on and to remember the independence of Congo. This year, the aim is to set up an election of the “greatest political leader of Congo in the post-colonial periode”. This activity will take place on June 26th.

Furthermore, we also collaborate with other organizations on the yearly African Film Festival. On the 28th of April, we will have a dinner and a film screening featuring Filip De Boeck’s Cemetery State.

The Voice - Do you have upcoming activities you would like to announce?

Rabau: The conference about the greatest political leader of Congo in the post-colonial period will take place on June 26 in Auditorium Max Weber. On August 21 we will organise a festival in connection with our SALISA project on the Ladeuzeplein.

The Voice - How can your organization be reached?

Rabau: We have a website: www.banaleuven.be. Our email is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can also contact us by phone at (+32)(0)479 51 68 98. |