Congokazi: Congo Women Association

02/14/2024

Since 2008, Congokazi has raised awareness about the violence, the genocide and democide of the Congolese people. What we considered invisible was to be made visible but in vain. Today in 2024, we continue to hear cries emerging from the darkened skies of Congo DRC; we have the dead who still remain unburied and the living crying for food and stability. Interestingly, those that have experienced genocide are immune to these cries, for they are armed to inflict the intolerable pain they experienced to supposedly save themselves and to never be second class citizens, even though history has taught us differently. The Congolese, unlike in the past, have become aware of their place in the world, vulnerability, and pain. The wounds will not heal, and the soul is embittered with pain. Stop, they cry; enough is enough but no one heads their cries.

We, Congokazi, stand, once again, to denounce the rapes perpetuated against the Congolese woman and the violence and massacres perpetuated against children, the elderly, men and women. Congolese women and men are humans and destructible but also replaceable. One day, the sun will turn and light will dawn on us, with or despite our opponents. Cry, stand and act with our people for a united and strong Congo.

03/09/2023

Happy International Women’s Day!

We celebrate women on March 08 every year to honor mothers, women workers, physicians, etc. The eight of March is the day we women get appreciation for raising, educating, feeding and loving children and our spouses. We are praised for our sacrifices and all the good we do in the world.

It is a great gesture to celebrate women on the 8th, but at times when we read the praises we are bestowed, it appears that women are solely the guardians of tradition, educators and nurturers. The focus on how women teach and should teach and feed and should feed highlights women’s accomplishments and the absence of the father.

In our conservative African societies where men are given much respect and freedom from domestic work, fathers are generally figures of authority who are exempt from teaching, educating and nurturing children. We hope this international women’s day, knowing how women work both outside and inside the home, men have learned they too need to work at home and at the office. We hope men will understand educating and feeding a child is a paternal burden also.

Moreover, we celebrate women on the 8th of each year and remember violated women across the globe, yet we, both men and women, remain silent and let these deeds of violence go unquestioned. We hope that the 8th is truly not just a day of celebration but a date when we do the inventory of what we have contributed to embettering the lives of women.

As we celebrate this year, I hope we will ask ourselves what have I done for women and what do I hope to accomplish during my lifetime to ensure women are celebrated every day. What will I do so my daughters, mothers and sisters can live in an equal world that sees them as individuals and not secondary citizens.

Happy Women’s Day 2023.

For Ngwarsungu Chiwengo, President of Congokazi
March 08, 2023 Omaha NE

12/31/2022

May 2023 be the year of growth for Congolese women, the year of peace and national welfare. May 2023 be the year we send more girls to college and see the fruition of our endeavors to make the Congolese woman more independent.

Without your love, concern and dedication, we would not be able to write this message of hope. Thanks to your donations, care and commitment we weathered 2022 with confidence and look forward to a better year 2023.

For Congokazi, we-the Congokazi Committee: Libbie Wiedering, Joanne Chiwengo Janine ter Kuile, Carol L Krajicek, and Esnatte Mwamba --wish you a Happy New Year 2023 and may God pour on you many blessings, happiness and health!

Ngwarsungu Chiwengo, President of Congkazi: Congo Women Congokazi: Congo Women Association

Donations are always gratefully appreciated.
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03/09/2022

International Women’s Day 2022

Aujourd’hui, c’est la Journée internationale de la Femme et nous, les femmes, sommes au centre de la journée. Nous, Congokazi, souhaitons une merveilleuse célébration de la Journée internationale de la Femme en tant que mères, nourricières et piliers solides de la famille et de la société. Nous sommes louées pour avoir produit de l’humanité et élevé des enfants, mais nulle part je ne lis des louanges pour notre autonomie et de notre souveraineté. En écoutant un discours nous racontant comment les féministes nous ont enseigné le mensonge et comment une femme est indépendante mais soumise, je me demande ce que cela signifie d’être une femme et une féministe?

Une femme, je crois, est une compagne de l’homme, à travers la vie. Elle est la plus grande travailleuse et la plus grande aventurière à se débrouiller pour sa famille. C’est une grande conseillère, mais qui n’a pas réussi, du moins dans la société congolaise, à vraiment définir qui elle est, de peur d’être étiquetée de féministe ou mauvaise femme. En écoutant nos réalisations actuelles – médecins, ingénieurs, professeurs, etc. – je me demande quelles auraient pu être nos réalisations professionnelles passées. N’étions-nous pas des dirigeantes, comme Beatrice Chimpa Vita et Anne Zinga d’Angola ? N’avons-nous pas cultivé, pêché dans les marécages, chassé dans les forêts et les clairières, etc.? Je suppose que si nous sommes à la traîne, c’est parce que la modernisation nous a définies comme un genre inférieur à la moyenne.

Le thème des Nations Unies aujourd’hui est le démantèlement des stéréotypes ou des préjugés, mais nous, les femmes, contribuons à enseigner à nos filles et à nos fils à considérer les femmes comme des citoyennes de seconde classe au nom du féminisme africain. Une femme, me dit-on, est soumise, respectueuse et place toujours son mari au premier rang. Être dans une relation où les relations patriarcales sont respectées est ce que nous devrions toutes rechercher. Je vois les matriarchies congolaises disparaître avec le patriarcat croissant des Ndembo, Lunda, Sanga et Bemba. Le pouvoir patriarcal est apparemment ce que nous devons faire.
Aujourd’hui est une grande Journée internationale de la femme, mais tous les jours sont des journées de femmes alors qu’elles courent dans les collines pour aller chercher des marchandises, s’occuper de leurs enfants, travailler dur pour être crédibles, etc. Oui, les femmes célèbrent cette journée parce qu’elles ne sont pas au centre de l’univers.

Les stéréotypes doivent être démantelés, c’est vrai, mais nous, les femmes, pouvons seules les démanteler en n’ayant pas peur d’épouser des messages d’autonomisation d’autres femmes et hommes, parfois. Nous seules pouvons affirmer notre identité en comprenant que nous sommes humaines, féminines, mais égales dans le respect, la pensée et l’action. Les femmes africaines doivent donc réétudier les redéfinitions historiques de leurs identités pour comprendre qui elles sont devenues et affirmer leur pouvoir et leur souveraineté. Nous sommes à une époque où nous devons réaliser - comme une grand-mère me l’a dit un jour, la condition de « kuvukiwa sawa nyama ». « Batakuvuka je na uko na kwenu? » (Comment peut-on « être domestiqué comme un animal »? Comment pouvez-vous être domestiquée quand vous possédez un chez vous?

Pour éliminer la violence à l’endroit des femmes, éliminer la dégradation et la marginalisation, nous devons nous affirmer en tant qu’êtres humains et nous placer au centre de notre univers sans craindre d’être qualifiées de féministes radicales (tous les mouvements n’ont-ils pas de multi-positions sur les questions) ou de mauvaises femmes (qui ne sont pas soumises). Nous devons nous définir comme humaines et essentielles. Ce n’est alors que nous pourrons créer un monde meilleur pour les générations futures.

Pour Congokazi, Ngwaresungu
Omaha, NE

Today is International Women’s Day and we, women, are at the center of the day. We, Congokazi, wish a wonderful International Women’s Day celebration to mothers, nurtures, and strong pillars of the family and society. We are lauded for producing humanity and raising children, but no where do I read celebrations of our autonomy and selfhood. As I listen to a speech telling us how feminists taught us lies and how a woman is independent but submissive, I wonder what it means to be a woman and a feminist?

A woman, I believe, is a companion of man through life. She is the greatest worker and adventurer to fend for her family. She is a great counselor, but one that has failed, at least in Congolese society, to truly define who she is, for fear of being labeled a feminist or a bad woman. As I listen to our current achievements—doctors, physicians, engineers, professors, etc.—I wonder what our past work achievements might have been? Were we not leaders—such as Beatrice Chimpa Vita and Anne Zinga of Angola? Did we not cultivate, fish in swamps, hunt in gardens etc.? I guess if we fell behind, it is because modernization defined us as a subpar gender.

The theme of the United Nations today is dismantling stereotypes or biases, yet we women contribute to teach our daughters and sons to consider women as a second-class citizen in the name of African womanism. A woman, I am told, is submissive, respectful and always places her husband first. Being in a relationship where patriarchal relationships are respected is what we should all seek. I see Congolese matriarchies disappearing with the increasing patriarchization of the Ndembo, Lunda, Sanga and Bemba. Patriarchal power apparently is what we must uphold.

Today is a great International Women’s Day, but all days are women’s days as they run up and down hills fetching merchandise, caring for their children, working hard at work to be credible, etc. Yet, women celebrate this day because they are not at the center of the universe.

Stereotypes need to be dismantled it is true, but we women can alone dismantle them by not being afraid to espouse messages of empowerment of other women and men, at times. We alone can affirm our identity by understanding that we are human, feminine, but equal in respect, thought and action. African women must, hence, restudy the historical redefinitions of their identities to understand who they have become and to assert their power and selfhood. We are in times when we need to realize-- as a grandmother once told me, kuvikuwa sawa nyama? Batakuvuka je na uko na kwenu? (How can one be domesticated like an animal? How can you be domesticated like you don’t have a home?

To eliminate violence against women, eliminate degradation and marginalization, we need to assert ourselves as humans and place ourselves at the center of our universe without fear of being called a radical feminist (Do all movements not have multi-stances on issues) or a bad woman (who is not submissive), we need to define ourselves as human and essential. Only then can we create a better world for future generations.

For Congokazi, Ngwarsungu Chiwengo
Omaha, NE

I

11/29/2021

I have the chagrin today of informing Congokazi members and supporters of the passing of the Provincial Congokazi President Jeanne Balezi Nafranga.


Jeanne Balezi answered Congokazi’s call to support women who had been r***d and violated in South-Kivu in 2009. She established Congokazi in South-Kivu, organized a convention and lead the charity with determination and grace. Numerous girls in South Kivu obtained scholarships thanks to her hard work; Congokazi was able to distribute pigs, beans, goats and chicken to women and accomplish other projects thanks to her efforts.

We mourn her passing and will always be indebted for what she accomplished in South-Kivu.

Ngwarsungu Chiwengo,President
of Congokazi
November,28, 2021 Omaha, NE

03/09/2021

Happy International Women’s Day 2021
Traditional Congolese women had their place in pre-colonial gender dual society. If not, how do we explain the existence of Beatrice Kimpa Vita, the Mwamikazi, the Mwant Rukonkish and Dona Anna Nzinga of Angola. With colonization and the management of the colonial space, Congolese women were placed within the domestic sphere and the liberated, ironically meaning pr******te, Congolese woman was born. Moreover, Congolese Évolués sought in 1954, in La voix du Congolais, the abolishment of matrilineal societies to establish their patriarchal power.

Because the Congolese woman was marginalized within colonial society, Lumumba sought to liberate her. Mobutu who succeeded finally to professionally liberate the Congolese female by integrating her in all national activities. She became Maman président, Maman gouverneur, Maman docteur, Maman professeur, Maman géologue, les Mamans femmes travailleuses et les Mamans paysanes. Biologically identified, she became despite her professional liberation, a sub-citizen to the Papa Président, Papa Gouverneur, etc.

In the early 1960s liberated urban Congolese women lived the colonial lives of former Belgian colonial women. She had boys (domestic servants) to clean her house and cook and generally spent time socializing. Having access to technology, she, defined her liberation, by driving her moped.

In the 1960s very few women had a college degree; as a matter of fact, there were none among the supposed 11 university educated students and only two assistants— future Professeur Mudimbe Boyi and Professeur Madiya Faik-Nzuji --- at the University of Lubumbashi in the early 1970s. But early on in the republic in 1966, Sophie Kanza was minister in the government. In business, the university woman had no leadership positions until the 1970s when she finally ceased to assume secretariat administrative positions and Rwamakuba Serafine, was given a leadership management position in Kolwezi, Katanga. Condifa brought women together but liberation was a male enterprise.

Feminism in Congo (DR) was also a male enterprise. The first feminist researcher in Katanga, Professor Kitenge Ya, a sociologist, wrote about what women wished to be and what they wished to become. Professor Pascal Koba, a philosopher, also wrote a dissertation on feminism. When Gender studies became prominent, no gender studies departments were opened, but gender centers directed by males were opened and, finally, professor Osaka wrote a book on Congolese women.

United Nations Gender and parity strategies soon became in the words. Women were given more access to political and administrative positions because of parity. “Parité oblige” (Parity demands), we heard. Yet, there are only 68 women in parliament out of 600 representatives. While we talk about parity and gender, these words within the classroom and churches remain unknown, for the woman despite her liberation must cater to patriarchy, as the Bible and African tradition demand. We don’t ask questions about the impact of colonialism, religion and patriarchal postcolonial impact and definition of the Congolese female condition. We believe we are more liberated today, yet the traditional Congolese woman—with many matrilineal societies, had a definite sense of being, for she was a speaking subject, a participant and not an object, for she had a self and belonged to a family.

Today, the University has more professors, assistants and has been taken over by female students, for they are increasingly considered intellectual subjects who have finally begun to speak in their own voices about what they desire to be in life even though the discourses generally ruffle no patriarchal feathers.

It is these accomplishments that we, at Congokazi, celebrate today on International Women’s Day 2021, While we have accomplished much by sending girls to the university and teaching women to assume themselves, we still need to encourage female articulation of our female subjectivity and equality despite the many hurdles we encounter to reach our destiny. Our voices are increasingly rising in volume and our actions are even stronger. We, Congolese women, have uncontestably proven our know-how, intelligence, and equality. We have sustained our families and supported our nation. As we look towards the future, we work to gain more respect, consideration and equality from our national and global worlds as we hurl our voices into the world.

Ngwarsungu Chiwengo, President of Congokazi Omaha, NE

11/03/2020

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05/11/2020

Nous, à Congokazi, vous souhaitons une heureuse Journée de la Mère! Ce jour est un jour de détente, de cadeaux, de festivité, et pourtant beaucoup de mères, au niveau global et dans la République Démocratique du Congo, travaillent dur pour se débrouiller au profit de leurs familles, confrontées qu’elles sont avec les poids du déplacement au Nord Kivu, de l’inondation au Sud-Kivu, de la violence conjugale dans le monde, des atrocités sexuelles en Ituri, de la flambée des prix des denrées alimentaires et gérant leurs familles dans nos sociétés frappées par le Covid-19.

Malgré les fardeaux de la qualité de mère, nous les mères, sommes là pour nos enfants et travaillons dur pour les envoyer à l’école et en faire de bons citoyens. Nous montrons à nos enfants l’amour, et à travers notre propre comportement, le courage et des sacrifices du fait d’être une mère. Nous prions pour eux en temps de bonheur et de malheur et les comblons de bénédictions.

Heureuse Journée de la Mère!

De la part de nous toutes – Ida Chiwengo, Esnatte Mwamba, Janine ter Kuile, Odette Kabu, Carol Krajicek, Lynda Madison et Libbie Wiederin – à Congokazi,

Ngwarsungu Chiwengo, Presidente
10 mai 2020 Omaha, NE

05/11/2020

We, at Congokazi, wish you a happy Mother’s Day! Today is a day of relaxation, gifts and celebration, yet many mothers, globally and in Congo (DRC), are hard at work fending for their families, dealing with the burdens of displacement in North Kivu, flooding in South Kivu, domestic violence in the world, sexual violence in Ituri, rising food prices and managing their families in our Covid-19 stricken societies.

Despite the burdens of motherhood, we, mothers, are there for our children and work hard to send them to school and make them good citizens. We show our children love and, through our own behavior, the courage and sacrifices of being a mother. We pray for them in good and bad times and bestow upon them blessings.

Happy Mother’s Day!

From all of us—Ida Chiwengo, Esnatte Mwamba, Janine ter Kuile, Odette Kabu, Carol Krajicek, Lynda Madison and Libbie Wiederin-- at Congokazi,

Ngwarsungu Chiwengo, President
May 10, 2020 Omaha, NE

05/11/2020

We, at Congokazi, wish you a happy Mother’s Day! Today is a day of relaxation, gifts and celebration, yet many mothers, globally and in Congo (DRC), are hard at work fending for their families, dealing with the burdens of displacement in North Kivu, flooding in South Kivu, domestic violence in the world, sexual violence in Ituri, rising food prices and managing their families in our Covid-19 stricken societies.

Despite the burdens of motherhood, we, mothers, are there for our children and work hard to send them to school and make them good citizens. We show our children love and, through our own behavior, the courage and sacrifices of being a mother. We pray for them in good and bad times and bestow upon them blessings.

Happy Mother’s Day!

From all of us—Ida Chiwengo, Esnatte Mwamba, Janine ter Kuile, Odette Kabu, Carol Krajicek, Lynda Madison and Libbie Wiederin-- at Congokazi,

Ngwarsungu Chiwengo, President
May 10, 2020 Omaha, NE