Congolese literature highlighted in Berlin and Kinshasa

Academic and cultural events are highlighting Congolese literature through discussions on memory, violence, and societal development. At Humboldt University in Berlin, a symposium titled “Violence in Congolese Literatures: Dissecting and Healing” brought together writers such as Jean Bofane, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, and Joëlle Sambi. The event explored how literary creation addresses historical violence and the challenges facing the publishing sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In Kinshasa, the “Grande Rentrée Littéraire” will take place from September 10 to 12 at the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles and Avenue de la Nation. The event aims to bring literature to a broader public through author meetings, conferences, and book sales. A key highlight includes the presentation of Didier Mumengi’s new work, “Militariser l’agriculture,” which discusses mobilizing productive structures to combat food insecurity. The festival emphasizes literature as a tool for collective memory and national development.