Cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo: Congo River, Lokele tribes and Kisangani colonial town

Discover the highlights of this cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo

Kinshasa: Art, Identity and Kuba Culture

The trip to the D.R. of the Congo will begin in Kinshasa, one of Central Africa’s leading cultural capitals. The city provides an excellent introduction to the extraordinary ethnic and artistic diversity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We will begin by visiting the National Museum of Kinshasa, home to one of the country’s finest collections of Congolese tribal art. We will then continue to the Academy of Fine Arts, one of the nation’s foremost centres for artistic education. Here, we will discover the work of a new generation of Congolese artists. We will also meet members of the Kuba people in one of the capital’s popular neighbourhoods. This encounter will offer insight into how this community, originally from the Kasai River region, has preserved its cultural traditions despite leaving its ancestral homeland. Thus, this first stage of the cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo will provide an excellent introduction to the country’s rich artistic and cultural heritage.

Kisangani: Colonial Heritage and Life Along the Congo River

The cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo will continue in Kisangani, a city closely connected to the Congo River and the history of the former Belgian Congo. We will explore its streets to experience the city's everyday atmosphere. Our visits will include the Central Market and First Avenue, where much of the Belgian colonial architecture still survives. We will also visit the National Museum of Kisangani, the Place de la Femme and the ruins of Mobutu’s former residence, offering valuable insight into different periods of the country's modern history. Before leaving the city, there will be free time to browse the local markets and purchase traditional handicrafts. In this way, this stage of the cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo combines historical heritage, urban life and Congolese culture.

The Congo River and Boyoma Falls: Nature and an Expedition Cruise

One of the highlights of the cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo will be the majestic Congo River, one of Africa’s great natural arteries. We will take an excursion to Boyoma Falls, one of the continent’s most spectacular series of rapids. At the end of the day, we will enjoy a peaceful walk along the riverbank at sunset while observing the lively activity that characterises this remarkable waterway. Later, we will embark on an expedition cruise along the Congo River, travelling through some of its most remote stretches as we pass dense tropical rainforest and small riverside communities. As a result, this stage of the cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo will reveal one of Central Africa’s most impressive natural ecosystems.

The Wagenia: Masters of Traditional Fishing

During our visit to Boyoma Falls, we will meet the Wagenia people, renowned for preserving one of the most remarkable traditional fishing techniques in Africa. We will observe how they construct large wooden platforms above the rapids to support enormous conical fish traps designed to catch fish carried by the current. Passed down through generations, this technique represents one of the most distinctive examples of traditional use of the Congo River and reflects the close relationship between the Wagenia community and their natural environment.

The Lokele Community: Cultural Immersion in the Heart of the Rainforest

During our visit to Boyoma Falls, we will meet the Wagenia people, renowned for preserving one of the most remarkable traditional fishing techniques in Africa. We will observe how they construct large wooden platforms above the rapids to support enormous conical fish traps designed to catch fish carried by the current. Passed down through generations, this technique represents one of the most distinctive examples of traditional use of the Congo River and reflects the close relationship between the Wagenia community and their natural environment. We will discover their remarkable system of communication using talking drums, or tam-tam, take part in traditional dances and share various aspects of daily life with the villagers. Finally, we will attend a Sunday church service accompanied by the community choir, an experience that reflects the coexistence of Christian beliefs and local traditions. In this way, the final stage of the cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo offers an authentic immersion into one of the most representative riverside cultures of the Congo Basin.

© Photos by Jordi Zaragozà Anglès taken during a cultural trip to the D.R. of the Congo.

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