War strikes Congolese culture
Where there was once a large community of festivity and happiness, now stands a country constantly living in fear. A place where people used to be able to sing and dance together with smiles on their faces and happiness in their hearts. This trait of the people has not completely faded, but it has drastically changed for the worse. They still sing and dance as if there's nothing else on their mind, but they have all seen something unbearable. They have experienced and witnessed acts of severe violence, murder, rape, and the worst you can imagine.
The kids still play, smiles on their faces, kicking the ball back and forth, but what they have seen is irreversible. Imagine watching your entire world being taken away just like that, nothing they could do except leave, escape from the madness and the killing. Their lives revolve around outrunning the rebels. Young children live without a family, without a place to sleep, without safety. This conflict goes almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. It is undermined and the Congo needs the rest of the world's help, they need our help. The culture where they were once able to dance around in the streets and sing with their friends and families has reversed into people not being able to trust others, unable to live freely and do what they desire.
Music is a source of some kind of hope for the children out there, they rely on it to free their minds from their horrid memories. The tunes are a part of their culture and lives, it's something to help them get through the tough times. Music is an outlet for them to express themselves and their emotions.
By: Tanara Griggs