Andrew Symes’ Congo Diary, Part Two
Day three.
By now I was beginning to get used to life in a former French speaking colony. Standard breakfast of coffee, baguette, a portion of La Vache qui Rit cheese, and Nutella. Then off to morning prayer in French, followed by, this time, a workshop on marriage for clergy, evangelists, lay ministers and their wives from the Diocese of Kinshasa – more than 50 in all. I began with the same biblical foundations as the previous day. We didn’t have time to talk about the ‘gay’ issue as we needed to deal with the many real practical and pastoral issues of marriage that came up in the buzz groups (where I separated the men and the women). I was really impressed with the willingness of these people on the frontline of ministry to be honest about problems in their own marriages and about their struggles in the pastoral care of others. They seemed particularly encouraged by the teaching of Paul in Ephesians 4:17f on the need for transformation of character in relating to others, the balance of submission and service in Ephesians 5:21f, and the five “love languages” developed by Gary Chapman and of course used by the HTB Marriage Course. The day ended with a moving time of prayer for one another and for church members.
Then it was out again for the late afternoon tour of a different part of the city. Kinshasa is about the same size as London population wise. The centre is faded colonial buildings and new high rises; a bit further out and the streets are lined with small shopfront businesses, some of which are now owned by a new influx of Nigerians some of whom have given new impetus to the Anglican churches. Everywhere the constant press of colourfully dressed people, queues of minibus taxis and blaring Congolese music with its distinctive rhythms, the sharp ‘plinkety plink’ of the single coil electric guitar and the melody-harmony call-and-response of the singing. Further out again are shabby industrial estates and then the sprawling shanty towns.
A bit of history: the Belgian colony of Congo, which King Leopold established as his personal fiefdom in the 1880’s with brutality that was worse than most during the colonial era, extended from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Tanganyika, a distance of over 1300 miles. The rewards for bravely taming the impenetrable jungle were immense – huge reserves of minerals lay untapped underground. Roads and rail networks were built, and new towns looking like copies of Europe were set up. But as in many African countries, the minerals and cash crops were shipped out raw, benefitting mostly the multinationals and their shareholders like most of us who have pensions. By the time of independence in the late 1950’s, a system had developed where well educated Congolese had been well trained to run things along colonial lines, ie for their own benefit. Basic services for the general population especially in rural areas were never developed. After some years of relative calm, a period of instability ensued in the 1960’s (harrowingly described in VS Naipaul’s ‘A Bend in the River’, resulting in Mobuto Sese Seko taking control and beginning his awful mismanagement of the country that has been termed a “kleptocracy” or rule by thieves. Being fiercely anti-communist he was seen as a useful ally by the West who wanted to preserve access to cheap minerals and make a bulwark against the encroachment of Soviet influence in Angola.
1994 saw the horrific genocide of Tutsi by Hutus in Rwanda. When it came to an end many of the Hutu militias fled east into the jungles of the Congo, and this triggered a war in which many African nations were involved, and which is only just coming to an end now. It is estimated that as many as 5 million have died during this twenty year period. A terrible history in which no-one – African or Western – can escape blame. But my impression of the country, though confined to the Western and Southern cities, is one of a country with a desire to put the past behind, and to move forward with hope to a society where the majority can be uplifted and have a chance to thrive.
During the colonial era the Catholic Church enjoyed hegemony in most areas, but in some regions West of the Lakes, permission was granted to some Protestant denominations to open up the area for the Gospel. A Ugandan Anglican and his team were the first to come across the border in the 1890’s, plant churches and establish the first Diocese in the Congo. Anglicanism developed quickly, partly because of the common Swahili language in the East, but also because of the persistence and courage of early missionaries from England, Uganda and locally. To this day CMS has its strongest links with Dioceses in the Eastern strip. Kinshasa and other areas in the West do not know Swahili or English so Anglican churches have only recently been established there.
Day Four
This was Saturday; no teaching but a chance to talk to individuals and learn a bit more about the country. In the morning I spent two hours with Hendré Lusey, the Regional Coordinator for the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical HIV/AIDS initiatives. Originally from a village 350 miles east of the capital with no electricity or running water, he excelled academically and studied Public Health in Liverpool in the mid 1990’s. While fellow African students there stayed on to live and work in England, Lusey returned to his home region to run a church based primary health care project, funded by the Reformed Basel Mission and the German charity Bread for the World. Having come from a context of poverty, he has seen God’s hand on his life, providing for him and enabling him to serve the sort of communities which nurtured him.
Hendré had been briefed by Anthonio that he should come prepared to talk about sex. And that’s what I quizzed him on. Traditional cultural practices were supposed to protect girls, he said. Virginity was highly valued, and sexual activity was strictly regulated. This had largely collapsed, due to the seismic jolts to society caused by colonialisation, the boom and bust of the Mobutu years, war, and urbanisation during the last 130 years. The particular concern now is grinding poverty causing young girls to be vulnerable to rape and prostitution. Men target young girls for sex as it is cheaper and safer; girls can earn a bit of money and in some cases are even encouraged by parents. In such a situation the church is vital as having the ethical framework and the community reach to regulate sexual behaviour. Faith gives self respect and enables people to take control of their emotions and their environment, giving hope and direction in a chaotic situation.
The particular horror of women being deliberately targeted for rape and sexual violence as a weapon of war to humiliate, utterly crush and dominate a people was highlighted at the recent London conference hosted by William Hague and famously graced by Angelina Jolie. Hendré was there with Archbishop Isingoma, who has publicly spoken out against mistreatment of women by men. The Anglican Church has been one of the leading local grassroots organisations highlighting the issue and providing counselling and rehabilitation for victims in the north East of the country where the war has raged fiercest and continues still in places.
We then approached the subject of homosexuality. What is the situation in Congo, given a recent flurry of attacks by Western gay activists and politicians on African “homophobia”? Traditionally, says Lusey, there were always a small number of same sex attracted people in every community. Families would have been involved, with sensitive counselling. Now we are living in a globalised world, and “we know about homosexuality – it is there”. He continues: “In Kinshasa there is pederasty [older men with young boys], and some gay couples no doubt live together openly in Westernised areas. There is now a centre, a sort of hostel for LGBT people, funded by some European NGO. People see this as a new way of getting money from whites. We will respect people, but it is an insult to say that unless we actively promote this as a good thing, aid will be cut. Besides, we have more pressing issues, like food and basic security”.
Are gay people specific targets for violence? I ask. His reply is that while there might be cases of people beaten up for being gay, they are much more likely to suffer violence for having nice shoes, looking at someone in the wrong way, being from a different tribe, or otherwise being in the wrong place at the wrong time. While no doubt much more research is needed on the detail of this, it seems clear that to focus on “homophobic” violence in countries where there is a basic lack of security everywhere would be foolish, as would insisting that the Christian church changes its ethical framework when it is the church that is often one of the foundations of a more tolerant and secure society.
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