For two years, lovers of the “Proudly Ndundu” culture in the DRC have been eagerly awaiting the return of this festival honoring people with albinism. The good news has fallen: the festival will be held well, from June 12 to 13, 2021 in Kinshasa, on the theme “SUCH AS YOU ARE”.
It was Yan Mambo Kasongo, director of the ASBL “Plus de couleurs”, who announced the news during a press conference held in the commune of Bandal on Friday 2 June. “More colors” is a concept that wants to bring together all the skin tones of a community in perfect harmony. Proudly Ndundu is an event that encourages people with albinism to accept themselves as they are.
The particularity of this 6th edition is the establishment of three prizes: the Mwimba Texas Prize, which will be awarded to an albino who has succeeded in integrating into society, the Kabasele Prize, which will reward a non-albino person committed to the cause , and the Belgian Ilunga Police Prize, for albinos who have invested in the fight.
During the press conference, Yan Mambo reaffirmed his fight for the term “ndundu” to no longer be an insult to people with albinism, but rather synonymous with pride and self-acceptance. He also answered a question about the controversial remarks of director Zacharie Bababaswe, who caused controversy when he called opposition leader Moise Katumbi “Ndundu”: “No controversy, because my biggest fight is that the person albino no longer feel embarrassed when the name Ndundu is mentioned,” he said.
The “Proudly Ndundu” festival is a fine example of an initiative to promote the identity and self-esteem of people with albinism, as well as the fight against discrimination