**Fatshimetrie: The celebration of the Kimbanguist Christmas party in Congo**
The Kimbanguist community is preparing to celebrate Christmas with fervor this Saturday, May 25. Through the lively streets of Kinshasa and in several other cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, faithful Kimbanguists parade to the intoxicating sound of the fanfare, carrying within them the joy and faith that animate their community.
At the heart of this religious and festive excitement, a large ceremony takes place at the Kimbanguiste reception center in Kinshasa. This date, May 25, has a particular meaning for the Kimbanguists, symbolizing the second birth of Jesus Christ, this time incarnated as “Papa” Dialungana Kiangani, son of the Prophet Simon Kimbangu.
“Through our research and the revelations that have come to us, we have established that Jesus Christ was born on May 25. Referring to the Bible, we understand that God chose this month, April according to the Jewish calendar, to become the first month. When we study the announcement of the birth of Jesus, the angel mentions the 6th month, which corresponds to the month of September for us. Calculating from this month, the 9th month for the birth of the child takes us to May,” explained Surbens Swalenge, former head of the Kimbanguist church in the city of Kinshasa, during an interview with Radio Okapi in 2012.
This celebration is of particular importance for the faithful Kimbanguists, marking renewal and spiritual rebirth through the divine gesture of “Papa” Dialungana Kiangani. It is a moment of unity, sharing and praise within the community, where everyone finds consolation and comfort in the Kimbanguist faith and tradition.
On this festive day, Kimbanguists gather to celebrate their faith, pay homage to their prophets and renew their commitment to the teachings and values that guide them. The communion of hearts and souls is experienced intensely during this celebration, a vibrant testimony to the unshakeable faith that animates the Kimbanguist community.
Thus, the Kimbanguist Christmas celebration remains a strong moment full of spirituality for all the faithful, united in prayer, music and fraternity. It embodies the transmission of a universal message of peace, love and hope, reminding everyone of the beauty and strength of the faith which unites them in the same spiritual communion.