Fatshimetrie recently echoed the recommendations made during the General Assembly on the national museum policy in the DRC. Bringing together executives and agents from the Institute of National Museums of Congo, experts from the Ministry of Culture and Arts as well as representatives from UNESCO, this event highlighted the urgency of implementing a policy for national museum institutions.
One of the key proposals that emerged from these debates is the need for the Government to develop this policy in order to provide museums with a solid and coherent structure. Indeed, museum infrastructure in the DRC is currently lacking, thus depriving the country of spaces to promote its cultural identity.
The Acting Director General of the Institute of National Museums of Congo, Simon Siala Siala, stressed the importance for museums to exist in modern infrastructures that meet museum principles. He highlighted the need to implement a policy aimed at reappropriating the Congolese people’s cultural heritage.
Furthermore, the UNESCO representative, Augustin Bikale, pledged to support the Institute of National Museums of Congo in setting up the legal and institutional frameworks necessary for the proper functioning of museums in the DRC. This international collaboration underlines the importance given by the international community to the protection and promotion of Congolese cultural heritage.
In summary, the implementation of a policy for national museum institutions in the DRC is a crucial issue for the country. This approach will make it possible to professionalize museum staff, modernize infrastructure and guarantee an active and interactive role for museums within Congolese society. The road ahead will undoubtedly be fraught with pitfalls, but the recommendations of the Estates General mark a first step towards a stronger promotion of Congolese cultural heritage.