Investing in women’s sport in the DRC : : a driving force for change 

by Reagan Baseya  updated on December 18, 2023      

 

Nelson Mandela famously said-” Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite people in a way little else does. Sports can awaken hope where there was previously only despair. Sports speak to people in a language they can understand.”  

Women’s sport, while experiencing significant growth worldwide over the years, continues to face numerous challenges in the DRC. On January 24, 2024, as the world celebrated the International Day of Women’s sport, it is crucial to highlight the often-neglected situation of women’s sports in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite global progress in gender equality in sport, Congolese women continue to face significant challenges being constrained by a variety of socio-cultural, economic, and political factors, ranging from limited access to sports facilities to systemic discrimination.   

Our women’s sport has long been relegated to the background, suffering from neglect and a lack of exploitation compared to men’s sport. This situation has a profound impact on the development, empowerment and recognition of women in the country. Despite the international success of some Congolese female athletes, the overall potential of Congolese women’s sport remains largely under-exploited.


 

 

 

 

Challenges & Inequalities: Talented, unrecognized and under-exploited athletes  

  

Women across the country are breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes by actively participating in sports such as soccer, tennis, basketball, karate, judo, boxing and the traditional “Nzango” dance. Despite their dedication and remarkable talent, these women are victims of significant neglect and lack of recognition in the DRC’s sporting landscape.  

These challenges are exacerbated by issues specific to the local context. Social prejudice limits opportunities for female athletes, relegating them to a secondary status compared to their male counterparts, and gender stereotypes continue to play a dominant role, discouraging girls and women from engaging in sporting disciplines. These stereotypes perpetuate the idea that sport is primarily a male activity, relegating women to the background. As a result, opportunities, media visibility and investment in women’s sport remain well below that accorded to men’s sport.  

Lack of funding, infrastructure and media coverage, as well as barriers related to safety, access to equipment and inequalities in training and competition opportunities, mean that women footballers are often left to fend for themselves. Many talented players go unrecognized, and those who do have the opportunity to showcase their talents often struggle to find the support and resources they need to pursue their careers.  

Since the Games of La Francophonie last took place from July 28 to August 6, 2023, the DRC has enthusiastically celebrated the performances of its athletes, including Rosita MULAMBAVU, winner of the bronze medal in the javelin throw, and Natacha Ngoye Akamabi, winner of the bronze medal in the 100 m at the said games, among the 34 medals won, ranking 9th overall at these 9th Games of La Francophonie.  

 

  

  

“We didn’t benefit from any real support to motivate us in this competition, but nevertheless we did the essential and we’re proud of what we won. But if the government doesn’t provide for the needs of the athletes as it should, I fear for the future of athletics in the DRC”, said athlete Rosita MULAMBAVU at the 9th Jeux de la Francophonie.  

These games have undeniably highlighted the talent and determination of Congolese sportswomen. Yet, despite these successes, the challenges facing women in sport remain numerous to this day and are largely marginalized, with a consequent lack of support for its development. Not only is financial and infrastructural support largely insufficient, but there is also a glaring lack of agreements to promote and foster the development of women’s sport.  

In sum, while the Games of La Francophonie showcased the talent of Congolese sportswomen, they also highlighted the urgent need to tackle the persistent challenges facing women’s sport in the DRC in all recognized disciplines.   

Indeed, basketball has captured the hearts of many Congolese women, who demonstrate great skill and passion for the sport. However, the absence of structured leagues and training programs adapted to women’s basketball has resulted in a lack of opportunities for talented players to showcase their abilities on a larger stage. This neglect not only hinders the personal development of these athletes, but also deprives the nation of potential sporting icons and role models, despite the fact that the country’s participation, through its women’s team, in several continental basketball competitions over a period of time has influenced the FIBA World Ranking Women, ranking Congolese basketball players 9th in Africa and 71st worldwide with 88.3 points, ahead of the Kenyans 10th in Africa and 73rd in the world.  

In tennis, an ambassador by the name of Noëlla Mukendi was appointed in 2021 by the world tennis governing body, but without any real progress in the discipline.  

One of the few stars to shine abroad, Olga Tshilombo, who has signed up with Young Africans and lived through some cruel times playing in her homeland, declared in 2022: “As women’s footballers, we’ve got our work cut out for us. It’s  going to take us a long time for women’s soccer to reach the same level as men’s. All we can do to be a little organized, to have a little value, is to sponsor the championship and pay attention to the girls”. Two years later, the country has seen its women’s team qualify for its 3rd Women’s CAN finals, to be held in Morocco in 2024, still hoping for almost the same level of promotion as the men’s team and greater investment than has been received to date, demonstrating that progress is always made at a snail’s pace.  

In addition to these better-known sports, “Nzango”, a traditional Congolese dance form, is also of considerable cultural and historical importance. Players take turns to compete individually, scoring points with their feet. The latter are preceded by jumps, and the foot must oppose that of the opponent. The rhythm of the game is set by all participants, who sing and clap their hands. In recent years, an increasing number of women have adopted “Nzango” as a form of physical expression and Community bonding. Despite its cultural importance, a lack of institutional support and investment means that the talents and efforts of these women often go unnoticed and uncelebrated, even though it could be an emerging discipline and an opportunity to promote this sport specific to Congolese culture.  

 

Hanging the game: The emergence of Congolese female talent  

  

Women’s sport offers many opportunities, both for individual athletes and for society as a whole. Women’s participation in sport contributes to empowerment, promotes health, builds self-confidence and creates positive role models for young girls. In addition, women’s sport can act as a catalyst for social change, promoting gender equality and providing a platform for diversity and inclusion.  

The desire of athletes across the country to be able to develop in their chosen field is present, and with access to quality equipment, professional coaching staff and advice, and adequate training facilities, budding female athletes will be able to pursue their sporting dreams unhindered.  

To overcome this neglect, concrete steps need to be taken. It is essential to invest in suitable sports facilities, to ensure equitable access to resources and to actively promote the participation of women in all sporting disciplines. In addition, greater awareness of the importance of women’s sport and balanced media coverage are needed to change perceptions and encourage greater support.  

By joining forces, the authorities, sports organizations, the media and civil society can work together to create an environment in which women’s sport can thrive, giving Congolese female athletes the opportunities and support they deserve.  

Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS