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= Congolese Culture = An introduction to Congolese culture. What makes up culture? Background, Religion, language, beliefs/views, customs, childhood are all examples of what makes up a culture. There are many more things to add to this discussion. Culture shapes the way people respond to the world and the way people perceive the world. Culture also shapes relationships between people and families. Culture is ever-changing as each generation modifies culture to fit their lifestyles. Some people try to hold on to the culture that previous generations have practiced.

About
Congo or formally known as the Democratic Republic of Congo is an African country located in central Africa. It is also known as DRC. Congo’s capital city is Kinshasa. Congo is bordered by many African countries and several lakes. To the North of its border is Central African Republic, to the east is Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. To the south is Zambia and Angola. Congo is landlocked with the exception of the Congo River in the west meeting the Atlantic Ocean. Congo is the second largest country in Africa.

Greetings
Male foreigners visiting Congo are offered a handshake as a standard greeting. French and Belgian visitors are offered kisses to the cheek and an embrace. Female visitors are rarely offered embraces from male Congolese but if they would like a handshake, they must extend their hands first.

There are 200 different tribal areas that have different ritual greetings which include mock battles or ceremonial dances in which visitors may participate if they are asked as it is a sign of respect. Declining participation will be seen as an insult. Tribal elders are not directly involved in any business dealings, but they are introduced to visitors. Showing respect to the tribal elders goes a long way in gaining the trust of the Congolese.

Language
While French is the official language of the government in the Democratic Republic of Congo, their armed forces have a different official language which is Lingala. French is a common language among the general population in Congo. English is rarely spoken in Congo. Languages spoken in Congo are Kikongo, Swahili, and Tshiluba.

Children
The Democratic Republic of Congo has gone through a lot of change within its borders. There has been an ongoing civil war that has caused many deaths, economic destruction, widespread poverty and destroyed many families. Many of the ethnic groups have managed to keep their customs and cultures intact. Although Congolese society is still conservative, dating, and premarital sex are influenced by western practices.

The birth of a child in Congolese culture is a major event. The birth of children is considered a blessing to families as they are a gift from God and a sign of wealth. Young babies are usually carried in cloth slings on the backs of their mothers or elder sisters. There are rituals that are practiced in different tribes. One is from the Mbuti Pygmi tribe, where it is tradition that after birth the mother and baby are secluded for three days. Most Congolese women choose to give birth at home with assistance from traditional birth attendants. Because of the ongoing civil wars, armed militia is always looking to recruit child soldiers, so children are at-risk for militia recruitment. From a young age, children are taught skills needed when they reach adulthood. Boys are mostly valued over girls. Girls are taught how to maintain a house by learning household chores, how to cook, and how to look after their younger siblings. Parents are typically the primary caregiver of the children but because of the wars, grandparents have also had to step in and help raise their grandchildren. Basic education is free for children till age 14 under the DRC Constitution but many children don’t get to utilize that benefit because of the ongoing conflict in their country. Most children have been forced to join the workforce because they have to help their families gain an income, so they are subjected to child labor. Despite there being laws to protect children against forced child labor, authorities barely enforce the laws. Some children hold jobs in the agriculture and industrial sectors. Some children are exploited to work in hazardous conditions mining diamonds and other minerals.

Religion
Religion in Congo is a big a part of people’s daily lives. A majority of the Congolese people are ChristianThe predominant religion in The Democratic Republic of Congo is Roman Catholicism, which consists of about 50 percent of the population in Congo. Protestants make up about 20 percent of the population. About 10 percent of the population practice Kimbanguism, which is a sect of Christianity founded in 1921 by Simon Kimbangu. Some of the population follows Jehovah’s Witness and Church of Latter-Day Saints, which are minority Christian groups. 10 percent of the population consists of Islam followers. Indigenous religions and other sects also make up 10 percent of the population. Jews and Hindus have minority followings in urban areas. People in the DRC have full religious freedom because there is no national or state religion. Article 26 of the Constitution in Congo grants all citizens full religious freedom. Religious organizations and institutions can operate without restriction because they have legal status under the Public Utility Institutions Act and Non-Profit Organizations Act. Foreign religious groups are not restricted by the government, they only have to obtain registration to operate in the country.

Beliefs
Animist Indigenous beliefs are still practiced by many in Congo. Souls are ascribed to forces of nature and inanimate objects in traditional beliefs. The daily ritual of the people of Congo is reverence for ancestors and ancestral spirits. A lot of people in Congo believe in the existence of malevolent spirits and witchcraft being used to cause bad crops or cause sickness by enemies.

Gifts
Gifts and birthday celebrations are not common in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Congo, gift giving isn’t a common practice. While in some traditions there is gift giving around Christmas, there is rarely any exchange of gifts during Christmas. Families mostly focus on gathering and celebrating the day together. Christmas is a day of family and feasting. For churchgoers who are in the Christian faith, they bring a gift for God’s son, baby Jesus, to place on the altar in church.

Because there is a diverse population in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are various wedding traditions. Among the Kuba people, who live in the Kasai River area, a traditional wedding present was dowry or an embroidered raffia cloth. In the northeastern part of Congo, the Mbuti tribe had no gift exchange or dowry at all. In today’s culture, useful household items serve as gifts when invited to a modern urban area wedding.

It is not always customary in Congolese speech to say thank you. Gratitude is also shown by actions. When visiting a Congolese home for a meal for the first time, do not bring a gift only if there is an established relationship can you bring some food or a small household item.

Gift giving in business is an unusual practice because there is a major problem of corruption and bribery in Congo. Beware of gift giving between business associates early in the relationship, you want to foster a good relationship before giving gifts, so it is not perceived as a bribe or corruption. When gifting a Congolese colleague, prepare something small they would like and do it in a social setting.