Civil Religion and Performed Politics in Postcolonial Congo
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Published:January 2016
Dancing with the Invisible: Everyday Performances under Mobutu Sese Seko
This chapter considers the relationship between performance and authority during the postcolonial period under the dictatorial regime of Mobutu Sese Seko. State-scripted dancing and singing, most commonly known as animation politique, became part and parcel of daily life for average citizens of Zaire. The adoration of Mobutu became a civil religion as the ideologies of his regime were reinforced through the everyday performances of the citizens, and through Mobutu’s own attempts to supplant everyday religious practice with performances in his own honor. This chapter examines yet another shift in the relationship of embodied cultural performances to political authority, in particular from the early 1970s to the 1990s. Using interviews and archival documents, this chapter examines the impact of animation politique in three major areas of everyday life in rural Luozi territory: schools, businesses, and churches.
References
AIMO 1630/9190
AIMO 1630/9184
AIMO 1634/9191B
AIMO 1878/9981
Rapport Annuel, Territoires des Mayumbe, Manianga, Thysville, Luozi
Assorted Missionary Correspondence
Assorted Annual Reports
Box 280
A/38
A/43
A/102
A/126
A/133
MPR Documents
1973 Festival d’Animation, November 24, 1973. Répertoire Choc des Chansons et Slogans, Révolutionnaires du Bas-Zaire. Carton mpr, Juillet IV.
N.d. Unnumbered document, mpr carton, “Topo et Synthèse de la nouvelle conception.”
Alliance Weekly
Baptist Missionary Magazine
Congo Mission News
Congo News Letter
Courrier d’Afrique
Missionary Herald
Salongo
Ne Nkamu Luyindula, April 28, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC, September 20 and 23, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Father Masamba, June 3, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC, interview by author and Alain Nkisi.
Tata George Matadi, July 16, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC.
Tata Mbumba, July 21, 2005, Mayidi, DRC.
Tata Tuzolana, July 22, 2005, Mayidi, Bas-Congo, interview by author, Ndundu Kivwila, and Abbe Hippolyte Ngimbi.
Mama Nsafu, September 20, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Nkuku, September 29, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Kimfumu, September 29, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Mayazola, October 5, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC.
Ma Ntima, October 10, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ne Mosi, October 10, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ne Tatu, October 10, 2005, and October 23, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Bangoma, October 14, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Nkolele, October 14, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Malanda, October 28, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Yangalala, October 30, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Pastor Kasambi, November 12, 2005, and July 19, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Group Members of Groupe Traditionelle Manianga, December 17, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC.
Tata Mukiese, January 30, 2006, and February 18, 2006, Luozi, DRC.
Ne Zole, February 7 and February 9, 2006, Luozi, DRC.
Dr. Mbala Nkanga, July 19, 2007, Ann Arbor, Michigan (informal interview/conversation).
Tata Kizole, July 20, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Vita, July 21, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Makanda, July 23, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Kudia, July 25, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Kudada, July 26, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Luzitu, July 27, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Dancing Disorder in Mobutu’s Zaire: Animation Politique and Gendered Nationalisms
This chapter explores the localized effects of national policies of animation politique on BisiKongo women living in Luozi Territory in postcolonial Zaire. This chapter focuses on the lived and gendered experiences of animation politique to demonstrate that coerced performances are an often overlooked but potent governmental technique that shapes individual and group subjectivities, and also disrupts the moral order of local communities. The chapter builds on and expands Achille Mbembe’s work on the banality of power by illuminating the impact of performative encounters in the bedroom. The interviews used in this chapter show that the sexual exploitation of female dancers, even in the most rural areas, largely created moral disorder and fostered negative sentiments in local communities, thus undermining the nationalist project. The chapter argues that the complex engagement of these women with the state under Mobutu was a form of gendered nationalism that differed from the experiences of male performers.
References
AIMO 1630/9190
AIMO 1630/9184
AIMO 1634/9191B
AIMO 1878/9981
Rapport Annuel, Territoires des Mayumbe, Manianga, Thysville, Luozi
Assorted Missionary Correspondence
Assorted Annual Reports
Box 280
A/38
A/43
A/102
A/126
A/133
MPR Documents
1973 Festival d’Animation, November 24, 1973. Répertoire Choc des Chansons et Slogans, Révolutionnaires du Bas-Zaire. Carton mpr, Juillet IV.
N.d. Unnumbered document, mpr carton, “Topo et Synthèse de la nouvelle conception.”
Alliance Weekly
Baptist Missionary Magazine
Congo Mission News
Congo News Letter
Courrier d’Afrique
Missionary Herald
Salongo
Ne Nkamu Luyindula, April 28, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC, September 20 and 23, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Father Masamba, June 3, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC, interview by author and Alain Nkisi.
Tata George Matadi, July 16, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC.
Tata Mbumba, July 21, 2005, Mayidi, DRC.
Tata Tuzolana, July 22, 2005, Mayidi, Bas-Congo, interview by author, Ndundu Kivwila, and Abbe Hippolyte Ngimbi.
Mama Nsafu, September 20, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Nkuku, September 29, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Kimfumu, September 29, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Mayazola, October 5, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC.
Ma Ntima, October 10, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ne Mosi, October 10, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ne Tatu, October 10, 2005, and October 23, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Bangoma, October 14, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Nkolele, October 14, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Malanda, October 28, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Yangalala, October 30, 2005, Luozi, DRC.
Pastor Kasambi, November 12, 2005, and July 19, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Group Members of Groupe Traditionelle Manianga, December 17, 2005, Kinshasa, DRC.
Tata Mukiese, January 30, 2006, and February 18, 2006, Luozi, DRC.
Ne Zole, February 7 and February 9, 2006, Luozi, DRC.
Dr. Mbala Nkanga, July 19, 2007, Ann Arbor, Michigan (informal interview/conversation).
Tata Kizole, July 20, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Tata Vita, July 21, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Makanda, July 23, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Kudia, July 25, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Kudada, July 26, 2010, Luozi, DRC.
Ma Luzitu, July 27, 2010, Luozi, DRC.