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I Am Congo is a groundbreaking video series that features amazing people living in eastern Congo amid the world's deadliest war.  These are stories of hope. These are stories of the people who call Congo home – in their own words.  An antidote to common media portrayals of African people as needy victims.  Produced and directed by Robert Padavick.  Filming, editing and animation by Jeff Trussell.

View six short videos on your own in advance for free HERE - total viewing time is 30 minutes.

In addition, watch a 15-minute video of Re-writing the Congolese Story, featuring Alain Mabanckou HERE.

Alain Mabanckou is a novelist, journalist, poet, and academic. A French citizen born in the Republic of the Congo, he is currently a Professor of Literature at UCLA. He is best known for his novels and non-fiction writing depicting the experience of contemporary Africa and the African diaspora in France. These 15 minutes are excerpted from a longer presentation hosted by the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2020.

Reflection / discussion questions:

1.     What is one new insight, fact, or perspective that you learned?

2.     Which of the individual narratives was the most interesting and makes you want to learn more? 

3.     What did you find especially helpful or instructive? In what way? 

4.     What was the most troubling, challenging, or tension-producing for you?

5.     What questions did the films evoke for you?

6.     What else do you want to talk about regarding the films?