Ne Kongo
West Midlands
Projects & Archives
Queen Platinum Jubilee Celebration with
Congolese Rumba
Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 was an opportunity to showcase the diverse cultures and talents of the nations that value British cultures. One way to do this is by incorporating African music, Congolese Rumba, into the festivities.
Congolese Rumba music is a rich tapestry of sounds and rhythms that reflects the continent's diverse cultural heritage. From the traditional drumming and chanting of Central Africa to the Afrobeat and highlife sounds of Nigeria and Ghana, Rumba music has inspired and influenced many musical genres worldwide.
Incorporating Rumba music into the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebration would showcase the continent's musical diversity and celebrate the cultural ties between the Commonwealth nations. With many African countries have been part of the British Empire, their music has been shaped and influenced by British culture and has, in turn, influenced British music.
On the 2nd of July in Birmingham, African musicians performed live at the official ceremonies, bringing communities to celebrate the Queen Platinum Jubilee in style. It has allowed commonwealth cultures represented in Birmingham to unite and create something unique.
A procession of African drummers and dancers dressed in fashion attire added colour and vibrancy to the parade and showcased African culture's richness. This event has created a lively and festive atmosphere and provided a platform for African musicians to showcase their talents to a diverse audience. Ne Kongo West Midlands have been grateful to the Lottery Community Fund for supporting the event and extending thankfulness to all lottery players in the United Kingdom.
Fighting Loneliness and Isolation and Bridging Digital Divide [2021]
Ne Kongo West Midlands have secured fund to acquire equipment and means to maintain an online platform to combat loneliness and isolation for those that are digitally lagging in the community. The management committee and all members have praised BVSC through its Brum Recovery Fund for providing the financial resources. The project aims were to maintain weekly and monthly Zoom calls of 30 families throughout Birmingham city and allow members of the community to reduce their isolation and loneliness. Many community members have been isolating either themselves or members of their families who tested positive. Self-isolation means they must stay at home, and not leaving home because they could be at greater risk of passing COVID-19 on to others. While the impact has been very bad, but this is a critically important step for our community members to take when they are at the most risk of passing/contracting the virus to/from other people.
Therefore, to overcome barriers to community integration and reduce isolation and loneliness, the online meeting is the only way to bring people together on a weekly and monthly basis. Community members will have an opportunity to upskill in the digital world and learn for those with no skills at all. By utilizing our IT volunteers from the community, along with our and monthly Zoom meetings / Whatsapp communication webs and social media communications, our community members will feel again more connected. All beneficiaries of this project are spread around Birmingham city wards.
The Secretary- Rapporteur
Ne Kongo Community Wellbeing Project
Ne Kongo West Midlands has been awarded a Community Fund grant to support adult people within the Birmingham Congolese and African diaspora community to increase their social participation, healthier lifestyles, connectedness, and support their physical and mental wellbeing. The organisation is planning to organise 4 sessions of social interactions to improve the wellbeing of the community.
The idea is to promote social participation within the community. This factor has been proven as an important social determinant of health and its correlation with adverse mental and physical health outcomes that are widely acknowledged. This new project will target the Congolese community living in Birmingham with a higher level of loneliness and isolation. Furthermore, the project will reduce important risk factors, which undermine community happiness and wellbeing. The plan is also to invite guest speakers from health practitioners and others to educate the community on the relationship between the causes and outcomes of the unhealthier lifestyle including, socio-economic factors, diet, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high glucose, and obesity. The aim is to equip community members with key healthier lifestyle skills and tips with some practical demonstrations during sessions on healthy eating and help to tackle isolation and loneliness.
Currently, sessions are designed to increase the opportunity for community members to engage in social and cultural activities that enrich lives and build social and cultural capital. Our activities will provide emotional support, laughter, and cheerfulness, and participants will be invited into social interactions and participate in practical activities to makes them feel a sense of meaning and belonging.
