This whole journey started in December 2020 – after several attempts, I finally took a trip back to the Democratic Republic of Congo. It wasn't a walk in the park, though. Remember the whole Covid-19 chaos, the lockdowns, and travel restrictions? Yeah, I had to navigate through all of that. But trust, none of it could kill my excitement, curiosity, and the sheer anticipation of setting foot in the country of my birth after a whopping 25 years.
So, why did it take me over two decades? Well, let's be real, the DRC isn't exactly topping the list of tourist hotspots, and it sure ain't getting the best media coverage. Civil war, poverty, and corruption – that's the usual narrative. Sadly, back in my teens, being Congolese was like carrying an unwanted label. I just didn't see it as a place to be proud of. I spent my twenties travelling everywhere but Africa – Europe, Thailand, Mexico, America, Singapore, you name it. But as I got closer to my 30s, I started diving into African, political, and economic literature – for example 'Why Nations Fail' and 'How Europe Underdeveloped AFRICA.' And something just clicked.
Before I spill more, let me intro myself. I'm Kazadi Mwamba, but back in the day (school, college and university), people called me Giresse – that’s a story for another time. For the past 8 years I’ve worked in Economic Development across London, Essex, and Surrey. Before beginning my career in local government, I was a professional kickboxer competing worldwide, now retired I spend my spare time giving back volunteering at my local club teaching young people martial arts.
Okay, back to the story.
When I landed at N'Djili International Airport for the first time, I experienced a roller coaster of emotions. My last memories of the DRC were when I was eight – bits and pieces with family, but that's it. I remember asking myself “Am I a foreigner in Congo?"
My first trip was for two weeks, it took me a few days to settle but I loved it and I've been going back ever since. Despite the poverty, conflict in the east, and what they call corruption (I call it mismanagement of funds, happens everywhere), all I saw was a country with untapped opportunities.
I remember coming back to the UK, sharing my experience of Congo's rich culture and diverse heritage, many friends and work colleagues were eager to join me the next time I returned. Initially five but eventually it snowballed to around 20, and I was thinking, "How on earth am I going to pull this off?" Then, out of the blue, I stumble upon Ghana's Year of Return campaign, and I was like, "That's it, we need something like this for Congo."
Since then, I’ve been on a journey figuring out how to organise the largest guided visit of adventure seekers to the DRC. Join our mailing list to be kept up to date with our progress and get involved by sharing your experiences or reasons for wanting to vibe with us in the DRC whether it's positive or you got reservations, we want to hear it!
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