In collaboration with BHMN and MUNCH
Doors: 17:30
Event start: 18:00
Seated event
In this event, Oslo-based artist Rafiki invites you to a deep and interactive conversation on themes from her artistic practice. Joining her on stage are guests Johanna Zanon, Bongana Monga and Rodrigue Batumike, who will engage in open dialogue with the audience about the impact of war and how we – as individuals and a global society – can help promote positive development in Congo.
Based on Rafiki’s project Future Forests Congo, PhD candidate Rodrigue Batumike (NMBU) and Norwegian-Congolese entrepreneur Bongana Monga will discuss the complex effects of war on people and the vulnerable ecosystems surrounding them.
The conversation 'Fabrics and Fibres; Uncostuming Aesthetics of Belonging', with curator and researcher Johanna Zanon, explores the connection between tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and how it can be used as a tool to preserve memories, address historical traumas and celebrate cultural identity.
In tribute to the victims of war and conflict in Congo, Rafiki will speak about the Congolese cultural heritage of Sape, a form of collective resistance. Rafiki therefore invites/encourages the audience to dress in their finest attire as a tribute to Sape and the victims of war in Congo.
Rafiki works interdisciplinarily with photography, beadwork, textiles and text to explore memory, healing and culture. She draws inspiration from ancient global traditions and challenges common Western perspectives by using symbols and stories of migration, war and identity.
With African roots and experience from conflicts in Central Africa, Rafiki connects different stories and places through her art. She is the founder of Rafiki Art Initiatives (RAI) in Oslo and is part of Atelier Kunstnerforbundet Artists from 2024 to 2026.
Johanna Zanon is an independent curator and writer, living and working in Oslo, Norway. She holds a PhD in history from the University of Oslo, a graduate diploma from École Nationale des Chartes in Paris, and an MA in art history from École Pratique des Hautes Études in Paris. Her curatorial interests include labour, production, capitalism, contemporary crafts, speculative and interactive fiction, art theory, and environmental humanities. She also works as a programme curator at Norske Kunsthåndverkere.
Rodrigue Batumike, PhD Candidate at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, is currently pursuing a PhD in International Environment and Development Studies at NMBU – Norwegian University of Life Sciences. He brings experience from previous roles at the African Golden Cat Conservation Alliance, Université du Cinquantenaire de Lwiro, E Co., and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. He holds a 2022–2024 master's degree in Ecology and Conservation of Wildlife.
Bongana Monga is a multidisciplinary creator, photographer, and entrepreneur dedicated to sustainability and interdependence for the Congolese people. Monga has studied at the School of Fashion Industry (Oslo) where he created the watch brand Bifuko and is currently studying cyber security at Gokstadakademiet. His past projects include the Umoja Festival, a dance, and music festival featuring a basketball tournament, as well as founding Institute Bifuko, an educational program for university graduates. Monga’s current initiative, Elikya, is a food program led by local Congolese and financed by the Congolese diaspora to support war affected families in Goma.
© Ina Wesenberg, Nasjonalmuseet
