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Herman Kambala, Remnants of Power, Undated.

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This is a photograph of children attending school inside the former Kawele Palace.

Kawele Palace was one of three opulent estates built by President Mobutu Sese Seko near Gbadolite, his hometown in northern DRC once dubbed “the Versailles of the Jungle”

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Everything we use comes from somewhere...

The DRC holds over between 60–80% of the world’s coltan reserves.

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Cheri Samba, Je ne suis pas eclaire, Je ne suis pas clair, 2013

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Ecological Footprint (Resource Use Per Person)

United States: ~ 7.8 gha per person (per 2024)

United Kingdom (Europe average): ~ 4.6 gha per person

Nigeria (Africa average): ~ 1.1 gha per person

Global average is about 2.6 gha per person worldpopulationreview.com

What this shows:

A U.S. citizen consumes 7× more resources than the global average and 7–8× more than someone in Nigeria.

A UK resident consumes roughly 4× global average, but less than the U.S.

A Nigerian resident consumes less than half the global average.

Why It Matters

This illustrates extreme disparities in consumption:

High-income countries (like the U.S.) require far more land, water, energy, and produce more waste per person.

The ecological deficit, where consumption exceeds sustainable supply, is much larger in high-consumption countries.

For context, if everyone lived like a U.S. citizen, we'd need around 5 Earths' worth of resources

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Cheri Samba, Je suis le meme mais je ne suis plus le meme, 2004

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Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, located on the Congo River directly across from Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo. It is a vibrant cultural and political centre, home to over 15 million people and a growing hub of art, music, and resistance.

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Herman Kambala, Goma, Nord-Kivu, RD Congo, 2022

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Goma is a city in eastern DRC, located on the northern shore of Lake Kivu near the border with Rwanda.

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Herman Kambala, Goma, Nord-Kivu, RD Congo, 2022

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Guerchom Ndebo, Bugamanda, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, September 2021

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"In the words of Congolese artist and photographer Guerchom Ndebo:"

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"In the words of Congolese artist and photographer Guerchom Ndebo:"

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“In twenty years, the DRC has seen the disappearance of more than 5 million hectares of forest cover and a still unknown number of species in one of the planet's last reserves of plant and animal biodiversity. According to forecasts by Greenpeace, it could lose up to 40% of its forests by 2050.

As the fourth forest country in the world and second for primary humid forests behind Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo now has 155 million hectares of tropical forest — two-thirds of its area and more than half of the immense Congo Basin forest, which covers six African countries.

The people living near the parks and in the forests, caught between the twin grip of precariousness and insecurity, survive as best they can in an environment ravaged by greed but also by need.

Until when will the riches of the Congo be a curse for its inhabitants?”

— Guerchom Ndebo, Photographer & Filmmaker

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Guerchom Ndebo, Bugamanda, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, September 2021

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Herman Kambala, Kolwezi, Lualaba, RD, Congo, 2022

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Kolwezi is a city in southern DRC and the capital of Lualaba Province. It's a major mining hub, especially for copper and cobalt.

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Herman Kambala, Masisi, Nord Kivu, RD Congo 2022

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Welcome to the Democratic Republic of Congo

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Welcome to the Democratic Republic of Congo

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The DRC is the second-largest country in Africa and one of the most naturally rich places on Earth. Located in Central Africa, it borders nine other countries and is home to dense tropical rainforests, vast river systems, and extraordinary biodiversity.

Its land holds immense mineral wealth, including copper, cobalt, gold, and coltan, as well as over half of the Congo Basin, one of the world’s most vital carbon sinks.

Pictured, Masisi is a town in North Kivu, DRC, about 80km north of Goma. It has been heavily affected by ongoing conflict, including recent clashes with the M23 rebel group.

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Herman Kambala, Masisi, Nord Kivu, RD Congo 2022

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”A voice for Congo. 🎤🇨🇩  This young artist uses his talent to shed light on the struggles and injustices faced by Congolese people every day. From child soldiers to exploited women and stolen resources, it’s time the world listens and takes action. Together, we can amplify this message because #CongoleseLivesMatter. 💔🌍 Thank you for standing with us!” 

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What does this say about the relationship between social justice issues in the world, lived experience and our self-expression? Whether we are artists and creatives or someone who enjoys interacting with music, paintings or design.