Building the Congolese Cultural Centre of Hamilton
A Congolese Cultural Centre in Hamilton is a place of excellence for the cultural heritage of the Congolese people. The centre will offer programming focused on Congolese culture in all its diversity, including classes in the official languages of the DR Congo (Swahili, Lingala, Kikongo and Tshiluba), exhibitions, conferences and, of course, musical performances of Congolese Rumba, which is inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Socio-cultural activities for the general public of Hamilton and Area will also be on offer.
The Congolese Cultural Centre of Hamilton aims to build bridges between members of the Congolese Community of Hamilton and the wider Hamilton population, in order to share information and promote cultural and artistic discovery of the people of DR Congo in a warm, safe environment that encourages sharing.
To know who we truly are, we, the members of the Congolese community of Hamilton and Area, must learn about Congolese culture as a whole. It is our duty to take the strength found in Congolese culture and put it to work for the advancement of Canadian society in its cultural diversity. The project to build the Congolese Cultural Centre of Hamilton is under way and is currently in active consultation with members of the Congolese Community of Hamilton and Area.
