| Congolese craftspeople produce pottery, baskets,
rattan, wood furniture, textiles and wood carving. Kongo carvings are realistic.
Human figures pose naturally, seated in relaxed positions. Figures of women
with children represent fertility and continuity. Fetishes, carved animals
or human figures pierced with nails or pieces of metal, are ritual figures
used to ward off evil forces and to protect the owner from spells and curses.
The carving of ritual objects has become commercialized, however, and,
in many places, expertise in traditional crafts has been lost.
Local folklore is expressed through storytelling, music, drama and dance. Although each ethnic group has its own legends and tales, all share certain characteristics. Animals play important roles, and each creatures is identified with a particular trait. The antelope or gazelle represents intelligence, the pig is considered foolish, the lion stands for strength, and the crocodile is usually a villain. After the Second World War, a large body of literature developed, written in French, local Bantu languages and, in some cases, Flemish (a language spoken in Belgium). Two of the country's best-known writers are Antoine Roger Bolamba, who was not only an important poet, but also the author of sociological and folklore studies, and V.Y. Mudimbe, who has published poetry, criticism and several novels, beginning in 1973 with Between the Tides (Entre les eaux). |
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| Traditional music serves a social purpose
and is customarily performed by a group of people, sometimes known as griots,
who are usually the village historians and genealogists. Songs about fishing,
planting, paddling a canoe or pounding manioc are sung to alleviate the
tedium of work. In traditional village music, rhythm takes precedence over
melody. Musicians use instruments made with local materials. They include
drums, stringed instruments, flutes made from millet stalks or bamboo,
animal tusk horns, trumpets made from gourds, metal, shells or wood, and
the sanzi, a small, handheld wooden box with metal teeth that are
plucked by the thumbs.
Soukous (from the French word secouer, to shake) is the music of the city, upbeat and celebratory. This musical style blends Cuban rumba music from the 1950s with elements of American jazz and rock. Other influences include European polkas and marches, gospel songs and sailor's ballads. Soukous is dance music, and new rhythms and dances are constantly being invented. Soukous bands often sing in a mixture of French and Lingala. The lyrics comment on society or politics, offer advice or tell love stories. The songs, which may continue for 20 minutes, typically begin with a slow section and end with a fast-paced beat. Many African artists from Congo have relocated to an expatriate community in Paris, which has become the world centre for soukous. |
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