Kinshasa, August 6th, 2025 (CPA). A call for the creation of a digital register to strengthen the protection of Congolese photographers’ works was launched on Wednesday in Kinshasa, main city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), by a photographer interviewed by the CPA.
« Copyright in photography gives the photographer exclusive ownership of their works. This allows them to control the use, reproduction, distribution and sale of their creations. Any unauthorised use, whether on the Internet, in the media or in advertising campaigns, constitutes a violation of this right. That is why we are asking the competent authorities to create a digital register to record photographic works, in order to ensure their protection, » has declared Rebecca Monga. ‘For the visual arts community, respect for copyright is not just a legal obligation; it is also a matter of respect for the work, time and creativity invested in each image. A photograph often reflects long hours of preparation, passion and artistic research. By flouting these rights, we are committing intellectual theft,’ she has added. She stressed that it is essential to strengthen and strictly enforce existing intellectual property laws. « It is essential to strengthen and strictly enforce existing intellectual property laws. Legal education for artists, especially young photographers, is a key lever in making them aware of their rights and how to defend them. Finally, increased collaboration with social networks is necessary to quickly report and remove stolen content.
A call for ethics among photographers.
Furthermore, she addressed a message to all those who appropriate the work of others without mentioning the author: this practice undermines the credibility of an entire profession. ‘Copying or appropriating the work of another photographer is above all an act of theft and unethical behaviour. Artists must respect the work of their colleagues, cite their sources and draw inspiration in an honest manner,’ she has said. She continued: « Developing a unique and individual perspective is the way to build a solid and respected career in photography. » Committed to her passion, Rebécca Monga Mwamba is a professional photographer who has participated in several exhibitions, including ‘Muasi la kinoise,’ held at the Wallonia Brussels Centre in Kinshasa, where she demonstrated the resilience of women vendors through a series of photographs.