Kinshasa, August 16th, 2026 (CPA).- The Minister in charge of Culture of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yolande Elebe, whilst visiting Brazzaville, held discussions with Professor Theophile Obenga on the prospects for reviving the International Centre for Bantu Civilisations (CICIBA), CPA learnt on Sunday from an official source.
“For DRC, the revival of CICIBA – an institution dedicated to promoting Bantu civilisations – also represents an opportunity to reaffirm its role within this shared cultural space. DRC, one of the signatory states to the 1983 convention, had already established a National Commission in 1987 tasked with liaising between national cultural and scientific institutions and the Centre,” has indicated the Ministry in charge of Culture, Arts and Heritage.
This meeting, held in Brazzaville, focused on the re-engagement of member States, the evolution of governance, and the repositioning of CICIBA as a leading institution in the study and promotion of Bantu civilisations in Africa and worldwide, forms part of the drive to revitalise this Pan-African institution and strengthen cultural cooperation between states that share the heritage of Bantu civilisations. Through this initiative, the Congolese government aims to contribute to the revitalisation of this institution, by making culture a tool for research, the transmission of knowledge, African integration and dialogue between peoples.
The revitalisation of CICIBA thus appears to be a key priority for the preservation of Africa’s collective memory and the promotion of a cultural heritage shared by many peoples across the continent and the diaspora. It could also foster greater cooperation between researchers, cultural institutions, universities and African states in the study of Bantu civilisations. A major scientific figure at this institution, Professor Theophile Obenga has served as its General Director and has contributed to its scientific influence. CICIBA is currently headed by Professor Antoine Manda Tchebwa. Established on January 8th, 1983, in Libreville, Gabon, on the initiative of President Omar Bongo Ondimba and through an intergovernmental agreement, CICIBA’s mission is to preserve and promote the values of Bantu civilisations, a heritage shared by the peoples of Bantu languages and cultures as well as their diaspora. ACP/