Kinshasa, July 1st, 2025 (CPA) -June 30th, the date of the celebration of the independence of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been officially proclaimed ‘Congolese American Day’ by the city of Washington D.C. in the United States, according to a press release from the mayor’s office in the American capital consulted on Monday by CPA.
‘’Considering that the New Initiative for Civic Engagement in DC (NICE) promotes Congolese culture, fosters economic inclusion and offers pathways to American citizenship, in partnership with the Office of the Mayor for African Affairs (MOAA), therefore, I, the Mayor of Washington DC, hereby proclaim June 30th, 2025 as ‘Congolese American Day’ in Washington, DC, ‘’ it is read in the document signed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia in Washington, Muriel Bowser.
The same source reveals that this dedication comes as a result of ‘the contributions of individuals of Congolese origin in the armed forces, community service, education, entrepreneurship, health, music, the arts and other fields that greatly enrich the culture and economy of the District of Columbia and the world’. The correspondence has also reported that ‘this day will be celebrated each year in Washington with cultural events, conferences, exhibitions and official meetings that strengthen the ties between DRC and the United States, considering that the music, Congolese rumba, has gained worldwide popularity thanks to its rhythms, melodies and lyrics, and that it is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity’. Every June 30th, the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrates the anniversary of its accession to national and international sovereignty in 1960. This year, the country is celebrating 65 years of independence, with the hope of a definitive return to peace. CPA/