Kinshasa, February 18th, 2026 (CPA) – The “Congolese Days of Pan-African Thought” were launched Wednesday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as part of a program entitled “Stand Up, People of Congo” initiated by the Cultural and Artistic Center for Central African Countries (CCAPAC). “Today we launch the ‘Congolese Days of Pan-African Thought.’ This forum serves as a privileged space for reflection, exchange, and intellectual production around the ideals of Pan-Africanism—a noble vision of unity, solidarity, and the emancipation of African peoples,” said Marcel Kabongo, Program Officer at CCAPAC. “These days remind us that Africa can only fully shape its future by relying on its memory, values, creative genius, and innovative capacity. The DRC, at the heart of the continent, carries a historic responsibility in consolidating this thought,” he added. Through these days, he emphasized, “we aim to affirm our commitment to promoting critical, constructive, and forward-looking reflection on Africa’s contemporary challenges: governance, culture, education, economy, regional integration, and intellectual sovereignty.”
According to the program officer, these days are intended as a fertile space for dialogue, sharing experiences, and developing concrete proposals for a strong, united Africa that masters its destiny. “This program also serves as a forum for awakening consciousness, collective reflection, civic engagement, and cultural mobilization around the foundational values of the country,” he stated. Under the theme “The Ideological Culture of the DRC,” the sessions aim to sensitize the Congolese people to develop a strong sense of belonging, strengthen solidarity, and care for their territory to secure their future. The first day of the program featured speeches from various speakers from the scientific, cultural, political, and media sectors.
National Organization as a Foundation of a Cultured People
Emmanuel Kabongo, Secretary General of the Congolese Consciousness Movement, focused his speech on the organization of a nation, which he described as a key competency of a cultured people. “The first element that shows a people has culture is organization. Organizing means taking charge of one’s destiny. It is the first competency of a cultured people. It is this ability to speak to ourselves and organize ourselves. It requires many sacrifices and action,” said the speaker. To achieve this competency, he continued, a collective awakening of the people is needed. “Awakening means organizing ourselves to define the true identity of the people and say no to the unacceptable.” Deploring the lack of solidarity, absence of social belonging, and insufficient patriotism, he stressed that better organization relies on quality public service and solid education. “Peoples with great cultures have always built great public administrations, great schools, and great armies. The national army expresses the highest national consciousness. It is important to revalue our army,” said Professor Emmanuel Kabongo. “We can rebuild our national culture around the army. The relationship between the state and the people goes through public administration. This can generate true national solidarity,” he concluded.