Gungu, July 23rd, 2026 (CPA). – The African palaver, inclusive dialogue mediated by traditional chiefs, has been revived as an ancestral tool for cohesion and peace within communities, during the 26th edition of the Gungu National Festival in Kwilu province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“In the past, in the traditional society, when a problem arose, our ancestors would sit under the palaver tree. The young were listening, the elders were speaking, and together they were finding the path to peace. Even today, the African palaver remains the traditional tool for social cohesion,” has declared Celestin Faso Mushigo, coordinator of FESNAG. “If we want a united and prosperous Democratic Republic of the Congo, we must return to our values, to dialogue, to respect for one another and to reconciliation,” he has added. According to Mr Faso, the aim was to draw on traditional values to find sustainable solutions to the problems of peace and reconciliation in DRC.
He has also called on communities to embrace these ancestral practices – which foster dialogue and coexistence – in order to put divisions behind them and build the country’s future. This meeting has brought together the traditional chiefs of Kwilu Province, Kasai Province and several other provinces across the country. At the conclusion of the proceedings, a symbolic performance has been presented, portraying Rwanda as the aggressor and the DR Congo as the victim. In this scenario, DRC has lodged a complaint before the African community – represented by the leaders of the Alliance of Traditional Chiefs – to denounce the rapes, the thefts and the plundering of Congolese minerals by Rwandans. After examining the facts, the elders have declared DRC the winner, ruling that it is Rwandan elements who are trespassing on its territory.
The performance was concluded with another staging: President Felix Tshisekedi, Minister Adolphe Muzito and the late Antoine Gizenga were depicted seated around the same table, symbolically ratifying this decision by the African Union. As part of the festival’s recreational and cultural programme, activities continue on Thursday with a sightseeing tour, a showcase of diverse cultural groups and a visit to the Kakobola hydroelectric dam. Held under the theme ‘Cultures Advocating for Peace and Development in DRC’, this year’s event will close on July 27th in Kikwit, following two days of symposia and conferences on the theme. CPA/