Friends of the Congo (FOTC) in collaboration with Cafe Arte, the Afro-Caribbean Festival and the Afro-Latino community of Washington, DC present a night of music, drinks and dance at Cafe Arte. Enjoy a festive night of Afro-Caribbean music, Zouk, Reggae, Dancehall, Kizomba, Timba, Salsa and lots more, all for a good cause - Congo Connect Youth Initiative. A special auction of paintings to be held. Proceeds from the auction and party will go to the - Congo Connect Youth Initiative.

Cost: $10 includes free drink
Click here to purchase Tickets!

Everyone can lend their skills, talents and expertise to the global movement in support of the Congo - activists, socialites, musicians, community leaders and organizers are welcomed to join-in. View highlights from previous events.

Conga to Congo Party
$10 per Ticket

Film Screening and Forum
From Cuba to Kuba: Che Guevara and the Awakening of an Internationalist Movement
De Cuba a Kuba: Che Guevara y el Despertar de un Movimiento Internacionalista
Time: 7:30-9:30PM
Venue: Reeves Center, Cromwell Room Second Floor
2000 14th Street, NW (14th and V Streets, NW)
Washington, DC 20009

From the Caribbean Island of Cuba to the Kongo Kingdom of Kuba in the heart of Africa. Join us to commemorate (or reflect on) the birth of Cuba’s Internationalism through remembering Che Guevara’s work in the Congo.  Motivated by the overthrow and subsequent assassination of democratically-elected Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in 1961, Che Guevara led a secret Cuban expedition to the Congo in April of 1965 under heavy disguise, to assist in the fight for liberation.

Through art, dance, drumming, documentaries, discussions and recollections, we will recount Cuba’s involvement in the Congo under Che’s leadership, discuss Cuba’s international solidarity efforts with African liberation movements, and explore how to carry Che’s torch in promoting solidarity between Africa and Latin America today.

We will be showing clips from Jihan El-Tahri’s documentary Cuba: An African Odyssey and Freddy Ilunga: Che’s Swahili Translator.  Pan-Latin hors d'oeuvres will be provided by Café Arte followed by a discussion led by Ofunshi Oba Koso, President of MN Yoruba Cuba Association and protégé of the late Freddy Ilanga (Che’s personal interpreter in the Congo) and Kambale Musavuli, Spokesperson of Friends of the Congo.  Ofunshi will share his experience of growing up in Cuba as a young Afri-Cuban revolutionary under the tutelage of Freddy Ilunga, Victor Drake (Second-in-Command of Che’s guerilla unit in Congo) and other members of the historical mission.  Kambale will give a brief overview of Congo’s current situation and discuss current solidarity efforts between young Congolese and young visionaries in Latin America as well as share opportunities for involvement.

Performing artists include Ancestral Master Drummer Baba Joseph Ngwa and local DC Afro-Cuban percussionists.  Visual artists will be doing live paintings inspired by the evening’s music, dance and discussion and donate the paintings to be auctioned in our after-party celebration held at Café Arte.  All proceeds from the auction will go to support Friends of the Congo.  All attendees to this event will receive a special discount for the From Conga to Congo after party at Café Arte in collaboration with the Afro-Caribbean Festival, presenting a myriad of Caribbean music inspired by their African heritage.

For more information call us at 202-584-6512 or send email to: events@friendsofthecongo.org. If you are not in New York and would like to make a financial contribution to the Lumumba Commemoration event, click here to make a contribution.

Support our work by Purchasing a Lumumba T-Shirt