Congo In Harlem, Raises Awareness to crises through cinema and lectures
“Congo In Harlem” is here again. In its 3rd annual installation, Congo In Harlem is a week- long film series dedicated to screening films that educate the global community on important issues that affect the Democratic Republic of Congo and that explore and celebrate Congolese culture.
Organized by Friends Of The Congo, a nonprofit organization, as a part of a global movement known as Congo Week, Congo In Harlem III will take place from October 16, 2011 – October 23, 2011 at the Maysles Theater in Harlem, 343 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York City, between 127th & 128th Streets. Screenings are open to the public at a suggested donation of $10, where all proceeds will fund and support emerging Congolese Filmmakers.
Congo In Harlem III will also include musical performances, evening receptions, and panel discussions led by Activists, award-winning Journalist and Author Howard French, and critically acclaimed Film Directors, to name a few. “Congo in Harlem Film and Performance series represents the flag ship event of Congo Week. Congo in Harlem provides a platform for Congolese filmmakers, performers, intellectuals, activists and practitioners to articulate the challenges and prescriptions for what is the greatest humanitarian crisis at the dawn of the 21st century,” said Maurice Carney, Friends of The Congo Director.
Congo In Harlem provides a very interactive program for audience members to be engaged, entertained, and educated about one of the most devastating crises in the world.
In addition to the Congo In Harlem event as a part of Congo Week, Friends of The Congo has developed many strategic alliances and partnerships and will partake in prominent activities throughout the globe that lead up to Congo Week. Furthermore, Congo Week is a preface to the Breaking The Silence Speakers Tour, where intellectuals and activists unite and travel the world to educate students and youth about the crisis in the Congo and provide them with ways to get involved in the global movement in support of the Congo.
“With the tremendous response from organizers in many countries during Congo Week, Friends of the Congo follows up Congo Week with visits to communities in North America, Europe and Africa on a Breaking the Silence Speakers Tour to organize and mobilize supporters around the global movement in support of the Congo,” said Kambale Musavuli, Student Coordinator and National Spokesperson for Friends Of The Congo.
“Breaking the Silence Congo Week is a global youth movement connecting ordinary people around the world with Congolese youth who are striving to bring about peaceful and lasting social change in the Congo. Young people in the Congo are working day and night to
determine their own affairs in the same non-violent, progressive spirit as the youth in the North Africa who stood up against tyranny to bring about change in their countries,” Kambale added.
To Learn More About Congo In Harlem, Please Visit: www.congoinharlem.org
To Purchase Tickets and For The Full Congo In Harlem program, visit: http://www.mayslesinstitute.org/cinema/congo.html
The Congo is the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world today where nearly 6 million people have died since 1996, half of them children under 5 years old and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped all as a result of the scramble for Congo’s wealth. The United Nations said it is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War Two. Nearly 45,000 people are dying each month, with no worldwide resolution to end the conflict and carnage there.
The Friends of the Congo (FOTC) is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. The FOTC was established in 2004 to work in partnership with Congolese to bring about peaceful and lasting change in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly Zaire.
“Speaking Truth To Empower.”