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Top 10 Most Inspiring Women from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

DRC is a large country and very rich in natural resources. Unfortunately, it is in a system of recklessness, lawlessness, and impunity. For decades a conflict has raged on, where soldiers from rebel factions fight for the control of diamond and mineral mines.

The factions may be many and various, but the victims never change: they are always women. From older women to young children, the soldiers do not discriminate; the stories of their brutality and torture are so horrific that they rarely reach western ears.

This list looks at women who are an inspiration both at home and abroad. They have strived to make a change in the Republic of Congo. They are tenacious and diverse and inspire a better future for all.

1. Arlette Soudan-Nonault

Madame Alrlette SOudan Nonault. Image by Masiavuvu-

She was born in Brazzaville to Senator Jean-Pierre Nonault, who served as Congolese ambassador to France and Russia. She received her education in both countries.

It is always inspiring to see a woman making headway in politics in a country where the political sector is male-dominated. She is both a journalist and a politician.

She serves as the Republic of Congo’s Minister of Tourism and Environment. She has also made contributions within the education sector as she is the founder of the private school Institution Saint François d’Assise on the outskirts of Brazzaville.

2. Antoinette Sassou Nguesso

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Antoinette Sassou Nguesso was born on May 7, 1945 in Brazzaville. She is a retired Congolese teacher and public figure.

 She has held the role of First Lady of the Republic of the Congo since 1997 as the wife of President Denis Sassou Nguesso.

She also held the position of First Lady from 1979 to 1992 during her husband’s first presidential tenure.

She is also the founder of the Congo Assistance Foundation, established in 1984 as a non-governmental organization. This organization has promoted many social initiatives in health, development, education, and vocational training and has received international acclaim for its humanitarian efforts.

3. Andree Blouin 1921- 1986

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She was a political activist, human rights advocate, and writer from the Central African Republic.

She bore a son who died of malaria at two years of age. The government refused him treatment and insisted it was for the French only.

Her son’s death catapulted her to become a political activist. She joined in the fight for independence by organizing and mobilizing women. She worked for Patrice Lumumba’s government, which led to continuous harassment by the media and powerful men who saw her threat.

A death sentence was passed, which led her to flee Congo. She died in exile in Â鶹APP of cancer. At the end of her life, she had grown despondent over the oppression that continued even after the end of colonialism.

4. Mayanda

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Shelly Mayanda is one of the most talented Congolese fashion bloggers. She is one to watch out for as she is now also an entrepreneur.

She recently started her brand of handbags made locally in Congo, known as NdoziCongo, which is already doing well commercially.

Local weaving artists locally make the bags, and the project has proven to be a great way to promote employment in the DRC.

5. Daniele Sassou Nguesso

She is an inspiration to many Congolese women. She is the founder of La Fondation Sounga. She has contributed to multiple organizations, such as Le Petit Samaritain, which aims to provide better educational facilities in the Republic of Congo.

Her foundation, of which” Sunga” means “help” in Lingala, was recently inaugurated to provide financial support for women entrepreneurs in the country. Her foundation has since provided funds for women in multiple entrepreneurial sectors in The Republic of Congo.

6. Annie Lebouvier

Congo is rich in culture and is very diverse. Women have recently taken the forefront of arts and their preservation in the country. One such woman is Annie Lebouvier.

She is not only an art fanatic but also the owner of her very own art gallery in Brazzaville. Married to the ambassador of France in the Republic of Congo, she is also the proprietor of the famous An’case gallery in Brazzaville.

Her dedication to encouraging visitors to stop by to contemplate the beauty of ancient Congolese art is unmatched.

7. Cindy Descalzi Pereira

She is a warm-hearted, humble, and inspirational woman from the Congo. As a Dolce and Gabbana model, she is already a public figure.

She is also the founder of La Foundation Congo Kitoko. Her organization focuses on charity work, specifically in the Republic of Congo.

She is also a philanthropist, having donated to various orphanages through her foundation, mainly focusing on education. She has contributed to funding school fees for many orphaned children and is admirable.

8. Souer Brigitte Yengo

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Sister Brigitte Yengo is a Roman Catholic Congolese nun and head of ‘Sister Yengo’s Children, inc,’ a charitable organization founded to assist the population of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Republic of Congo.

The organization raises funds to sustain the operation of the orphanage in Brazzaville, develop programs of self-sufficiency, and procure equipment to help victims of polio, blindness, and other handicaps under her leadership.

9. Marta Tshilumba

In the DRC, artisanal and small-scale mining drives local economies. Workers, especially women, suffer a variety of labor and social problems. Women get the lowest pay despite being responsible for the most physically demanding tasks, such as transporting large sacks of soil and manually grinding stones.

Marta Tshilumba is determined to transform women’s lives. She is the vice president of “Kaza Moyo” (hard heart or perseverance in Swahili), an association of women working in the mines.

She started her journey as a community organizer after two women in her community were killed by a collapsing mine tunnel in 2014. The accident motivated Martha to mobilize women in her community to advocate for more protection and to improve working conditions in the mines.

10. Julienne Lusenge

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She is a Congolese human rights activist recognized for advocating for survivors of wartime sexual violence. She is co-founder and President of Female Solidarity for Integrated Peace and Development (SOFEPADI) and director of the Congolese Women’s Fund (FFC).

Her organizations seek to help out women in various areas. Sexual violence, economic empowerment, and access to information through digital information are some of the regions she aims to help out.

She is the recipient of various prestigious awards recognizing her work in society. She was recently awarded the Aurora Prize on 10 October 2021 for Awakening Humanity at the Armenian Monastery on the island of San Lazzaro in Venice, Italy.