In 2010, Republic democratic of Congo was celebrating in great fanfare its 50 years of independance celebration. The occasion for RDC and its president to show the world – and to his former colonial authority – the evolution of its politic called « cinq chantiers» which in transport takes a big place. Before the arrival of plentiful of state leaders, all the roads of the capital sustained a big cleaning : Principal boulevard was completely renovated for the occasion.
But if Joseph Kabila can boast of boucing back the main axis of circulation of the capital, he coudn’t hide the genuine identity of Kinshasa’s habitants : the « foula foulas ». These heteroclite vehicules, made with diverse parts can transport population from disctrict to disctrict. Banned from circulation in town during the previous week of the celebration, they are however the « nervous system » of Kinshasa. The more you pull away from downtown, the more you can see them completely ramshackled. In the district of Ngili, Massina and Matete, these vehicules from 3rd, 4th or even 5th generation are nicknamed « Mbua’ (which means dog in lingala).
The problem of transport is not new. By the 70’s, while several wars are tearing up the country, the modest (ex-) Leopoldville is transforming into sprawling megapole but most of the road infrastructures are completely destroyed and new districts simply deprived of roads. To reduce this problem of nonexistent public transport (due to ramping corruption) more and more vehicles are imported. And Kinshasa – as many other African capitals is transforming little by little in nest of all rolling wrecks of Europe.
Basé à Bruxelles en Belgique, Colin Delfosse est un photographe freelance et membre fondateur du collectif « Out of focus ». Il travaille sur des projets personnels à long terme en République démocratique du Congo, dans les régions de Centre Afrique et dans les états post soviétiques. Delfosse combine le travail des affectations d’ONG avec des missions commanditées de Bruxelles tout en étant le responsable de l’édition photographique et membre fondateur du magazine « Médor ». Son travail a été montré dans des festivals tels que les rencontres d’Arles, Paris photo, Circulation(s), Lagos Photo Festival, Brussels Summer of Photography et projeté au Visa pour l’Image. Il fut récompensé par de nombreux prix : POYi avec le prix d’excellence, le prix Nikon Press, le prix PDN Photo Annual ou le Prix Sony World Photography. Colin Delfosse travaille régulièrement avec le New York Times, Le Monde, Les Inrocks, The International Herald Tribune et Jeune Afrique.
Artist / Colin Delfosse
Mbuas #6 // Kinshasa // 2010
masterpiece EDITION
Ultra Limited Edition // Numbered // 30 Signed Copies
In 2010, Republic democratic of Congo was celebrating in great fanfare its 50 years of independance celebration. The occasion for RDC and its president to show the world – and to his former colonial authority – the evolution of its politic called « cinq chantiers» which in transport takes a big place. Before the arrival of plentiful of state leaders, all the roads of the capital sustained a big cleaning : Principal boulevard was completely renovated for the occasion.
But if Joseph Kabila can boast of boucing back the main axis of circulation of the capital, he coudn’t hide the genuine identity of Kinshasa’s habitants : the « foula foulas ». These heteroclite vehicules, made with diverse parts can transport population from disctrict to disctrict. Banned from circulation in town during the previous week of the celebration, they are however the « nervous system » of Kinshasa. The more you pull away from downtown, the more you can see them completely ramshackled. In the district of Ngili, Massina and Matete, these vehicules from 3rd, 4th or even 5th generation are nicknamed « Mbua’ (which means dog in lingala).
The problem of transport is not new. By the 70’s, while several wars are tearing up the country, the modest (ex-) Leopoldville is transforming into sprawling megapole but most of the road infrastructures are completely destroyed and new districts simply deprived of roads. To reduce this problem of nonexistent public transport (due to ramping corruption) more and more vehicles are imported. And Kinshasa – as many other African capitals is transforming little by little in nest of all rolling wrecks of Europe.
Basé à Bruxelles en Belgique, Colin Delfosse est un photographe freelance et membre fondateur du collectif « Out of focus ». Il travaille sur des projets personnels à long terme en République démocratique du Congo, dans les régions de Centre Afrique et dans les états post soviétiques. Delfosse combine le travail des affectations d’ONG avec des missions commanditées de Bruxelles tout en étant le responsable de l’édition photographique et membre fondateur du magazine « Médor ». Son travail a été montré dans des festivals tels que les rencontres d’Arles, Paris photo, Circulation(s), Lagos Photo Festival, Brussels Summer of Photography et projeté au Visa pour l’Image. Il fut récompensé par de nombreux prix : POYi avec le prix d’excellence, le prix Nikon Press, le prix PDN Photo Annual ou le Prix Sony World Photography. Colin Delfosse travaille régulièrement avec le New York Times, Le Monde, Les Inrocks, The International Herald Tribune et Jeune Afrique.
