Run by the Congo Great Lakes Initiative (CGLI), the project addressed a lack of awareness of many collections from the Democratic Republic of Congo by Congolese people living in the UK. It was also keen to make use of the opportunity to get these collections on display, and to improve and update their interpretation.

Working with Congolese community members, the Horniman Museum and Gardens, and University College London, the project also:

• Established a framework to enable academic institutions, community leaders and the public to engage in reassessing these precious collections
• Ran training workshops to equip community leaders and members with the tools to create vibrant exhibitions, and share inter-generational knowledge about Congolese heritage,  artefacts and practices
• Taught younger members research skills, enabling them to access the cultural heritage within their own lives
• Developed an interactive digital platform which will collate and archive the diverse research results

The project was made possible thanks to National Lottery Players through an HLF Our Heritage grant of £60,800.

How to find out more

Watch the above YouTube video to see Didier Ibwilakwingi-Ekom, Director of CGLI, talk about his passion for uncovering and sharing Congolese heritage and the role HLF has played in furthering this ambition.

Find out further information on the Congo Great Lakes online exhibition.