Kinshasa: An intriguing examination of traditional practices around the announcement of family events, particularly deaths and births, among the Kuba and Nande peoples has come to light. The focus is on how these protocols compare and contrast with the contemporary phenomenon of sharing such news on social media.

According to Radio Okapi, the discussion involves insights from two prominent figures: Mr. Mabudi Maxime, a lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa, and Mr. Bope Nyim – a – Kwem Matthieu, a lecturer in the history department at the University of Kinshasa. They explore whether news of familial events such as deaths and births was once freely accessible or governed by specific rules.

Today, learning of a loved one’s death through social media has become a painful reality for some. The investigation seeks to understand whether, in the past, sharing such news was open to all or whether it was bound by certain traditional precautions and protocols.

Before delving into the insights from the invited guests, Kennedy Wema, a journalist and advocate for traditional values, provides a perspective from North Kivu on how the Nande community traditionally handles the announcement of a death. This reflection on ancestral practices offers a poignant contrast to the impersonal nature of modern-day announcements on social platforms.

Source: Radio Okapi