AGP Executive Report

Francophonie: Kinshasa has warned it could reconsider its membership of the OIF over its leadership, as Congolese candidate Juliana Amato Lumumba joins the race for secretary-general ahead of the Nov. 16 vote. African Film: Afreximbank is planning a $1 billion pan-African film fund to finance productions, distribution and industry infrastructure. A new watchlist also features a boxing drama set amid illegal mining and violence in the DRC. Cultural Heritage: Congolese prophet Kimpa Vita, executed 320 years ago for challenging colonial influence, is being celebrated as a national heroine and a symbol of resistance.

Congolese Voices in the Francophone World: More than 65 people gathered at the University of Maine at Augusta for its French Immersion Weekend, including speakers from the DRC. The program paired language workshops with African music and dance by Crocodile River. Screen Picks: A new African film guide includes a boxing drama set against illegal mining and violence in the DRC. Kimpa Vita Remembered: A profile revisits the Kongolese prophetess, executed in 1706 and celebrated today as a heroine in the DRC and Angola. Film Industry: Afreximbank plans to mobilise up to $1 billion for a Pan-African film fund to support productions, distribution and industry infrastructure.

African Cinema: ADIFF NY runs Nov. 27–Dec. 13, with films exploring identity, change and justice; Rwanda’s Oscar submission, Ben’ Imana, is among the highlights. A new African watchlist also features a boxing drama set against illegal mining and violence in the DRC. Film Funding: Afreximbank plans to mobilize up to $1 billion for a Pan-African film fund to support production, distribution and industry infrastructure, while urging African creators to retain more value from their work. Cultural Heritage: Kimpa Vita, the Kongolese prophet executed 320 years ago for challenging colonial and religious authority, is celebrated today as a heroine in the DRC and Angola. Literature: Congolese-born Popina Khumanda discusses The Smallest Ones, her account of being abducted as a child during the DRC conflict and escaping to South Africa.

African Cinema: ADIFF New York’s 2026 festival runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 13, featuring Rwanda’s Oscar submission Ben’ Imana, alongside films exploring identity, justice and social change. Congolese Heritage: A new history feature revisits Kimpa Vita, the Kongolese prophet executed 320 years ago and now celebrated as a heroine in the DRC and Angola. Film Funding: Afreximbank plans to raise up to $1 billion for a Pan-African film fund to finance productions, distribution and industry infrastructure. Congolese Literature: Popina Khumanda discusses The Smallest Ones, her account of being captured by rebel soldiers as a child in the DRC and escaping to South Africa with her sister.

Screen Stories: A study of hit K-dramas finds they often depict Africa as dangerous, underdeveloped and in need of a Korean rescuer, using the continent as a foil for South Korea’s rise. Film Funding: Afreximbank plans to mobilise up to $1 billion for a Pan-African film fund to back productions, distribution, technology and industry infrastructure, while urging African creators to retain more value from their work. Congolese Literature: In an interview, Popina Khumanda discusses The Smallest Ones, her story of being abducted by rebels in the DRC as a child and escaping to South Africa with her sister; the book is shortlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards.

Screen Stories: A new analysis of South Korean dramas says Africa is often portrayed as dangerous, underdeveloped and in need of a Korean saviour—raising questions about how global TV frames the continent. Stage: Rwandan artist Diogène Ntarindwa’s Carte d’Identité uses humour and family history to explore exile and identity, including a journey through what was once Zaire, now the DRC. Film Industry: Afreximbank plans to mobilise up to $1 billion for a Pan-African film fund to finance productions, strengthen distribution and build industry infrastructure. Books: Congolese-born writer Popina Khumanda says she wrote The Smallest Ones to honour lives lost and tell the story of her and her sister’s escape from captivity during the DRC conflict.

Theatre: Rwandan artist Diogène Ntarindwa’s Carte d’Identité uses humour and family memories to explore exile, identity and Rwanda’s history, with part of the story unfolding in what is now the DRC. African Film: Afreximbank plans to raise up to $1 billion for a Pan-African film fund to finance productions, strengthen distribution and build industry infrastructure. Congolese Literature: Popina Khumanda says she wrote The Smallest Ones to honour lives lost and share her childhood story of captivity in the DRC and escape to South Africa; the book is shortlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards. Congo Week: Students at Occidental College marked the DRC’s culture and resilience with events and a fundraising market, bringing attention to Congolese stories and heritage.

African Film: Afreximbank plans to mobilise up to $1 billion for a Pan-African film fund, supporting productions, distribution, technology and infrastructure. The bank says Africa must also retain more value across the creative industry. Congolese Literature: Popina Khumanda’s The Smallest Ones, shortlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards, recounts how she and her sister survived five years in captivity after being seized by rebel soldiers in the DRC, then escaped to South Africa. Khumanda says she wrote to honour lives lost and give voice to stories that might otherwise go unheard. Congo Week: Students at Occidental College marked the annual event with campus activities and a fundraising market, celebrating Congolese culture and resilience while raising awareness of the country’s conflict.

Film Funding: Afreximbank is developing a $1bn Pan-African film fund to finance African stories, strengthen distribution and build industry infrastructure—an ambitious push to help the continent keep more value from its creative work. Congolese Literature: Popina Khumanda’s The Smallest Ones, shortlisted for a 2026 Sunday Times Literary Award, recounts how she and her sister survived captivity by rebel soldiers in the DRC before escaping to South Africa. Khumanda says she wrote to honour lives lost and give voice to stories at risk of being forgotten. Music in Exile: In Malawi’s Dzaleka refugee camp, Congolese DJ La Pearl has persisted despite criticism for performing as a woman. She says music helps her forget painful memories and brings joy to people around her. Congo Week: Students at Occidental College marked the DRC’s culture and resilience with campus events and a fundraiser, while also raising awareness of the country’s conflict.

Congo Week: Students at Occidental College marked the annual event with campus activities and a fundraising market, celebrating Congolese culture and resilience while raising awareness of the country’s challenges. Music in Dzaleka: Congolese-born DJ La Pearl is building a following in Malawi’s Dzaleka refugee camp. Despite criticism for performing as a woman, the 24-year-old says mixing music brings her joy and helps others forget hardship.

Congo Week: Students at Occidental marked the annual celebration of Congolese culture and resilience with campus events and a fundraising market, bringing the DRC’s stories to a wider audience. Congolese Music Abroad: In Malawi’s Dzaleka refugee camp, DJ La Pearl has held on to her passion for mixing music despite criticism of women performing in clubs. “Music is my passion,” she says.

Congo Week: Students at Occidental College marked the DRC’s culture and resilience with campus events and a fundraising market, raising awareness of the country and its challenges. Congolese Talent: In Malawi’s Dzaleka refugee camp, Congolese DJ La Pearl is building a following despite criticism for performing as a woman. She says music helps her forget hardship and brings joy to listeners. Celebration Through Dance: Health workers in Ituri sang and danced as the final Ebola patients left a treatment centre, turning a moment of relief into a communal celebration.

Congo Week: Students at Occidental College spotlighted the DRC’s culture and resilience through a week of events, ending with a fundraising market on Oct. 21. Music: Singer Sandra Mbuyi made what was described as a historic return to Kinshasa. Fashion: Tshiboyi Mukubi and his wife, Flora, opened Motonga, an Afro-chic clothing and tailoring shop in Mold, Wales. Dance: Ebola treatment-centre staff in Mongbwalu sang and danced as their last patient was discharged, sharing a moment of relief after a difficult outbreak response.

Congolese Music: In Malawi’s Dzaleka refugee camp, DJ La Pearl, who arrived from the DRC, has pursued her passion despite criticism for being the camp’s only female club DJ. Kinshasa Return: Singer Sandra Mbuyi is making what coverage describes as a historic return to Kinshasa.

Music & Resilience: Congolese DJ La Pearl is building her career in Malawi’s Dzaleka refugee camp, pushing past criticism of women performing in clubs. She says mixing music helps her forget hardship and brings joy to her listeners. Gospel: Singer Sandra Mbuyi is making a historic return to Kinshasa, bringing a notable moment for the city’s music scene.

Congolese Talent: In Malawi’s Dzaleka refugee camp, 24-year-old DJ La Pearl is building a name through music despite criticism for being a woman behind the decks. She says mixing music helps her forget hardship and brings joy to listeners. Homecoming: Singer Sandra Mbuyi is making a “historic return to Kinshasa,” a notable moment for the city’s music scene.