There Were Dead Bodies Everywhere In My Village

If you are a fan of photographic art, I thoroughly recommend a trip to the National Theatre on the Southbank. Outside is a free exhibition of Rankin’s photographs of the Mugunga camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Approximately, 17,000 people live in the camp on the outskirts of Goma. Entitled 'Cheka Kidogo', Rankin’s exhibition - in partnership with Oxfam - aims to raise the profile of the humanitarian crisis in the DRC. While it has achieved its aim in press inches alone, I felt sad to watch the video pleas for help. One woman presumed that if so much effort was going into taking the photographs, then it must mean that the world might step in, resolve their problems, and help them home. I fear that too much optimism will lead to disappointment.

You can currently see a selection of the photograph’s on Oxfam’s’ website: Oxfam - Cheka Kidogo


Rehema Buera, 52. Restaurant owner
“I lost my husband and four of my children because of this war. After the attack, there were dead bodies everywhere in my village. I found the dead bodies of my husband and my four eldest children – all shot in the head. That day, 175 people from my village were murdered.”

Seraphine, 42. Entrepreneur
“I came from Rutshuru in Katwiguru. My own husband was killed in front of my eyes. There is still no peace in Rutshuru. Laurent Nkunda (leader of CNDP) is still oppressing us. We lived with the Interahamwe and there was no problem with them. But when Laurent Nkunda came, we started suffering a lot. He shot many people. Many people. Please help us get rid of those enemies so that we can go back to home. That is what we want. If you help us with this, really, we can finally heal."

Furaha Vumilia, 65. Basket maker
“It takes two weeks to make a basket – but it only sells for 260 francs (25p). How can you work for two weeks to make 25p? I fled when the war came. People were throwing bombs into our houses. I was living with my son. He and his wife were killed. I fled with my two grandsons. One is 15 and the other 13. They are orphans now.”

Alexis Ruangu, 29. Hunter – from a Pygmy tribe
“I know someone from my village who was castrated by the rebels. This war has scared us a lot – it has really affected us. I can’t say if we will ever return home. We are afraid that if we go back we will be killed. Pygmies move around the forest. We hunt, and look for honey and potatoes. My family’s not used to staying in one place, living among so many people.”


Oxfam tell us that “since 1998, the country has lost 5.4 million people to conflict, and the deadly disease and hunger that it has unleashed. Over a million people are displaced in the eastern part of the country, with over 500,000 people having fled from violence in the last year alone. Rape is epidemic. This year more than 1,100 women a month have reported being raped, although the real figure is likely to be much higher.”

Another excellent photographic journal of the camp is shared by Julien Harneis, Unicef worker, on Flickr. If you watch it as a slide show, I suggest that you turn ‘info’ on and pause to read the text.


Fabpants Recommends: Last night I went to see Neon Neon, with Yo! Majesty as support. I was grinning from ear to ear when Neon Neon, Yo Majesty! and Har Mar Superstar took the stage together for Sweat Shop. Har Mar Superstar also sang an entire song while stood on his head. Yo! Majesty looked impressed, Gruff Rhys looked delighted and Cate Le Bon looked stunning.

Download MP3: Neon Neon - I Lust You (courtesy of saladdaysmusic.net)




As for the encore, I recognised this short video from the End of the Road Festival cinema tent: