Tala mascarade!

Tala mascarade!

In January 2025, the artists Koenraad Ecker, Haldi Okudheyo, and Falonne Mambu met with Congolese from all walks of life in Kinshasa and Kongo Central. Their purpose: a close examination of the Congo Panorama. The reactions revealed the many blind spots – ideological, intellectual and emotional – inherited from colonial ideology. This video shows scenes from this process of collective rereading.

Koenraad Ecker is a sound artist whose practice includes sound design, field recording, music production, and research in oral history. Together with Haldi Okudheyo, he initiated the project Kumbukumbu, which seeks to convey the realities of colonial occupation in northeastern Congo through sound.

Haldi Okudheyo is a cultural operator, filmmaker, and farmer. Through his Haldi Projet, he conducts research on traditional cultures in northeastern DR Congo and produces radio programmes, films, music recordings, and concerts.

Falonne Mambu is a painter, performer, activist, and feminist. Through her work, she denounces the impunity of sexual violence so that voices can be heard and the resilience of women can grow.

Koenraad Ecker (Belgian, Bruges, 1986 – lives and works in Berlin), Falonne Mambu (Congolese, Matadi, 1992 – lives and works in Kinshasa), Haldi Okudheyo Nzia (Congolese, Aru, 1983 – lives and works in Aru). ‘Tala mascarade!’ (‘Wat een schijnvertoning!’ / Quelle mascarade ! / ‘What a masquerade!’). Kinshasa, Kongo central, Berlin. 2025.
Speakers (in order of appearance):
• Mamie Makwala Mende – inhabitant of Kinkole
• Cédrik Lukunku – artist, Kinshasa
• Prisca Nsuka-Vuna – artist, Kinshasa
• Dolet Malalu – artist, Kinshasa
• Crispin Bile Biembe – inhabitant of Kinkole
• Jean-Claude Kindula – inhabitant of Kinkole
• Sarah Ndele – artist, Kinshasa
• Jean Kamba – writer, poet, journalist, independent researcher and art critic, Kinshasa
• Prisca Tankwey – artist, Kinshasa
• Spiritus Bogonda – artist, Kinshasa
• Placide Mumbembele – historian, Kinshasa
• Benjamin Wathum – psychologist, Kinshasa
• Falonne Mambu – artist, Kinshasa
• Lukau Rolook – artist, Kinshasa
• Haldi Okudheyo – cultural operator, filmmaker and farmer, Aru
• Roger Belvédère – historian and guide, Matadi
• Francine Efala Yafunga – inhabitant of Kinkole.