- Title: Congolese student weaves message of unity amid conflict in rebel-held city
- Date: 20th March 2025
- Summary: BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (MARCH 14, 2025) (REUTERS) HAMMER AND NAILS ARCHITECTURE STUDENT, FRANKLIN ALAME, HAMMERING NAILS INTO ARTWORK BASE VARIOUS OF ALAME CONNECTING NAILS WITH THREAD ALAME COMPLETING ARTWORK VARIOUS OF ALAME PLACING ARTWORKS AGAINST WALL COMPLETED ARTWORK (SOUNDBITE) (French) ARCHITECTURE STUDENT AND STRING ARTIST, FRANKLIN ALAME, SAYING: "
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Art africa bukavu conflict congo democratic drc eastern insurgencies military peace republic rwanda security war
- Location: BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- City: BUKAVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Topics: Africa,Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA001921416032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:In the rebel-held city of Bukavu, 22-year-old architecture student Franklin Alame weaves intricate string artworks, finding solace in creativity amid eastern Congo's ongoing war with the Rwandan-backed M23.
Alame spins colorful threads between nails on wooden boards from his family's balcony, each piece selling for about $15. He hopes the circular designs will promote a sense of togetherness among those who buy them.
"During this time without classes, I took time to make paintings thinking of the Congolese people, trying to send them a message of unity," Alame told Reuters as he worked on his latest piece.
Bukavu, eastern Congo's second-largest city, has been under M23 rebel control since mid-February, part of a long-standing conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands and killed thousands since reaching new heights in January.
The M23's advance has disrupted education and daily life for residents like Alame, whose studies have been indefinitely suspended.
"If we unite, like these intertwining threads, we can have a country without war, a united and supportive country," Alame said, explaining the symbolism in his work.
Border closures due to the conflict have complicated Alame's ability to source materials, particularly threads from neighboring Burundi.
Despite this, Alame remains committed to his craft, seeing each piece as more than just art or income.
"I take this base as Congo, and these nails represent Congolese peoples and cultures," he said, describing his latest work. "If we unite like these threads, we can make Congo a peaceful, united and supportive country."
(Production: Ngouda Dione) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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