This event showcases a mini-documentary titled “Humanizing The Congo,” directed by M’munga Songolo (Pardee ’25). In it, M’munga interviews two individuals from Eastern Congo, a region currently experiencing ongoing conflict. Click here to watch the documentary.
Below is the introduction for each of the panelists as well as links for all of them.
Asukulu Songolo – Asùkùlù Songolo is the founder and creative director of the Luùndo clothing brand—a name that means “love” in Kibembe, the tribal language of his Congolese heritage. A Zambian-born, Congolese-American raised in Portland, Oregon—launchedLuùndoduring his studies at Stanford, fusing traditional Congolese aesthetics and modern silhouettes across suits, dresses, and everyday wear His first collection, called Emo (meaning “one” or “kibembe for one”), serves as a deeply personal tribute to his identity and cultural roots—it’s named after his tribe and is meant to celebrate it. His second body of work, Lipanda Yetu, is an anniversary collection that marks a significant milestone for the brand, showcasing a thoughtful evolution of his design ethos while honoring his past creations. Through his work, Songolo seeks to elevate African culture in mainstream fashina and create opportunities for youth and artisans in Congo and beyond.
Eca-Etabo Wasongolo– Eca Etabo Wasongolo is acommunity organizeratVillage Gardens, a Portland-based nonprofit that builds food and economic resilience among marginalized communities. Each year, he trains around 15 refugees in how to grow and market food—many of whom begin selling produce at the Village Market and some of whom go on to launch their own farm businesses. With a background inagriculture,science, anddevelopment, and fluency in multiple languages including Swahili, Kibembe, Nyanja, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, French, and English, Wasongolo is uniquely equipped for this work. But his greatest strength may be his lived experience. A former refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, he fled civil war after being targeted for helping Burundian and Rwandan refugees. Since resettling in the U.S., Wasongolo has dedicated his life to helping others reclaim their power, rebuild their lives, and grow thriving futures—just as he has.
Friends of Congo – Friends of Congo is aglobal solidarity networkcommitted to uplifting the Congolese people in their pursuit of peace, justice, and self-determination. Through education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing, the organizationamplifies Congolese voices,raises awarenessabout the country’s ongoing struggles and resilience, and mobilizes support for sustainable, locally-led change.