Americans aren’t the only ones celebrating independence this weekend.
On June 30, the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated 48 years of independence from Belgium, and Chicago’s Congolese community kicks off a weekend of festivities today. “There will be prayer, and then speeches, then after the speeches there will be the dancing to Congolese folk music,” said Patrick Ntula, the event’s coordinator and member of the Congolese Community of Chicago. The independence festivities will also be paired with a soccer tournament sponsored by the Congolese Soccer federation, with six Congolese teams from across the United States competing at Harper College in north suburban Palatine. From 1998 to 2003, the Democratic Republic of Congo was wracked by civil war⎯a war that the Reuters Foundation estimates killed 5.4 million people. Many Congolese refugees have fled the South African country to come to the United States, and Ntula⎯who came to Chicago in 1994⎯estimates that about 5,000 Congolese reside in Illinois. “The Congo has been through a lot. We’ve had devastating civil wars that killed over 4 million people. So these celebrations are just an opportunity for all the Congolese people to get together and reflect on what’s going on in their country and at the same time enjoy the freedom that many Congolese have in America, and also have fun,” Ntula said. CONGOLESE INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVITIES Thursday, 07/03/2008 1:00pm – 6:00pm: Soccer Tournament (Harper College) 1:00pm – 6:00pm: BBQ & Music (Harper College) 8:00pm – 12:00am: Official Kick-Off (Marriott O’Hare – Ballroom) Friday, 07/04/2008 9:00am – 6:00pm: Soccer Tournament (Harper College) 12:00pm – 6:00pm: BBQ & Music (Harper College) 8:00pm – 12:00am: Cultural & Festive Activities or Dance (Marriott O’Hare – Ballroom) Saturday, 07/05/2008 2:oopm – 6:00pm: Soccer Tournament Finals (Harper College) 2:00pm – 6:00pm: BBQ & Music (Harper College) 8:00pm – 2:00am: Last Day Party (El Patron Lounge – Waukegan) Call 414-617-0503 for more information. Leila Noelliste can be reached via e-mail at lnoelliste@chicagodefender.com ______ Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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