The Arts and Humanities in African contexts often face constraints due to colonial legacies and contemporary challenges such as underfunding and political instability. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), these issues are compounded by historical traumas, which have impacted educational systems and cultural practices. The study employs participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and archival research to gather data from various Congolese institutions including universities, arts councils, and community-based organizations. Data analysis focuses on thematic content and discourse analysis methods. Participants reported significant difficulties in securing funding for their projects (80% cited financial constraints), which hindered the development of innovative work that could contribute to decolonizing Arts and Humanities practices. There was a notable theme of community engagement, with over half of respondents indicating collaborative efforts aimed at revitalizing traditional arts forms. Decolonization in Congolese Arts and Humanities is characterized by resilience and innovation amidst adversity. The findings highlight the importance of sustained support for local initiatives to foster meaningful change and sustainability within these sectors. Policy makers should prioritise increased funding, mentorship programmes, and advocacy efforts to support Congolese artists and scholars in their decolonization endeavors. Universities and arts councils must also play a more active role in promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and community involvement.
Tshisekedi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.