La culture urbaine dans les arts populaires d'Afrique: Analyse de l'ambiance zaïroise

Abstract

AbstractThe “ambiance,” as urban hedonism, is the main leisure activity in most African cities. It stimulated a sociability incarnated by the triad mundele, ndumba, and “ambianceur” and their representations in Zaire. The ndumba “femme libre” is a female urban migrant, unemployed single mother, or white colonizer's concubine. She experiences ethnic exile and pays urban taxes for her industry; she is also the bread winner for her family still living in the village. On the other hand, the married woman is a housewife and Christian mother who is kept away from the public sphere. However, the ndumba is a victim of the masculinization of urban politics, missionary sexism, and exclusion from the labour world; paradoxically, she is the object of men's fantasy and investment. She also incarnates the image of a successful modern woman by imposing herself as the master key of the “ambiance” that she transformed in a “a mode of action.” In doing so, she takes revenge over the male powers who generated her. This gend...