Rapprochements ethnolinguistiques aux zones minières artisanales à l’est de la RD Congo

Abstract

In the past two decades numerous academic studies have focused on artisanal mining governance in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Nevertheless, researchers, policy-makers and organizations that debate or engage in reforming the artisanal mining (ASM) sector in the region are often unaware of local terminology, which sometimes causes inaccurate interpretations. As these terminologies are non-codified, fluid, and evolving, they are often reserved exclusively to insiders, i.e. to those who are involved in ASM throughout the supply chain. This article collects terms used in and around mining sites in eastern DRC’s North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. Through a discussion of the terms and an analysis of their role and history in their respective contexts, it aims at contributing to a better understanding of the ASM sector. We begin with an ethno-linguistic analysis of the terms used by artisanal miners and other local stakeholders around the pits, during the processing, and at the stage of trading the minerals. Subsequently, we complement the first part with a discussion of the similarities and differences across our fieldwork sites and provide insight into the self-perception of artisanal miners and their work. In conclusion, we embed our linguistic findings in a wider contextualisation and a partial ethnography of everyday life in and around an economy often characterised by stereotypes.