Founded in 2005 by Director Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga ATHENA- AFRICALIVES! CULTURE AND ADVOCACY formerly AFRICA LIVES! is an organisation working with charities, companies and individuals. We are dedicated to projects encouraging positive social change using Films, Theatre Art and committed to strong Advocacy work. -In 2009, the organisation included AFRICALIVES! THEATRE to pursue the work by Belgian based theatre "Compagnie Théatrale Ebene et Ivoire" created in Belgium, with London based actors. -In 2010 it included AFRICALIVES! ART to showcase and support artwork from emerging artists from African background who are often absent on the world stage, although their works and influence are undeniable. -In 2012 the organisation launched AFRICALIVES! NETWORKS in response to the growing need to provide efficient network structure for policy and advocacy to various project development, communities and organisations. The organisation has been instrumental in providing assistance and liaising with various community organisations, particularly the Congolese community, in providing advocacy, lobbying, and legal assistance referral. Working efficiently with international and national NGO’s, Charities, Faith groups, Lawyers and Human rights campaigner across Europe, USA and Africa. -In 2017 AfricaLives! becomes ATHENA- AFRICALIVES! CULTURE AND ADVOCACY Please note: Many academics, students, journalists, university and college networks are accessing our articles, films, photos, reviews and information via this website. PLEASE QUOTE YOUR SOURCES ACCURATELY IF YOU ARE USING ANY INFORMATION FROM OUR WEBSITE. All article, photos and publication are copyright Shana Mongwanga-Eloko - Athena Culture and Advocacy / AfricaLives! Thank you. Associate Partners Lucy Smith-Jones: Associate editor Nicholas Jourdain: Camera Operator Esquase Martino: Music Composer, Editor, Fixer Josh Hannan: Musician, Compose Pentti Turunen: Editor Victor Esses: Theatre Director Lovejit K. Dhaliwal: Filmmaker Maurita Van Droogenbroeck: Photographer Erik Young: Camera Operator Eryk Hildebrand: Camera Operator Collaboration, Partnership projects and Festivals: Tour de Force Theatre http://www.tdftheatre.com/ Sundance - London Short film Festival Cannes film Festival - Short film Corner New York - Congo Harlem Film Series Culture Unplugged The Hive Theatre/ Old Peanut Factory Old Red Lion Theatre Justice and Peace- UK Jesuit Refugee Service- UK USA - Friends Of Congo |
Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga is a Human Rights Campaigner and Artist who also works as a Director, Producer, Writer and Actor. She was born in Bukavu, East of the Democratic Republic of Congo and is currently based in London and Paris. She has a Master in Political Science/ International Relations and is a Bachelor in Law from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium). She is the daughter of Martin Mongwanga Wa Gambo an intellectual and Congolese Civil Servant who was in charge of Goma region and graduate from University of Lubumbashi. Her grandfather is Leopold-Sylvere Bondekwe, Mayor of Stanleyville (now Kinsangani) who was brutally assassinated in 1964 by Simba rebels and who's murder prompted the Wild Geese operation with mercenary Mike Hoare and USA intervention to reclaim Stanleyville. The events will later be recounted in a book and film starring Richard Burton. Mike wrote: “The mayor of Stanleyville, Sylvere Bondekwe, a greatly respected and powerful man, was forced to stand naked before a frenzied crowd of Simbas while one of them cut out his liver.” Shana de Carsignac Mongwanga wrote her play 'Congo Independence' in memory of her grandfather during her university years in Belgium, after she saw a picture of her grandfather Leopold-Sylvere Bondekwe at the University library performing in a play 50's Belgian congo. READ MORE ABOUT CONGO INDEPENDENCE. coming soon Shana worked for the Jesuit Refugee Service-UK Office in advocating and lobbying and on behalf of Refugees and Asylum seekers on a National and European level. A particular emphasis of her work included to accompany, serve and advocate for asylum seekers in detention centres across Europe. In response to a growing frustration and the lack of tackling the root causes of refugee issues, she founded AFRICA LIVES! to challenge stereotypes about developing countries particularly Africa, often portrayed as un-resourceful, dying continent and the perpetual victimisation of African women. AFRICALIVES! is an organisation dedicated to projects encouraging positive social change using Films, Theatre and Art. As a Film Director Shana Mongwanga trained with various Independent film projects in London, such as Raindance, Documentary Filmmakers Group and Women in Digital Entertainment. On the job training includes work placement at Michael Winterbottom's Revolutions Films production company during the filming of Angelina Jolie and Plan B production of the film 'A Mighty Heart'. As a writer, she took part in the Royal Court International Writers Program. Which resulted in the play "KENZO" about knife crime in London. Other writing credits include "CONGO INDEPENDENCE”, a journey through the Congolese Independence. As an Actor, she trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London, and was the recipient of Dance and drama Award in London and winner of Concours“Scenes a Deux” at the Belgian National Theatre. She has appeared an collaborated in various films and theatre productions in London and Europe. She is a producer at Tour de Force Theatre Company http://www.tdftheatre.com/ She is an active member of various media and community platforms and women's group to foster real and tangible change in Africa and Congo in particular. She is has been a Manager of the Shakespeare Readers Society and Trustee of West London Opera. She is a Member of Richmond Shakespeare Society (London) Play Slection Community and an active member of Teddington Theatre to foster inclusion and diversity. Academic article written by Shana Mongwanga in the PEACEBUILDING JOURNAL with foreword by Adam Hochschild and contributors such as Dr Denis Mukwege. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21647259.2014.910916 'A New Dawn for Congo: the central role of Women in moving DRC' by Shana Mongwanga AFRICA LIVES!, UK Published 27 May 2014. To cite this article: Shana Mongwanga (2014) A new dawn for Congo: the central role of women in moving DRC forward, Peacebuilding, 2:2, 227-229, DOI: 10.1080/21647259.2014.910916 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21647259.2014.910916 Read more about our work in the INTERVIEWS and PUBLICATION / SPEAKER'S CORNER SECTION |