Alex Molowayi, 40, university student, in his bedroom at <i>Maison Africaine</i>, a university residence founded in 1961 that houses 80 African students mainly coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Camerun. Belgian Government pays half of the 250 Euro monthly fee. «I came from Kinshasa in 2003 to study Pedagogy at the University of Brussels. I should take my degree in two years. Then I will go back to my country to work as a teacher. When I am not studying I help people who need some private lessons, or I watch football and American series on TV». A band playing just before Pierre Kompany's election rally. Pierre Kompany is a political refugee and he became a Belgian citizen in 1982. A woman dances while waiting for Pierre Kompany's election rally. A business man in Chaussée d'Ixelles. Pierre Kompany, 63, Socialist representative, going around Matonge. A cafe in Chaussée de Wavre. Strolling along Chaussée de Wavre. Thierry Van Pevenage, 38, manager at <i>Maison Africaine</i> since 2004. A welfare worker, an accountant, a logistic manager and three cleaning people work with him. «Matonge is a slightly dangerous area even though it has improved a lot recently. We work along with other associations and we organize exhibitions, concerts, events, but I always advice my guys to stay away from troubles and temptations, to concentrate on studying, volunteering and working». Guido Gryseels, 53, director at the <i>Royal Museum for Central Africa</i> of Tervuren, near Brussels. Visitors in the "Indipendence room". The Museum, built in 1898, was inaugurated on 30<sup>th</sup> April 1910. It has about 200,000 visitors a year. Lazare Jéris Bungu, born in Kinshasa in 1936, has worked in the Museum since 2000. Seven out of the 267 Congolese people that Leopold II brought to Brussels for the <i>Exposition Internationale</i> in 1897 are buried in Tervuren. They were exhibited before a million visitors. Subjected to the cold climate, they died of pneumonia. Antoine Tshitungu Kongolo, Congolese poet, writer and essayist, born in Lumumbashi in 1957, shows tourists and journalists coming from all over the world around Brussels, telling them the history of Congo and King Leopold's crimes. He is the director of <i>Matongazete</i>. «Talking about the colonial period in Belgium was a taboo until a few years ago. Then Adam Hochschild published <i>King Leopold's Ghost</i> and told the world about the genocide of the Congolese people. There's much to do about it but young people are very interested in this sad part of the history of Belgium». Nzema Omba, 37, in front of his bookshop <i>Panafrica</i>. Son of a Mobutu opposer imprisoned for 5 years in a Congolese prison, he studied Philosophy and Law in Belgium. In his bookshop Nzema organizes language courses, meetings, events, book presentations. «This association is an excuse to study my land and my people. When I go back to Congo I want to be a good example for the young people in my country». Marc Lenaerts and Nando Garcia Lopez, 28, are the co-founders of <i>BCS</i> (Base Centrale de Signalisation), a group promoting Belgian artists, many of whom come from Matonge. Election posters in Chaussée de Wavre. Magali Silvestre, 33, of Rwandese mother and Belgian father, in her boutique of the co-op <i>Afrikamäli</i>, selling fair trade products coming from Africa. Being busy in Matonge. A reproduction of the work <i>Porte de Namur! Porte de l'Amour?</i> by Congolese artist Chéri Samba in Porte de Namur. Everyday life in Chaussée d'Ixelles. Smile, you are in Matonge. Jeroen Markelbach, 33, coordinator of <i>Kaffee Kuumba</i>, that in Swahili means “to create”. In 2008 he rode his bicycle for 14,000 km, from Brussels to Kinshasa, gathering more than 23,000 Euros for <i>Memisa</i>, a Belgian NGO that works in Congo. Ngongiste Mayele-Gode alias Nzeza Mongali Succes, 46, Congolese musician, in Brussels since 2000, inside <i>Casa Latina</i>, a place where a lot of Congolese bands usually perform. Nzeza played with Zaïko Langa Langa, a band famous in Africa for the <i>rumba</i>. From the left Nicole Grégoire, 30, anthropologist, Isabelle Verstraete, 34, employee, and Thérèse Ngalula, 31, artist. Born from mixed couples, or from Congolese parents, they often have felt and still feel foreigners both in Belgium and in Congo. They hope that in Belgian schools the colonial period will be studied more and better. They are pessimistic about the future in Congo. Nicole Grégoire: «Being considered black in Belgium and white in Congo can be a problem, especially when you're a child. But then it can be a resource. Studying Anthropology is no accident. I'm interested in African associations in Brussels». A cafe in the heart of Matonge. Thérèse Ngalula in the gallery where her works are exhibited. The title of her exhibition is <i>Women's stories</i>. Young people watching a football match in <i>Espace Matonge</i>, a multi-purpose centre in Chaussée de Wavre. Susanne Moukassa, volunteer in <i>Espace Matonge</i>. «The criminals are only a few, and alcohol and drug addiction are not only in Matonge. People are often afraid of Matonge because of the media. We're trying to make young people meet the elders, and the parents meet their children. It's not easy, but things are getting better». Jacqueline ”Jackie“ Ruth in front of the African specialities shop she owns. Born in Congo, with a Belgian father and a Congolese mother, she moved to Brussels 25 years ago. Her nickname in Matonge is ”Marraine“, godmother, because she helps young Congolese to make their artistic dreams come true. Philip Buyck, 49, has more than 3,000 books about Congo. He started his collection after reading <i>King Leopold's Ghost</i> by Adam Hochschild. His website www.lumumba.be was created to remember Patrice Lumumba. «The day he was killed (17<sup>th</sup> January 1961) is another important date for the history of Congo. And for my life as well: my mother was pregnant when Lumumba died». The black balloons he “takes around” Brussels represent Congolese people killed in Congo from that day on.