Who are the Babondo?
In the heart of Central Africa, in the highlands and forests of the Fizi and Itombwe territories of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, lives a people of deep roots, strong bonds, and rich traditions. We are the Babondo — and this is our story.
“A person is a person through other people.” — Ubuntu philosophy, the foundation of Babondo community life.
A People of the DRC
The Babondo are an indigenous Congolese community originating from the Fizi and Itombwe territories of South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Our homeland is a land of extraordinary natural beauty — high plateaus, dense forests, and rivers — a geography that has shaped our way of life, our values, and our sense of belonging to the land and to each other.
We are part of a broader family of Bantu-speaking peoples, sharing linguistic and cultural ties with neighbouring communities across Central and East Africa. Our language, Kibembe, is the thread that connects us across generations — in the DRC, in the diaspora, and here in Greater Manchester.
Our Values and Way of Life
The Babondo people are guided by a set of values that have held our communities together through generations of change: collective solidarity, respect for elders, care for children and families, and a deep commitment to preserving culture and identity. We believe in the African philosophy of ubuntu — the understanding that a person is a person through other people. No one stands alone.
These values are not merely traditional — they are living. They shape how we welcome newcomers, how we support one another through hardship, and how we celebrate together. They are why M’Mbondo Manchester exists.
The Babondo in the UK
Like many communities from the DRC and surrounding region, the Babondo diaspora has grown across the United Kingdom over the past two decades — shaped by conflict, displacement, and the search for safety and opportunity. In Greater Manchester, our community has found a home. We have rebuilt our lives, raised our children, and continued to carry the culture and traditions of our homeland.
M’Mbondo Manchester was founded to serve this community — to create a trusted, culturally grounded space in Greater Manchester where Babondo families and individuals can connect, support one another, and celebrate who they are. We are active across Oldham, Tameside, Manchester and Stockport, and we gather regularly at 4C Community Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Our Cultural Heritage
The Babondo bring a rich and distinctive cultural heritage to Britain. Among our most treasured traditions:
1. Esuba — our traditional ceremonial dance, passed down through generations and performed at community celebrations;
2. Kibembe — our heritage language, which we are actively preserving and teaching to UK-born young people;
3. Traditional Kitenge dress — vibrant, patterned fabric worn at cultural gatherings and formal events;
4. Babondo cuisine — dishes including Eswaka, Makemba, and Alala, prepared according to recipes passed down through families;
5. Communal storytelling, music, and ceremonies that mark the important moments of life.