Bienvenu a Matonge: a piece of Africa in Brussels
Shaped by Congolese migrants, Brussels' Matonge neighborhood is famous for its African shops, wigmakers, hairdressers, restaurants and bars.
Kinshasa in Belgium
About 100,000 people with African origins live in Brussels. They make up almost 10 percent of the Belgian capital's inhabitants. Most come from the former Belgian colonies of Congo and Rwanda; others are from West African countries such as Senegal, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. They all find a piece of home in Matonge, which takes its name from a district in the Congolese capital Kinshasa.
Clothes for special occasions
The cotton fabrics for weddings or religious festivities come in all colors and prints. Relishing the eye-catching assortment, white women also like to shop here. In many of the boutiques, the owner will even tailor the desired design themselves. The fabrics, however, are not from Ghana or Congo, but the Netherlands. "They have a better quality," a shop assistant says.
Hair from Brazil, India and China
Looking for wigs, braided hair extensions or cosmetics? Matonge is where the experts are. It is where women of African origin go for a new look. Here they can find anything from the simple to the extravagant. There are considerable differences in quality and price. Synthetic wigs start at 10 euros ($13.63), whereas a Brazilian human hair wig can cost up to 300 euros.
Stopping by in Matonge for a chat
Matonge is also very popular with the men. Emmanuel always comes here for his haircut. He is from Kinshasa, and Matonge feels a little like home. "I'm always running across people I know," says Emmanuel. For a new look, gentlemen get a better deal than ladies do. This haircut will cost Emmanuel only eight euros.
A line to Africa
The shops in Matonge cater to the needs of their African customers. Call shops providing an inexpensive way to call home are especially popular. Other service providers make a great deal of money off the many Africans who transfer part of their income to their families at home.
Small gifts from Africa
Whoever looks for a colorful present in the grey city of Brussels will find just the right thing here. A shop called Afrikamali, "Africa's treasures," sells everything from earrings and necklaces to candlesticks and wicker baskets. Most of them are from Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Burkina Faso and Mali. Many vendors in Matonge maintain a broad network of suppliers in their home countries.
A place to meet
The Kuumba cultural center brings Africans and Europeans together. Here you can find African food, concerts, movies or tours of the Matonge neighborhood. Apart from those who speak Kiswahili, most people speak French here. But you will also encounter Dutch in the Kuumba center: The cultural cafe, which is largely sponsored by the Flemish community, is called Vlaams-Afrikaans Huis.
Building bridges
The cultural cafe was Jeroen Marckelbach's idea. "It all began in 2008, when I cycled from Matonge in Brussels to Matonge in Kinshasa," Kuumba's founder recounts. "I wanted to do something to improve relations between Africans and Belgians. They hardly know each other." Through language courses, art and literature, the cultures can learn from each other.
Multicultural and multilingual
Different cultures and languages meet in Matonge. Alain Mpetsi, a native Congolese, is profiting from the linguistic diversity. He speaks five languages and works as an interpreter. He also teaches Kiswahili and Lingala, two of the principle languages spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Culinary delights
The African community does not only come to Matonge to shop. Matonge is the place to meet up for a beer and African music or for a meal. Numerous restaurants serve traditional African dishes and drinks. The Soleil d’Afrique restaurant is one of the best-known in Matonge. It is frequented by locals and tourists alike.
Plantains and manioc instead of fries and chocolates
The menu features dishes such as Mafe (meat in peanut-butter sauce), Yassa (meat in a spicy marinade), fish, and fried pastries filled with vegetables or minced meat. Most dishes are from West and East Africa. Typical side dishes are rice or fried plantains.
Live Congolese music
Music is heard everywhere in Matonge. On the weekends, singers peform in many African restaurants and bars. You can even meet popular singers from the Democratic Republic of Congo here in Matonge. Thus Matonge injects a bit of African joie de vivre into everyday life in Brussels, in the heart of Europe.