Expressions in Full Force: What Can Rivers, Bridges and Clothing Say?
Republic of the Congo
Ahead of sunset, we headed to the waterfall near the Brazzaville Golf course. The force of the brown river sped by, as if cauldrons of chai were being dumped out upstream to form the waterway.
We sat poolside, watching Nature slide by. The expression was in full force yet, even in her strength, I noticed there was a softness. Indeed an opportunity for emulation for people with power.
After a fresh juice by the rapids, we headed to the corniche. Although Brazza is right by the water, the access to take a dip is limited to the coastal towns, like 500km west in Pointe Noire. I’m a fan of urban planning, where water views are thought through and waterfront walkways for its people are prioritized. Particularly when they’re equipped with wide, flat smooth surfaces, benches, beautiful vantage points and boardwalks that offer holistic opportunities for folks from all abilities and walks of life (pun intended) to rejuvenate - body, mind and spirit.
I saw it on my last trip to DRC, the ‘15th August 1960’ overpass is conspicuous on the landscape of the Congos, a hard to miss icon by day or night.
The cable-stayed bridge in Brazzaville enables efficient movement in and out of the city centre. Named after the day when the country gained independence from France, the bridge lights up at night, as if Vegas had some say in its decor. We sped back and forth a few times, each time, I protruded from the window, looking skyward, feeling the breeze in my hair and seeing the cables come to life through their dancing lights.
I’ve seen beautiful structures that sit silently as they link lands, yet this bridge seemed to have more dialogues to drive home. A little pizazz that showcased how regardless of size, location and external attention, one can light up the night sky - every night.
On this trip, I wasn’t fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of those that are a part of the Société des Ambianceurs et Personnes Elégantes/Society of Ambience-Makers and Elegant People (Sape), known as “sapeurs”, who fuse fashion, culture and social resistance. While stylish dressing can turn heads from bystanders, some share their wider sentiments: “Sape is an art, Sape is a discipline, Sape is a job”, so it’s definitely worth trying to be on the look out for them.
The flamboyant full-on colours, styles and combinations of clothing for sapeurs, sapeuses or others invites a conversation and connection that might begin in our exterior lives, but with the right attitude and intention, can undress latent layers.
Flying past the window, I was tickled to see funny street signs that flashed before me such as “top pneus” and “espace sans frontiers”. What impressed me less was when I ordered a plate that sounded similar-ish to my caprese salad that I’ve been so addicted to of late. First of all, the menu didn’t mention ‘melted’, so when the Mozzarella came draped and gooey, that was the first strike. The second was the biscuit turned out to be a shortbread cookie (!) and the tomato was a nail-sized chunk, almost as a garnish. While the rest of the seafood was tasty, it reminded me that while in Africa, order dishes from the continent, not from cravings. Nonetheless, the concoction made me even more grateful for the traditional Lebanese breakfast Amani had prepared for me.
There are little idiosyncrasies that I notice here. More than a handful of folks will listen to their music, the football game or their show with their phone on speaker mode - it just doesn’t seem to be a thing here that privacy includes my very own airspace on planes or in public places. In a similar vein, people are always talking to one another and often, amidst the interactions, bubbling into boisterous belly laughs, like the popcorn that keeps popping and expanding out.
Not all emotions are happy though beware, yet even with the sad/mad/bad type, expressions are often on display full force for one to see (and deal with). To me, this seems to be a more efficient, authentic and franker way of interacting rather than those tacit behind-the-bedroom-door approaches.
From gushing rivers and bodacious bridges, I’ve enjoyed my intro into Congo-Brazzaville and am looking forward to seeing the swells of the Atlantic Ocean, soon enough in Pointe Noire.
Until then, as I sat poolside, I wondered how much of life passes us by while we manufacture big feelings and expressions into packages that seem palatable for our recipients. With grace, kindness and a genuine intention for advancing our human connection as non negotiable prerequisites, where would our world be if we permitted and encouraged each other to share what might be sitting in our hearts and souls?
May we be able to fully express ourselves (authentically and with graciousness) regardless of the relationship,