DRC / THE NUN AND THE IMAM

In a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sister Maria Concetta and Imam Moussa Bawa worked together for 30 years towards reconciliation and peace, helping refugees who fled from Central African Republic (CAR). UNHCR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:36
• Production Date: 30 September 2016
• Asset Language: French
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR
• Subject Topical: REFUGEES
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
• MAMS Id: 1722862
• Parent Id: 1722862
• Alternate Title: unifeed160930d

Description

STORY: DRC / THE NUN AND IMAM
TRT: 2:36
SOURCE: UNHCR
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT UNHCR
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / NATS

DATELINE: JULY 2016, ZONGO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

Shotlist

1.Wide shot, circulating on Ubangui River at sunset.
2. Various shots, Imam Moussa Bawa washing hands
3. Various shots, Imam washing face and feet
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Imam Moussa Bawa, Zongo’s Imam:
“I welcomed many Central African refugees into my home. With the women and children, they crossed over the river here to DRC. At the mosque, I will preach patience and peace. May peace be between us. Between Muslims and Christians, there are no enemies.”
5. Wide shot, young man setting off by pirogue on the Ubangui river
6. Wide shot, a pirogue middle of on the Ubangui river
7. Wide shot, children playing in Imam’s courtyard
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Sister Maria Concetta, Head of Zongo’s dispensary and Zongo’s midwife:
“At that time, we communicated a lot. Being the Muslim leader, he had to persevere with his message; a message to leave war, to forgive and seek peace. And that's what challenged the people's mindset. When faced with people who have suffered, it's not easy to lead them back onto the right path.”
9. Various shots, Sister Maria Concetta feeding a baby
10. Various shots, delivering baby in a hospital
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Imam Moussa Bawa, Zongo’s Imam:
“Sister Maria is always there at the maternity. She's the one who welcomes me with the future child, all my children have been delivered by Sister Maria.”
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Sister Maria Concetta, Head of Zongo’s dispensary and Zongo’s midwife:
“I've known him for more than thirty years, and we've always kept up our conversation about peace and communication.”
13. Various shots, Sister Maria Concetta with Imam Moussa Bawa on sick bed in Zongo dispensary
14. Various shots, Imam’s funeral
15. SOUNDBITE (French) Sister Maria Concetta, Head of Zongo’s dispensary and Zongo’s midwife:
“He was a great example of faith, as a person and of collaboration and a great support to the Muslim refugees, who fled Bangui to come here, in Zongo. I find Imam Moustapha very gentle and I think we will continue the same dialogue.”
16. Wide shot, Ubangui river bank

Storyline

Sister Maria Concetta and Imam Moussa Bawa worked together for 30 years towards reconciliation and peace in the village of Zongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where many refugees fled from Central African Republic (CAR).

Moussa Bawa was the Zongo’s Iman, he offered both shelter and moral guidance to the refugees.

SOUNDBITE (French) Imam Moussa Bawa, Zongo’s Imam:
“I welcomed many Central African refugees into my home. With the women and children, they crossed over the river here to DRC. At the mosque, I will preach patience and peace. May peace be between us. Between Muslims and Christians, there are no enemies.”

Working together with Imam Bawa was Sister Maria who heads Zongo’s dispensary and is also a midwife.

SOUNDBITE (French) Sister Maria Concetta, Head of Zongo’s dispensary and Zongo’s midwife:
“At that time, we communicated a lot. Being the Muslim leader, he had to persevere with his message; a message to leave war, to forgive and seek peace. And that's what challenged the people's mindset. When faced with people who have suffered, it's not easy to lead them back onto the right path.”

Sister Maria has delivered over 33, 000 babies.

SOUNDBITE (French) Imam Moussa Bawa, Zongo’s Imam:
“Sister Maria is always there at the maternity. She's the one who welcomes me with the future child, all my children have been delivered by Sister Maria.”

Imam Moussa Bawa passed away in July this year. Recalling Imam Bawa’s legacy,

SOUNDBITE (French) Sister Maria Concetta, Head of Zongo’s dispensary and Zongo’s midwife:
“He was a great example of faith, as a person and of collaboration and a great support to the Muslim refugees, who fled Bangui to come here, in Zongo. I find Imam Moustapha very gentle and I think we will continue the same dialogue.”

Since the end of 2012, nearly 100, 000 refugees have fled Central African Republic (CAR) crossing the Ubangui river by pirogue, into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).