Republic of the Congo Civil War (1997–99)

Republic of the Congo · 1997–1999

“Draw near — the atlas keeps this thread, and tonight the fire lends it a voice.”

Months before the 1997 election, President Lissouba sent troops to arrest his rival Sassou Nguesso; Sassou's Cobra militia fought back, and Brazzaville became the battlefield of its own politicians. When Angolan armour crossed the border for Sassou, the war was decided.

Jelikan · Ìtàn · A story is told at night

Sit by the fire.
The griot remembers.

244 tellings from the African Conflict Atlas, every one carried in the griot's own voice — empires and uprisings, taxes and stools, gold roads and broken promises. Told the way a griot tells them: by voice, by lesson, by question.

“A story, a story!”

32 fires burn through the year →

Choose a thread

What shall the fire hear tonight?

Tonight

All time

1200 CEToday

— and the circle answers: “Let it come, let it go.”

Sit by the fire.The griot remembers.

What shall the fire hear tonight?

Sit by the fire.
The griot remembers.