Tongo Saa
Season 17 Episode 2 | 1h 25m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Residents of Kinshasa navigate life after dark, challenged by uneven electricity and violence.
Tongo Saa is set in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the government's plans to build a large hydroelectric power plant leaves many residents in darkness and insecurity. The uneven distribution of electricity causes many locals to navigate life after sunset using torches and other means to provide their own infrastructure and security amid constant violence.
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Funding for AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Tongo Saa
Season 17 Episode 2 | 1h 25m 52sVideo has Closed Captions
Tongo Saa is set in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the government's plans to build a large hydroelectric power plant leaves many residents in darkness and insecurity. The uneven distribution of electricity causes many locals to navigate life after sunset using torches and other means to provide their own infrastructure and security amid constant violence.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Related to This Episode
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(small explosion, sparks) DAVIDO (speaking Lingala): YANSA FATIMA: A poignant glimpse of light amid darkness in the Congo with power outages and severe flooding.
WOMAN 1: WOMAN 2: FATIMA: The community's frustration forces them to organize for their country.
The enduring spirit of Kinshasa's residents.
On this episode of "Afropop:" "Tongo Saa."
♪ Hey!
♪ Hey!
♪ Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
(waves crashing) GÉDÉON (speaking Lingala): (cheers and applause) GÉDÉON: WOMAN: GÉDÉON: (people murmuring in agreement) CROWD: Amen.
GÉDÉON: (tide rolling) (waves crashing) (waves crashing) (waves crashing) (water sloshing) (insects chirping) (indistinct chatter) MAN (speaking Lingala): (water sloshing) MAN (speaking Lingala): (indistinct chatter) (insects chirping) ♪ (indistinct chatter) ♪ GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: CROWD: Amen.
GÉDÉON: CROWD: Amen.
GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: (applause) GÉDÉON: CROWD: Amen.
(Gédéon continues, crowd responding) GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: CROWD: (applause) GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: CROWD: Amen.
GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: (crowd murmuring in agreement) GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: CROWD: Amen!
(distant singing in Lingala, clapping) (indistinct chatter) (radio static) REPORTER (speaking Lingala): (car horns honking) (din of the street) (radio music playing) (din of the street) ♪ (whistling) MAN (singing Lingala): (singing continues) (singings ends) (insects chirping, distant dog barking) (object rustling) (rustling continues) (radio static) KUDI (speaking Lingala, on loudspeaker): (indistinct chatter) (indistinct chatter, car horns) ♪ (bell ringing) (engines running) MAN (speaking Lingala): (distant voices) (insects chirping) WOMAN (speaking Lingala): WOMAN (speaking Lingala): WOMAN (speaking Lingala): MAN (speaking Lingala): WOMAN (speaking Lingala): WOMAN (speaking Lingala): (laughter) WOMAN (speaking Lingala): WOMAN (speaking Lingala): MAN (speaking Lingala): MAN (speaking Lingala): MAN (speaking Lingala): WOMAN (speaking Lingala): MAN (speaking Lingala): (crowd repeating prayer) (indistinct chatter) WOMEN (singing in Lingala): (motor running) (insects chirping) (radio tuning) (music playing) (radio static) (music playing) (music stops, electronic voice command) (motor continues running) AUTOMATED VOICE: Your battery is charged.
CHILD (speaking Lingala): KUDI: CHILD: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: CHILD (giggling): KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: KUDI: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: KUDI: CHILD: ♪ (church bells tolling) (rhythmic, percussive music playing) (church bells ringing) (rhythmic, percussive music continues) WOMAN (singing in Lingala): (group joining in singing) (singing continues) (engine revving) (car horns honking, indistinct chatter) (electronic chiming) (chiming continues, children's chatter) CHILD: (firecracker popping) (indistinct chatter, firecrackers continue) (electronic chiming) (indistinct chatter) MAN: KUDI: (firecracker popping) (firecrackers) KUDI: (firecracker) (indistinct chatter) WOMAN: KUDI: WOMAN: KUDI: WOMAN: KUDI: WOMAN: (indistinct chatter) (fireworks) WOMAN: MAN: (fireworks popping) (indistinct chatter) KUDI: WOMAN: KUDI: (indistinct chatter) MAN: KUDI: MAN: WOMAN: KUDI: WOMAN: WOMAN: (fireworks popping) (indistinct chatter) KUDI: REPORTER: (insects chirping) (tapping) (indistinct chatter) (laughter) (chatter continues) (clanking) MAN: (grunting) (clapping) DAVIDO (singing): (singing continues) (metal clanking) (man breathing deeply) (group talking indistinctly) (clanking) MAN: MAN 2: (laughing) (music playing through headphones) (clapping) (vocalizing) (man sighing) (clapping and vocalizing) (drumming) DAVIDO: MAN: (men talking indistinctly) MAN: DAVIDO (voiceover, singing): (vocalizing) (metal clanking) MAN: MAN 1: MAN 2: MAN: MAN 2: MAN 1: MAN 2: MAN 1: MAN 2: (indistinct chatter) (distant traffic) ♪ (fireworks bursting) (bell tolling) BOY: GIRL: SAM: (indistinct chatter) (fireworks bursting) BOY: (popping, crackling) (sharp booming) (whistle blowing) (children chanting) (whistleblowing continues) (crackling and booming continue) (chanting and whistleblowing) (fireworks screeching) (booming) (hissing) (booming) (children chanting) MAN: (engine running) (indistinct shouting) BOY: (car horns honking) (engine running continues) (children chanting) (excited squealing) (children cheering) (indistinct chatter) (whistling) (car door shuts) REAGAN: RADIO DJ: REAGAN: RADIO DJ: REAGAN: RADIO DJ: REAGAN: REAGAN: RADIO DJ: REAGAN: RADIO DJ: REAGAN: RADIO DJ: (Reagan laughs) (distant clanking) KUDI: BOY: KUDI: BOY: KUDI: BOY: KUDI: BOY: KUDI: (insects chirping) ♪ (chirping continues) WOMAN: WOMAN 2: WOMAN: MAN: MAN 2: MAN: MAN 2: LEA: LEA: WOMAN: WOMAN 2: (indistinct chatter) WOMAN: (indistinct chatter) (buzzing) WOMAN: ♪ (splashing) SAM: (woman laughs) WOMAN: (splashing) (indistinct chatter) (group chatter) (laughter) DAVIDO: (sloshing) DAVIDO: SAM: DAVIDO: SAM: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: MAN: MAN 2: WOMAN: SAM: WOMAN: (sloshing) DAVIDO: SAM: DAVIDO: SAM: (silverware clinking) DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: GIRL: WOMAN: SAM: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO (exclaiming): WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: WOMAN: (laughing) WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: WOMAN: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: DAVIDO: (woman mumbling indistinctly) ♪ GIRL: DAVIDO: GIRL: (indistinct talking) (electrical screeching) GÉDÉON (singing): (group joining in) GÉDÉON: GROUP: GÉDÉON: MAN: GÉDÉON: MAN: GROUP: GÉDÉON: ♪ (chanting) Hallelujah!
Hallelujah... MAN: WOMAN: (thunder booming) (voices distort, thunder roars) ♪ (rain pouring) (thunder rumbling) ♪ REPORTER (speaking French): REPORTER 2 (speaking French): MAN: (indistinct chatter) (drums booming) (metal clanking) (metallic thudding) DAVIDO (voiceover, singing): (clanking, indistinct chatter) (indistinct chatter) (men laugh) (man singing) ♪ MAN 1: MAN 2: MAN: DAVIDO: MAN: DAVIDO: MAN: (indistinct chatter) Ah, ah!
(clanging) (indistinct chatter) (thudding) Ah!
(weight clanking) MAN: MAN: GÉDÉON (over radio): ♪ (objects clattering) (flames crackling) (indistinct chatter) (car horn) (honking) (indistinct chatter) (flames crackling, car horns honking) (indistinct singing, wailing) WOMAN: (singing, wailing continues) (wailing loudly) (singing continues, music playing) (singing, music playing) (music playing continues) (music playing) (music playing continues) (music stops) WOMAN: MAN: (insects chirping) (indistinct chatter) MAN: (birds chirping) MAN: WOMAN: MAN: (woman laughs) (distant music playing) (birds chirping) WOMAN: (distant rooster crowing) MAN: WOMAN: MAN: WOMAN: MAN: (church bells tolling) (tolling continues) (din of the street) (rhythmic clinking) (thunder rumbling) (water sloshing) KUDI: (women singing, music playing nearby) KUDI: WOMAN: KUDI: MAN: KUDI: WOMAN: (singing, music continues) (music continues) (indistinct chatter, swing squeaking) KUDI: LUTANGA: KUDI: LUTANGA: KUDI: LUTANGA: KUDI: LUTANGA: KUDI: LUTANGA: KUDI: LUTANGA: MAN: VIVIANE: MAN: WOMAN: MAN: LUTANGA: (rooster crowing) LUTANGA: WOMAN: WOMAN: WOMAN: LUTANGA: LUTANGA: MAN: LUTANGA: MAN: MAN: LUTANGA: MAN: MAN: WOMAN: MAN: KUDI: LUTANGA: LUTANGA: MAN: WOMAN: (rooster crowing) WOMAN: WOMAN: WOMAN: MAN: WOMAN: MAN: WOMAN: MAN: WOMAN: WOMAN: WOMAN: MAN: MAN: WOMAN: (distant voices, bells tolling) (distant applause) (music playing) GÉDÉON (on speaker): CROWD: GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: (applause) GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: MAN: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: GÉDÉON: CROWD: GÉDÉON: (indistinct screaming, shouting) (chattering) (audio distorts) (indistinct chatter) ♪ (indistinct chatter, screaming) (Gédéon continues speaking, members shouting, screaming) (breathing rapidly) (audio stops, high-pitched screeching) (crowd singing quietly) MAN (singing): (crowd continues singing quietly) (quietly praying) (digging, quiet prayer continues) (indistinct chatter) MAN: MAN: MAN: MAN: MAN: MAN: (crickets chirping) MAN: WOMAN: KUDI: WOMAN: MAN: KUDI: MAN: WOMAN: KUDI: MAN: ♪ (tape wrapping) MAN: KUDI: ♪ (indistinct chatter, nearby fireworks) (fireworks continue) (birds chirping, rooster crowing) (distant siren blaring) (rooster crowing) (water sloshing) (chuckles) DAVIDO: (indistinct chatter) (indistinct chatter) GIRL: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: DAVIDO: KEREN: DAVIDO: KEREN: WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: (indistinct chatter) (indistinct chatter) WOMAN: DAVIDO: WOMAN: (indistinct chatter) DAVIDO: WOMAN: DAVIDO: ♪ ♪ ♪ ("Geej Dju Malika" by Tamala playing) (song continues) ♪ (song continues) ("Geej Dju Malika" resumes playing) ♪
Video has Closed Captions
Preview: S17 Ep2 | 30s | Residents of Kinshasa navigate life after dark, challenged by uneven electricity and violence. (30s)
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Funding for AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.