Impacts of the “ambo-ambo” socio-cultural phenomenon on the sustainable development of the city of Inongo: Analysis of the crisis and possible solutions

Abstract

In the town of Inongo, Maï-Ndombe Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the sociocultural phenomenon ―ambo-ambo‖ is in vogue. Considering its current deployment in the socio-cultural environment, it risks harming the vision, culture and practice of sustainable development in this environment. Hence, a socio-environmental field survey consisting of a representative sampling of 1558 subjects was organized in the Municipality of Pongonzoli in order to understand and explain the essence, causes and consequences of the phenomenon. Supported by direct and qualitative observation, documentary review, interviews and the systemic approach to the collection, processing and analysis of data, the study was able to obtain the following major results: 87.5% of subjects recognize the existence of the ―ambo-ambo‖ phenomenon understood as ―a diplomacy of lies‖ (44% of subjects surveyed) stolen by users for ―courtesy‖ (55% of subjects surveyed). The ethnic groups responsible for the phenomenon are essentially the Bolia (53.6% of the subjects surveyed) and the Ntomba (44.4% of the subjects surveyed). Its diffusion occurs through ―borrowing‖ (52.2% of the subjects surveyed) from the original cultural cores. Its practice responds to the ―imperatives of survival‖ (40% of subjects surveyed) to end poverty. Its consequences on a social, psychological, cultural and ethical level are, among others: conflicts (43% of subjects surveyed); personality crisis (53% of subjects surveyed); intellectual hypocrisy (46% of subjects surveyed), irresponsibility and cult of mediocrity (47% of subjects surveyed). To overcome the phenomenon and in order to build together a culture of sustainable development, the study proposes the following: the reduction of extreme poverty, the improvement of socio-environmental governance, the good management of public freedom for all, the fight against irresponsibility through legal sanctions and anti-values.