Congolese Rhythm: Samuel Mutiri on Congo's Legendary World Cup Showing & The Sound Conquering the World

For our second interview, Tambola sat down with Samuel Mutiri, a Congolese Belgian football star and music lover, whose story moves across three places he has called home: Brussels, the United States, and Congo. Samuel talked with us about what happens when a country’s music and its national team command the world’s attention at the same time, and what that means for those of us who live far from home.

Growing up Congolese in Belgium

Samuel grew up in Brussels, in the shadow of Matongé, the neighborhood known for its large Congolese community. He moved from a predominantly white private school to a more diverse public school with many students of Congolese origin, and that change brought him closer to his heritage in a way he had not been before. The thread that connected him to Congo long before his physical re-integration was music. Samuel recalls the annual music festivals his father would have at their house, something he took for granted until he was older. Music; both at home and in his community at his new school, stayed a constant for him throughout his life. It was the way in which he found belonging, despite where he was.

Samuel highlighted the lack of access in returning to his homeland, citing visa restrictions and the lack of dual citizenship as part of the reason why it was hard for diaspora to make frequent trips back to Congo. For many in the diaspora, distance isn’t a choice, which makes the things that travel across borders matter even more.

The World Cup

Things that travel across the border.. namely- football. 

Congo had not qualified for the World Cup in more than 40 years and had never scored a goal in a previous tournament. So when the team tied Portugal, Samuel felt it. Watching as a footballer, he saw how much the team had changed.

He credited the new coach as a major factor, along with the president’s financial support, including rewards like cars and land for players. He named the captain, Chance and players like Wissa as key leaders on the pitch. Matches against Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and England put Congo on the world stage, and the England match in particular raised national pride and respect for the team.

Samuel also broke down the tactics. Playing too defensively wears a team out and leaves little energy to attack. We asked him whether that’s true in life too. What does it look like for a diaspora to stop playing defense, always protecting and proving, and start playing offense? As it happens in life, we discussed with Samuel our shared desire to start living more offensively as Congolese diaspora by seeking out and grabbing opportunities and embracing risk rather than only adjusting to negative situations.

The Sound That Conquered the World

If the World Cup showed Congo on the pitch, music has been showing it for decades. Samuel highlighted how far Congolese music reaches around the world and how much it does to preserve and promote Congolese culture. This is soft power: influence that comes from culture, not force.

For the diaspora, that influence works as a bridge. A song can keep someone in Brussels, Paris, or Alabama close to Congo, and it gives Congolese at home a way to feel connected to us. Music and football do the same thing in different ways. Both tell the world who Congo is, and both tell Congolese everywhere that they’re part of something bigger.

Diaspora as the Key

Samuel was clear-eyed about the challenges Congo faces, particularly leadership and resource management. But he sees the diaspora as part of the answer. People who have lived abroad bring perspectives and skills that can help their country grow, and he talked about the need for a movement to channel that. The attention Congo is getting through football and music is an opening for that work.

This part is for you- our readers, our community. Ask yourself this question and sit with it.

What are the ways in which you are allowing yourself to be activated as a cultural ambassador for Congo? What skills or talents do you have and what are you doing with them?

Here is your homework: Over the next seven days, find someone in the Congolese diaspora and elevate them. Take the risk, make the ask. Ask them how you can help them or ask for help in something that elevates one or both of you.

Question for you: our community- what is your pathway?

he most important takeaway from this second interview is what we want you- our community- to hear the loudest: The world is paying attention to Congo, and it started with a beat and a ball. For those of us in the diaspora, the question is what d

o we do with that attention? What will you do with it?