Centre de Recherche et de Documentation Africaine (CERDAF) was founded in 1995 in the heart of Bukavu, South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From its inception by the Missionaries of Africa, CERDAF was envisioned as hub for African culture, history and socio-economic research. In fact, it served as a beacon of knowledge and hope for the youth and intellectual community of Bukavu. Merci Bagula, the engineer who worked on its rehabilitation is a fruit of its social engagement plan. Yet, its objectives were cut short in 2018.
With the temporal closure, the society did not lose its vision of the centre, only lack of personnel interrupted its continuity. With no confrere to sustain that vision, CERDAF was forced to shut the doors for eight years. This caused an inevitable physical deterioration of the place and an impression of a mission forgotten. These were eight years of pain to those who were benefiting from the services it offered. From a centre proud of dialogue, research and cultural pride, there emerged a shadow of its former self. In the midst of all this, the Missionaries of Africa never lost hope.
As pilgrims of hope, the provincial council in 2024 made a bold decision that CERDAF would rise again. With the appointment of three dedicated confreres namely Fr. Michel Oudraugo, Fr. Bernard Awazi, and Fr. Anthony Nahabwe, the Society was to breathe a new life into the centre. Their mission was not only to reopen a building, but also to reinvent CERDAF’s mission for a new era marked by socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, poverty, gender imbalance and social instability.
As a response to these challenges, the confreres revitalised CERDAF’s old goals with new content. It is now running African Languages Program empowering youths to embrace their linguistic heritage and scholars to deepen their research. It is offering Professional Training Workshops to young people so as to bridge the gap between academic field and real-world needs. More so, it is offering Interreligious Dialogue Sessions to foster peace and mutual respect in Bukavu as Cardinal Lavigerie always wished. Thus, CERDAF is once again a hub for cultural pride, education and community engagement.
Revitalizing CERDAF is not merely about building but showing resilience, renewal and fulfilling Lavigerie’s dream for Africa. This was not to come at no cost. An expenditure of more than 53,000 USD was put to revive once a shadow of a dream to a new reality. Funding such a programme, was indeed funding a dream and a mission. We remain grateful to the foundational donor, the General Council of the Missionaries of Africa. We also extend our deepest gratitude to other four donors namely the Swiss Sector, Polish Foundation for Africa, Friends from Holland, and the US Development Office of the Society. Their funding was and remains a symbol of commitment and love for Africans’ aspirations. Most of all, it was funding the realization of the hope of African youths.
CERDAF invites you to be part of its new chapter. Whether as a student eager to learn, a researcher seeking resources, a youth in need or skills, or a donor wishing to sustain hope. CERDAF is open and ready.
