Cedric Ngandjo

00:00 Cedric gives his date and place of birth. He is from Congo-Brazzaville . He lives with his wife and 3 children in the UK.

02:09 Discusses the impact of Covid-19 on his family in the UK and in Africa.

03:52 Cedric is looking for a job after completing his studies. He currently works as an independent teacher.

04:20 Speaks French and Lingala. Explains the different regions where languages are spoken, including Kikongo.

Describes the difficulties he faced adjusting to English.

06:17 Observes differences between the UK and Congo-Brazzaville. In CB there is no social security system.

07:36 In the UK all the children attend primary and high school for free.

08:13 In CB there is a lack of jobs and investment. Difficult to find employment without connections.

09:22 Cedric sought asylum in the UK in 2005 due to his involvement in politics. He was granted indefinite leave to remain in 2010 and has been studying IT at college/ university.

11: 41 Feels safe in the UK but misses lots of things about his home country including the weather and the outdoor lifestyle. Worries about crime here.

13:05 Desribes African food in UK. Remembers eating fresh food on a recent trip home.

14:16 Describes how traditions are observed in CB e.g. pregnancy. The family hosts a big celebration if a mother’s first child is male.

16:53 The engagement process depends on your tribe. In Congo there are 3: bakongo, bangala and balari.

Cedric describes the process in his own tribe. There are 3 types of wedding: traditional, state and church.

22:00 A death in CB involves the whole community: everyone pays their respects. Families and neighbours morn for days and nights together prior to the funeral.

23:07 [Recording ends due to a technical difficulty]