My name is SEKOMBI KATONDOLO.J. I was born in Goma East of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the 14^th of October 1982 a Wednesday afternoon,

I am ninth in a family of 13 children.

Very young, I was always close to my grand father who always took me with him at the foot of the Nyiragongo Volcano that limits the town in the North, to maintain his tree plantations. That’s where my love for environment and the behavior to always be next to elders started from.

Goma is bordered in the South by the Lake Kivu

I grew up in a warm family environment where my father himself was a religious drama actor and the mother, always smiling, knows to give advice at the right time. That is the beginning of my love for art.

My elder Brothers and Sisters who had already tasted the happiness on stage, gave me the desire to follow their footsteps

For me, it’s a privilege to have my elder brother first as a teacher then as an idol, someone I live with in the same house. Isn’t that a true daily affection and perfection? He always takes care of me and looks after my training. This is Petna Ndaliko Katondolo

The bible tells us that faith comes from what we hear, and what we hear come from Christ, I will say that my perfection in art derives from what I hear and see, and what I hear and see comes from Petna. »

What is my Occupation?

After achieving a Diploma in genetic psychology and general teaching, I continued my training of contemporary dance that I started in 2001 at Yole! Africa’s head quarters in Kampala, and then I started training in filmmaking at CEPV

What do I like ?

Talking about what I like sends me back to Goma. It has actually 500 inhabitants.

The town is governed by a mayor nominated on a presidential decree. It is divided into 3 parishes, each of them managed by a burgomaster.

First of all, I like contemporary dance. I consider it as my profession and vocation then cinema; I use it as a tool to express my thoughts.

I like the bleu color, symbol of prosperity

My music is the Congolese Rumba since I was myself a rumba musician.

My best food is the African dish and my sport is the Kapoeira that I learnt from my Idol.                                    

Goma has few theatre halls (about five) this does not allow artists to have enough space to express themselves, although cosmopolitan, it doesn’t provide artistic diversity.

But despite that fact, artists are determined to conduct their mission until the end, which is to open the town.

 My trainings     

I got my government diploma of genetic psychology and general teaching in 2005.

2005: scenic art with Jean Christopher from France in Nairobi

2004: Professional English at yole! Africa/Kampala

2004: Filmmaking at CEPV/ the audio-visual department of yole Africa

2003: Computer at PADEAP/Kampala

2001: Contemporary dance at yole Africa/Kampala

Workshops and Seminars

Sept 2005: workshop on improvisation of scenario and acting direction by Don Kisense from Makerere university/Amakula Kampala International Film Festival

Jul. 2005 –Aug. 2005: Dance encounter in Nairobi

March 2005: workshop of contemporary dance and cinema by Petna Ndaliko/Goma

2004: seminar about scholar health by MIDEFHEOPS/Goma

2003: workshop: « from theatre to cinema » by Petna Ndaliko /Goma

Dec 2002- Jan. 2003: workshop of contemporary dance with Gerry Turvey from U.K. /Kampala

Initiatives and creation  

In 1997, right after the first war called “war of liberation”, as the youth were abandoned to fend for themselves, face the phenomenon of child soldier and forced recruitment into the army, we had the initiative of forming a music group called  TOUT- CHIC OBG Musica  to protect the youth and fight for the children’s right. I was one of the co-founders.

In 2000, after the second war also said for liberation, I founded a new group called Conciantala jza with the aim of raising consciousness of people in the African great lakes region.

Coordination and managing committee     

2005: Production Manager of SKIFF, Salaam Kivu International Film Festival

2005: Delegate Producer of the film Goma; Capitale du cinema? By Petna Ndaliko,  
2004 – to date: Cultural Attaché of Yole! Africa in DR Congo

2004 – To date: Chief of the dance department at Yole! Africa/Kampala

2002-2005: Coordinator of cultural activities at the Lycée Anuarite/Goma   

2003: Artistic advisor of the maison propulsion 7 art in Goma

2002-2004: President of the musical group conciantala jza

2002 – 2003: Chief of the musical group Tout chic OBG musica

2000-2002: Coordinator of school activities at Majengo institute

Professional Experience

Director of workshop

Jan. 2003: Workshop on acting direction at CPCC (Club pour la Promotion du Cinéma au Congo

April 2004: at the maison propulsion 7 art video/Goma

Feb 2005: Workshop on script writing with CPCC/Goma

June 2005: Workshop on acting direction at CCC (Club Culturel Chrétien)/Goma

Oct 2005: Workshop: « improvising a story » at SKIFF

Performances  

In Goma

Dec 2000: Music Concert at ciné cathédrale

Feb 2001: Music Concert at INSTIGO.

Feb 2002.  Blind Trust by Petna. (Theatre play).

2004: Mr. WANTOU: Grand mother (Theatre play).

In Kampala.

Jun 2002: Kekele (Dance) National Theatre

Mar 2003: Kekele, out from the deep, National Theatre

Jan. 2003: Traces Petna et Gerry. National Theatre

Nov. 2003: Clean by Petna.

Jun 2005: silale by Petna. National Theatre

Nov. 2005: Djeone. Petna. National Theatre

Other experiences

2005: Director of photography in the film PARC National de Virunga by Modogo.

2005: assistant choreographer of the dance play Djeone.

2004: script in the film Stokyo.

2003: co-Director of the film MABABU.

2003: assistant choreographer of the film tréatre brûler. 

Filmography

2005: Minutes utiles de Petna.

2004: Baruwa Lako.

2004: stock de Modogo.

2003: théâtre brûler de Petna.

Discography

-Révélation: 2002.

-Twaomba amani 2004 .compilation / Goma.

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