(JED/IFEX) – On Wednesday 20 March 2002, Dieudonné Yangoumba Zomunde, a music critic and host of the Congolese National Television station’s (RTNC) programme Karibu Variétés, was attacked in his home on Mbomu Street, in the village of Linguala, by a group of youths armed with rocks and sticks. The youths were also joined by street […]
(JED/IFEX) – On Wednesday 20 March 2002, Dieudonné Yangoumba Zomunde, a music critic and host of the Congolese National Television station’s (RTNC) programme Karibu Variétés, was attacked in his home on Mbomu Street, in the village of Linguala, by a group of youths armed with rocks and sticks. The youths were also joined by street children.
According to information received by JED, the journalist’s attackers are fans of artist/musician Ngiama Werrason, a member of the Wenge Musica Maison Mère band. The youths went to the journalist’s home in order to punish him for making “impolite remarks” about the artist on the programme Mirador, which is broadcast on the Raga FM radio station.
The angry mob violently assaulted members of Yangoumba’s family and broke the windshield of his car. Fearing for his life, the journalist ran away and sought shelter at the nearest police station.
Yangoumba stated on a local television station that Werrason, who calls himself the “Ambassador of Peace”, personally ordered his fans to attack the journalist’s home.
Similar threats have reportedly been made against Djo-Kabenge (also known as Djo-Ka), the Mirador programme’s radio host. He has also sought police protection.
