INTS 272, Intermediate French, welcomed Rachel Mwanza to class via Zoom on 31 March 2021. Ms. Mwanza is best known for her role as Komona in the award-winning film War Witch (Rebelle), directed by Canadian Kim Nguyen. Rebelle is the story of a child soldier in the Congo civil wars, the bloodiest conflict since the Second World War. Mwanza moved to Montreal six years ago.   

Instructor Gerry Chidiac incorporated the history of the DRC in his French courses to give his students a wider perspective on “le monde francophone.”  This included the study of the impact of colonial exploitation on the current situation of the country. 

After having seen Rebelle, students found the conversation, which was all in French, enlightening and uplifting.  Mwanza has the ability to discuss the hardship she faced as a homeless child on the streets of Kinshasa, the difficulties of her country, along with the challenges of building an acting career as a person of colour, and still maintain a spirit of optimism and joy.   

Mwanza’s latest film is Troisièmes Noces, a Belgian rendition of the green card story.  A young Congolese woman marries an older man and the two develop a warm friendship, despite their differences.