Ctrl.Alt.Shift meets Eddie Kadi

The definition of the word 'ghetto' in London seems to be of a bad estate with a sufficient amount of crime and disadvantaged families. Eddie Kadi, Congolese born actor and comedian, talks to CAS about what it's really like in the ghetto's of Congo and tells us why he feels he's representing his country...

When was the last time you went to Congo?
I left the Congo when I was eight and since I left I haven't gone back [laughs]. I thought about it but every time I get to the plane I think 'oh no I have missed my flight again'...[laughs]..."back to the hard life of Fulham!" Seriously though, my parents have always told me to sort out my education and career here first - and then go back as a man.

So you left as a school boy, what was it like going to school in Congo, compared to going to school in England?
There are so many differences. The main one being French is the official language in Congo, so that is what we had to speak at school - that was the academic language. We were not allowed to speak in our mother tongue because you would get beaten. Speaking French was a sign of being educated so if you didn’t speak or understand it you would be considered to be ‘bush’ or uneducated. The second main thing is discipline, getting beaten was like breathing - just another part of life - if you were late you would get beaten, or we would have to sing before school starts and if you got the words wrong you would get beaten too! And if you complain they will tell your parents, who would probably then beat you again!

But I presume as a mother in Congo your child being beaten at school is the least of your worries?
The very least. The parent isn't going to have sympathy for the child like these parents in England would, they would beat you again, "how can you bring shame upon the family at school?" In the Congo 3 million people died - some were buried alive - and kids were forced to go on the front line; a lot of them had no choice and were deeply under the influence of drugs, so in a way they got nurtured into it. That was one of the main worries of parents from what I can remember.

That must have been a worry for you as a young person?
I have got a younger brother too. I  must admit I lived in the city and most of the kidnappings and those kind of activities happened in the East of Congo - but he still could have been just another child that got kidnapped and taken away, it's very scary and it saddens me that this happens.

If I was to say the words ‘in the ghetto’ to you, what springs to mind?
A big stack of bricks with someone sitting on stop of it wearing no shoes. In the Congo we called them 'Shegay’ which means ‘the children of the streets’. These children could be orphaned or just have run away from home, they just live in the streets - and there is a lot of them. To me they represent what a real ghetto is. It is not something that is going to stop tomorrow. I would love to say that I am doing my best to stop this, but I think my thing is that I am hoping through my comedy and things that I do I can offer a form of escapism. If I can do more then someone tell me how...

But you're at a stage where everybody knows you - and everybody knows you're from Congo - do you feel like you are giving something back now in a way?
Yeah I am, because we are a minority in terms of Africans in this country - we are a French colonised country - so it is a lot harder to fit into the culture and to be excepted like the Nigerians and Ghanaians and obviously the West Indians. I feel like I am putting Congo on the map, and if that can give confidence to the average Congolese kid who might not admit he is from there; then I have done my bit.

What are your hopes for the future?
In 10 years I would hope that there would be more of a structure in our government, and the kids will have a lot more opportunities, and there will be less of them on the streets, many more kids will be able to aspire to be more. I want them to not have to just think about ‘where am I going to get my next bed?’ or ‘who am I going to kill to do what I am doing?’. One of my main goals is to become an ambassador for my country, and I would like to know that the county I am representing is fruitful and has progressed.

Eddie's show "An Audience with Eddie Kadi" will be showing at the 02 Arena on the 15th August To get your ticket visit www.myspace.com/eddieismyname [1] and follow the links.

Photo: flickr user  richardkaby [2]