BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF INGA AND THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED
IN VARIOUS LEADERSHIP TEAMS

Brief historical background of INGA and its leadership teams.pdf

This year INGA general election was an historical one. Beside the record participation in the elections, a first woman was elected as President of INGA and for the very first time, an American-born Congolese ran for an office in INGA structure and was overwhelmingly elected as Local Treasurer of Patterson/Stockton/Modesto region. These milestones trigger us to take little time to share with you a brief history of where and how we started based on those we spoke to who were there at different times.

Well, the history of INGA Association is long one because the idea of bringing Congolese and Friends together in Northern California started in various informal structures since the first major waves of Zairians/Congolese moved to the region in 1970/80s. The following link on INGA web site contains additional information on Congolese migration to Northern California (www.ingaassociation.org/AboutUs.html).

Without taking away any credits or gratitude due to our elders and founders who initially started this noble idea of INGA community, according to the Secretary of State Records, INGA was formally incorporated in California in 1997 by Mr. Baudouin Bulaya during Dr. Omer Pasi’s presidency, the first President of INGA in its current organizational structure. Some sources consulted note that Mr. Myango Jules Kapuku wrote the first Bylaws of the Community of Zairians (C.O.Z) that was ultimately used as a model enhanced later by other Congolese groups.

Most people we spoke to concurred that INGA Association took some of its roots from the various groups that existed before. A lot of people contributed in different ways and times to this gracious cause that brings all Congolese together to promote and preserve our cultural values and help raise awareness of the Congo’s issues here in Northern California where we now live. Although sometimes INGA misses opportunities to publically acknowledge some friends and members’ significant contributions to the community, it is worth mentioning that everyone participation and support to INGA at any times and/or in different ways never gone unnoticed!!

The list below of people who have served INGA in different leadership teams would be incomplete without acknowledging the work of those elders or leaders, and current and past members of this great community who worked and/or continue to work so hard tireless behind the scene to make things happen but never had any formal title in the structure of INGA. To avoid forgetting someone, their names are known to ALL and their monumental contributions to this community will always be remembered!! Some of those people have moved out of the state, out of the country, and other no longer live in this life. May their spirits rest in peace!!

To make a long story short, this brief historical background would take 1992 as a starting point in time but the idea of Congolese association existed well before in different forms. In the tradition of celebrating the Independence Day, an informal temporary team was created in Bay- Area to organize 1993 Independency Day fundraising event in Oakland at Manyatta. This