Initiative Afrique - Jean-Claude Makangara

Episode 2. Jean Claude Makangara Cigolo

Recording date: 06.06.2024 

Moderator: Djouroukoro Diallo. Production: Patricia Teixidor

Music: Intro and outro: “Yadina” (xylophone duet). CD 1. MBUDI MBUDI NA MHANGA- NYMBO ZA WADODO. The Musical Universe of the Wagogo Children from Tanzania. ©PoloVallejo. Musical pauses: John Bartmann, “Cuban Heat”; Ugo Mbaise, “Garri Gwu”, “Ofu Iko Mmanya”; Maria de Barros, “Cabinda A Cunene”. Free Music Archive.

Jean Claude Makangara is a medical doctor and researcher from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa) who is doing his PhD at the University of Bern in infectious diseases -virology and bioinformatics-. In this episode he shares with us the multiple challenges he faced when arriving to Bern in 2023, such as the cultural clash that implies living “always close to your watch”! He thinks that studying at the University of Bern represents a huge opportunity for his career and feels as an ambassador of the Congo (the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale, DRC). When he finishes his PhD, he plans to go back to his country and continue his work in Ebola and other infectious diseases.

Members of the Initiative Afrique community at the University of Bern (Switzerland) introduce themselves in a series of podcasts.