Mavaolo

MAVAOLO aspires to be an ELANDISHA ("Field of Cultivation and Learning") where communities come together to connect with nature and their cultural roots.

(Document & Foster biodiversity and Pass on knowledge) MATITI-LISANGA is an interdisciplinary research platform in ethnobiology, located at the MAVAOLO concession (13 hectares), 10 km north of Kisangani, in the Tshopo province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Born during the COVID-19 pandemic, MAVAOLO serves as a hub for the cultivation, collection, and conservation of plants to preserve medicinal and dietary cultural heritage.

Our Mission

Research: Document biodiversity to protect and promote cultural and natural heritage.
Education: Pass on knowledge to future generations to enhance local resilience against climate change and epidemic zoonoses.
Climate Action: Foster awareness of biodiversity to encourage conservation efforts.

Scientific Contributions

Linguistic Approaches to Indigenous Knowledge Location: Dodoma, Tanzania | Date: Sept 4-10, 2023
COP28 – Strengthening Resilience through Heritage Studies Location: Dubai, UAE | Date: Nov 30 - Dec 12, 2023
Scientific Morning – BOMOYI Concept Location: Kinshasa, DRC | Date: Dec 15, 2023
Informative Conference on "One Health" Location: Kisangani, DRC | Date: May 9, 2024
International "One Health" Symposium Location: Kinshasa, DRC | Date: May 28-30, 2024
Bantu River Symposium Location: Kisangani, DRC | Date: June 17-21, 2024
World Congress of African Linguistics 11 (WOCAL11) Location: Nairobi, Kenya | Date: Aug 5-9, 2024
10th International Conference on Bantu Languages Location: Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania | Date: Aug 12-14, 2024

More Coming Soon

Our Vision

Expand our platform to incorporate more disciplines.
Establish ELANDISHA fields in diverse regions of the DRC and beyond.

Elandisha Gallery

A gallery of pictures from the Mavaolo concession

Our Activities

Conduct ethnobiological and ethnolinguistic research with traditional practitioners and elders.
Supervise hands-on training for pharmacy students.
Process plant products like essential oils, jams, and flours.
Educate the public on plant identification, conservation, and usage.

More Coming Soon

Our Team

Grodya Musafiri Jean-Baptiste: Linguist Higher Pedagogical Institute (ISP - Kisangani) and Research Center for African Languages and Cultures (CRLCA – Kisangani)
Ndjango Ngona Jean-Bosco: Botanist University of Kisangani (UNIKIS)
Shutsha Ehata Reddy: Botanist University of Kisangani (UNIKIS)
Alphonce Chrispina: Linguist University of Dodoma (UDOM-Tanzania),
Mavar Manga Sodila Hélène: Pharmacist and founder of MATITI-LISANGA University of Kisangani (UNIKIS), Professor