The author and historian Antonis Chaldeos, who recently visited the city of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, spoke about the Greek school there and the community with roots dating back to the early 20th century on Voice of Greece and the show “Our Global Voice” with Dimitris Kontogiannis.
Mr. Chaldeos emphasized that the Greek school, which includes a kindergarten, elementary school, and high school, is the only one in Sub-Saharan Africa that follows the curriculum of the Greek Ministry of Education, allowing its students to participate in the Panhellenic exams. Around 600 Greeks currently reside in Lubumbashi, a city of 4-5 million inhabitants, and they stand out for their role in the city’s economic life, he noted. These third- and fourth-generation expatriates speak Greek fluently, uphold traditions, and celebrate national holidays with great enthusiasm. Special mention was made of the Greek explorer of Africa, and particularly of Congo, Panagiotis Potagos, who remains largely unknown in Greece.