As both a highly productive and profitable activity, fish farming has become a passion for many communities around the MMG Kinsevere copper mine in the DRC, including a Rasta group in the Mpundu village. (Rastas – short for Rastafarians – follow a particular Afrocentric philosophy which they consider key to their identity). After witnessing the success of other fish farms supported by Kinsevere, the Rasta group in Mpundu expressed their desire to get involved.

The Social Development team at Kinsevere provided technical training to enable these new fish farmers to farm quality tilapia (a freshwater fish common in Africa) in a well-controlled environment. The Rasta group members dug the five fish ponds and the Social Development team populated the ponds with fingerlings from selected strains from the Kinsevere pilot ponds. Each fish pond now contains more than 1,125 fish.

“Having Rastas [become] fish farmers is a big step for us. It is a craft that is exciting and demanding. MMG has helped us with many training sessions to be good breeders, to understand our trade and above all, know every aspect related to water and the environment. We are grateful to them and we will put in practice the health and safety of our members and work safely in order to be big suppliers of fish in the region around the mine of Kinsevere,” said the regional inspector of Rasta, Anaclet Ilunga.

“Fish farming can provide significant economic benefits to local communities. This [has] triggered an enormous increase in aquaculture projects. With this multiplication of community ponds there is also an added benefit of making the price of fish more affordable for all,” said Michel Santos, Director of Social Development at Kinsevere.

Although meat is not allowed in the Rastafari diet, those near Kinsevere have decided to include fish.

These particular tilapia will be raised to the sounds of reggae.

Pictured: Community Development Coordinator Tony Lubango and Social Development consultant Marie-Jeanne Nyota transport a rack of fingerlings to the Rasta group at Mpundu village.