Practical
Wednesday, 10 December, 2025
- 18:00 until 20:00
AfricaMuseum
Leuvensesteenweg 13
3080 Tervuren
(Tram 44 to Montgomery, free parking opposite the museum)
Leuvensesteenweg 13
3080 Tervuren
(Tram 44 to Montgomery, free parking opposite the museum)
Free upon reservation
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the AfricaMuseum are pleased to invite you to the Belgian premiere of the documentary Goma: Living with the risk of Nyiragongo's eruptions.
Goma: Living with the risk of Nyiragongo's eruptions takes you inside the daily reality of residents of Goma, a city built on lava, shaken by wars and earthquakes, yet full of life and resilience. Through their testimonies, we revisit the memories of past eruptions: 1977, 2002, and the sudden 2021 event that displaced thousands of people.
In this 30-minute documentary, families describe the fear of fleeing within minutes, the pain of losing their homes and loved ones, and the immense courage required to start over again and again. The documentary also explores the ongoing challenges of rebuilding their houses and livelihoods in a landscape scarred by lava, while highlighting how risk preparedness and scientific knowledge intertwine with the deep attachment of people to their city and land, and their determination to keep looking forward.
Programme
- 6 PM Welcome
- 6.30 PM Documentary
- 7 PM Round table discussion
- 8 PM Talk with drinks
With its powerful stories and striking images, Goma: Living with the Risk of Nyiragongo's Eruptions is more than a documentary, it is a moving portrait of a community living with risk every day yet refusing to surrender its hope and its future.
The documentary was written and directed by Blaise Mafuko Nyandwi (University of Goma, DR Congo), in collaboration with Matthieu Kervyn (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium), Caroline Michellier (AfricaMuseum/UCLouvain, Belgium) and Benoît Smets (AfricaMuseum/Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium). The documentary was funded by a Small Great Project of the Global Mind programme of VUB (VLIR UOS funding).
RESERVE YOUR SEAT
About the scientists
About Blaise Mafuko Nyandwi
Dr. Blaise Mafuko Nyandwi is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Volcanology and Disaster Risk Management at the University of Goma with a background in environmental geology. His research seeks to understand the interaction between humans and natural environment in the framework of mitigating natural hazards impacts. Through a multidisciplinary lens, encompassing geosciences, and social sciences, Blaise’s research aims to unravel the complexities of human-nature interactions, ultimately contributing to the development of proactive measures that can mitigate the impact of natural hazards on human societies.
Blaise Mafuko Nyandwi defended his PhD Volcanic risk mitigation in Goma: Risk perception, protective actions, awareness raising before and after the 2021 eruption of Nyiragongo (East DR Congo) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2023 with Caroline Michellier (AfircaMuseum), Francois Muhashy (Université de Goma) and Matthieu Kervyn (VUB) as supervisors. His research was funded by the HARISSA project of the Africa Museum (DGD funding),
About Matthieu Kervyn de Meerendre
Matthieu Kervyn de Meerendre is a professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He studies volcanoes and other geological processes, and he also focuses on how people deal with these risks. Together with his research group, he works mainly in Central Africa, using fieldwork, satellite imagery and smart experiments to understand how natural processes unfold and how communities can better protect themselves against hazards.
About Caroline Michellier
Caroline Michellier is a geographer, specialized in vulnerability and risk analysis related to geo-hydrological hazards in data-scarce contexts, especially in Central Africa. Her current research is based on a transdisciplinary approach, combining fieldwork, citizen science, and collaboration with stakeholders. She is half-time senior researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Natural Hazards Research Unit) and half-time researcher at the Université catholique de Louvain (Earth and Life Institute).
About Benoît Smets
benoît Smets is geoscientist working in the field of remote sensing, photogrammetry, geohazards and volcanology. I am half-time Assistant Professor in Remote Sensing at the Department of Geography of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Cartography and GIS Research Group) and half-time Senior Researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences of the Royal Museum for Central Africa (Natural Hazards Research Unit). My current research focuses on the use of optical and radar imagery to study geohazards and their interactions with urban environments.
Watch the trailer
The world needs you
This initiative is part of VUB's public programme, a programme for everyone who believes that scientific knowledge, critical thinking and dialogue are an important first step to create impact in the world.
As an Urban Engaged University, VUB aims to be a driver of change in the world. With our academic edcuational programmes and innovative research, we contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations and to making a difference locally and globally.
