Design and Cultural Treatment of Trisomy 21 in R.D.Congo

We are getting interested in the ethno psychiatry of the Down syndrome. Each society has his way to conceive and comprehends reality of the running life. In general Africa and D. R. Congo particularly, the cultural design of trisomy 21 differs from others. Several explanation and opinions are given on this abnormality. Families have tendency to disguise victims of the Down syndrome so that everybody should not see them. So, what is the design and the treatment of this syndrome in Congolese cultures The gaol is to reveal then describe the design and the treatment of the Down syndrome in different cultures of Congo. The Down syndrome would be apperceived as curse, witchcraft, or jinx and the treatment reserved to the victim would be death, mockeries, insults and other sorts of maltreatment. In the following lines, we are going to show the cultural design of trisomy 21 according to different cultures of the D. R. Congo especially in the following cultures: Pende from Bandundu, Bangu-Bangu from Maniema, Songue and Luba from the high Lomamie, Lulua from western Kasai, and Bufuliri from south Kivu, Hemba and Tabwa from Tanganyika, Tchokwe and Sanga from Lualaba, finally, Bemba from high Katanga.