Home. A fluid concept in an age of global movement. Yet that was not the case when it came to Rocky Bushiri making what he calls the “no way back” decision to represent the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
For the former Belgium Under-21 defender – a Hibs favourite who will be sorely missed as he competes at December’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco – switching to the DRC just felt right.
There are obvious reasons for this, like the fact Bushiri was actually born in Congo; he is eager to correct a Wikipedia error listing his birthplace as Belgium almost as soon as we sit down for a candid chat at the Hibernian Training Centre. Just because his parents, Roger Bushiri and Bibiche Kisonga, took their young son to Brussels when he was less than a year old doesn’t mean he felt any less Congolese when he was growing up.
Part of that was undoubtedly due to his maternal grandfather being the DRC’s Ambassador to Belgium. Rocky smiles as he recalls dipping in and out of Albert Kisonga Mazakala’s world of privilege – visits to villas and working trips abroad – while his parents grafted to make a life for themselves in Europe. The influential academic and politician made sure that his grandchildren all understood their African roots.
This all helps to explain why a return to AFCON has been a central goal for Bushiri for the past two years.
“This tournament is very important for me,” he said. “It’s a big challenge. I’m looking forward to it because last AFCON was about joining the team and being part of it, feeling how it is to be in such a tournament, around players from different clubs, bigger clubs. The project of extending my stay here at Hibs was also, in part, to be able to go to the next AFCON.”
This is a preview of John Greechan’s full article, published in Issue 38 of Nutmeg.
You can order your copy now to read it in full, including:
- Inside Rocky Bushiri’s astonishing journey — from a childhood boxing in Brussels to representing the DRC on the biggest African stage
- Luxury villas, ambassadorial privilege, cultural identity and the emotional return to a homeland he barely remembered
- Presidential pep talks, the “soldier” mentality, and the pressure of representing 100 million people
- Why this AFCON matters more than any before — and how determined he is to return to Leith sharper, prouder and ready to make an even bigger impact
If you are already a subscriber, Nutmeg #38 will be with you shortly. If you’re not, you can order your copy now, or take out a Print or combined Print + Digital subscription. This will give you full access to downloads of Nutmeg’s entire print back catalogue as well as our digital platform Nutmeg FC.