Oral history interview with Wilondja D. Mashimango

Collection

Identifier: SR12313

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Wilondja D. Mashimango was conducted by Julianna Robidoux and Sankar Raman on March 8, 2019. The interview was recorded for The Immigrant Story, an organization that documents and archives the stories of immigrants and refugees in the United States.

In this interview, Mashimango talks about immigrating to the United States in 2015. He discusses his family background in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and his early life in the Nyarugusu refugee camp in Tanzania, including his education, living conditions, and recreational activities. He discusses common cultural beliefs about witchcraft. He talks about adjusting to life in the United States, including learning English; his experience in high school in Portland, particularly playing soccer; and his experience at Portland State University. He closes the interview by sharing his plans for the future, and advice for other immigrants.

Dates

2019 March 8

Creator

Mashimango, Wilondja D. (Wilondja Denis), 1999- (Interviewee, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and The Immigrant Story. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Educational Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

Biographical note

Wilondja Denis Mashimango was born in Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1999. The next year, his family fled to Tanzania, and he grew up in the Nyarugusu refugee camp. In 2015, his family came to the United States and settled in Portland, Oregon. He studied criminology and criminal justice at Portland State University.

Extent

998 Megabytes (1 audio file (WAV, 1 hr., 30 min., 55 sec.))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Wilondja D. Mashimango conducted by Julianna Robidoux and Sankar Raman on March 8, 2019, for The Immigrant Story. Mashimango, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, discusses his experiences in a refugee camp in Tanzania and as an immigrant to the United States.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Access to audio recording is provided online in OHS Digital Collections.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of The Immigrant Story, June 2021 (RL2021-057).

Publication note

An article about Wilondja D. Mashimango, "Finding his Footing on the Pitch" by Julianna Robidoux, was based on this interview and published on The Immigrant Story website at https://theimmigrantstory.org/pitch/.