CENA Research Institute
Centre de l’Écriture Négro-Africaine « Mandombe »
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CENA Research Institute – Forging the Bright Future of African Science
Accredited research centre African science, by African institutions

Forging the Bright Future of African Science

CENA Research Institute brings together ancestral Kongo and African knowledge, Mandombe symbolic geometry and contemporary science to build a rigorous, sovereign research ecosystem in health, cognition and governance.

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Decision 003/RST/CAB-MIN/2003 – Officially recognised by the Ministry of Scientific Research of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

3 Axes · Health · Cognitive Architecture · Governance
Journals in education, innovation and human health
Aligned with African and global scientific standards
Legal status: Approved research centre under the Ministry of Scientific Research, DRC (Decision 003/RST/CAB-MIN/2003, 5 June 2003). Hosted at Université Simon Kimbangu, CENA works in synergy with African and international partners to strengthen scientific sovereignty.
Institute

About the CENA Research Institute

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Mission

An African research centre grounded in Mandombe

CENA is the research arm of the Centre de l’Écriture Négro-Africaine « Mandombe ». It explores how African writing, symbolic systems and spiritual heritage can inform contemporary science in health, education, technology and governance. The Institute combines rigorous methodology, transparent peer review and an explicit commitment to African epistemologies.
  • Develop and validate scientific models rooted in African knowledge.
  • Support doctoral, postdoctoral and institutional research programs.
  • Publish high-quality, peer-reviewed work in multiple disciplines.

Foundations & Ethics

Spiritual responsibility, scientific discipline

CENA recognises African spiritual traditions, including Kimbanguism and Kongo heritage, as part of its ethical foundation, while applying the same empirical rigour expected of any research institution. Its core documents define principles of integrity, decolonial methodology and respect for participants and communities.
  • Clear governance and accountability structures.
  • Ethics rooted in African values and international standards.
  • Commitment to open, verifiable and reproducible research.
Research & innovation

Core Research Axes

Activities at CENA →

Health, Mental Health & Human Development

From clinical practice to systemic determinants

Research on mental health, trauma, structural violence and healing in African settings. CENA develops clinical frameworks, diagnostic tools and community-based interventions that take into account culture, language and spiritual life.
Clinical & community health Structural determinants Decolonial psychiatry

Cognitive Architecture & Symbolic Systems

Mandombe, cognition and learning

This axis examines how Mandombe script, Kikongo-based models and African symbolic geometry shape cognition, language and STEM learning. Projects include longitudinal studies of children educated with Mandombe, AI and cryptography grounded in symbolic geometry, and new metrics of cognitive development.
Mandombe & cognition STEM education AI & cryptography

Norms, Governance & Sovereignty

From standards to structural diagnostics

CENA contributes to frameworks on structural pathology, cyber risk governance and African standards for institutions, in partnership with bodies such as PASC, IGS-C and ONPC. The focus is on sovereignty, integrity and measurable, evidence-based governance indicators.
Standards & metrics Cyber & governance African sovereignty
Training & daily work

Academics and Research Life at CENA

Your daily academics →

Academic Pathways

From student projects to doctoral research

CENA supervises student research, master’s and doctoral projects and professional training. The Institute supports interdisciplinary work that links education, psychology, technology and governance to African epistemologies and community needs.
  • Research seminars and working groups.
  • Mentoring and supervision of theses and dissertations.
  • Collaborative projects with universities and institutes.

Daily Research Activities

Laboratory work, fieldwork and data analysis

The Institute hosts ongoing empirical projects, field studies and data analysis in Congo and beyond. Researchers work both on site and in collaboration with partners in Africa and the diaspora, with a strong commitment to documentation and open, verifiable methods.
  • Field studies in health, education and governance.
  • Data management aligned with international research standards.
  • Regular dissemination through talks, workshops and publications.
Publishing

Journals & Scientific Outputs

Our publications →

Elite Journal of Innovation (RAEST)

Science, technology and innovation

RAEST publishes peer-reviewed work on innovation, technology, applied science and African-centred solutions to local and global challenges. It welcomes empirical, theoretical and methodological contributions.
Innovation Engineering Applied science

Journal of Education

Learning, curriculum and pedagogy

The Journal of Education focuses on African and global education, curricula, pedagogy and assessment, including experimental models such as Mandombe-based learning and decolonial approaches to teaching and evaluation.
Education Curriculum Assessment

Journal of Human Health

Clinical, public and structural health

This journal disseminates research in clinical practice, mental health, public health and structural determinants of health in African contexts, with both quantitative and qualitative contributions.
Health Mental health Public health
CENA journals are aligned with international editorial and peer-review standards, while prioritising African research questions and multilingual publication. For detailed submission guidelines, visit Publishing with Us or the dedicated journal platforms hosted via CEMA-USK Press.
For authors

Publishing with CENA

Guidelines & policies →

Clear and transparent workflow

From submission to indexing

CENA journals follow a simple and transparent process designed for clarity and fairness to authors and reviewers.
  1. Online submission of manuscripts.
  2. Initial editorial screening for scope and basic quality.
  3. External peer review by qualified reviewers.
  4. Revision and final decision.
  5. Publication, archiving and indexing.

Commitments to authors and readers

Rigour, transparency, sovereignty

CENA is committed to rigorous, fair and timely evaluation of submissions, with particular attention to research that:
  • Addresses African realities and global structural issues.
  • Uses sound methodology and transparent data handling.
  • Contributes to long-term scientific sovereignty for Africa.
Peer review Ethics Open science
People

Governance and Research Teams

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Governance

Clear roles and responsibilities

CENA’s governance structure defines responsibilities for the directorate, scientific committees, ethics boards and operational teams. This ensures accountability and proper supervision of research activities.
  • Director and deputy director roles.
  • Scientific and ethics committees.
  • Administrative and technical support teams.

Research teams and collaborators

A network of African and international scholars

The Institute brings together researchers from Congo, Africa and the diaspora, working in fields such as psychology, education, linguistics, governance, computer science and public health, often in partnership with universities and professional bodies.
  • Interdisciplinary research groups.
  • Institutional and hospital collaborations.
  • Joint projects with African and global partners.
Reference

Core Documents & Policies

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Foundational charter and statutes

Legal and institutional framework

CENA’s foundational texts describe its mission, legal status, internal governance and relations with church, university and state authorities. They are available for consultation to partners, researchers and regulators.

Ethics, methodology and standards

Guides for responsible research

Internal documents specify ethics procedures, methodological principles and quality standards for projects carried out under the Institute’s responsibility, including consent, data protection and community engagement.
Contact

Work with CENA

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Institutions & partners

Universities, hospitals, institutes, regulators

CENA welcomes institutional partnerships around research projects, doctoral training, standards development and shared scientific infrastructures. To discuss collaboration, please contact the Institute using the official contact page.
MoUs Joint research Standards & evaluation

Researchers & students

Join or collaborate on projects

If you are a researcher, student or practitioner interested in CENA’s work, you can propose collaborations, internships or research projects. Briefly outline your profile, your institution and your interests when you contact us.
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