“<i>Tokowa po ya ekolo</i>”: The Military Body Within the Congolese Army

This article explores the conceptualization of body among former Congolese soldiers living as refugees in Johannesburg. The draws on extensive fieldwork Johannesburg, South Africa and employs concept deterritorialization reterritorialization to explain bodies those who have decided join Army. reveals complex ways which army manipulates soldiers’ generate diverse lines connection, coalition, removal (or disconnection). We support that are not necessarily owned by country, but become military institutions, employ nationalist rhetoric justify their existence actions. act joining could be considered a way cutting ties with civilian life new world individual is socialized into culture. Through initiation, soldier’s reterritorialized; it becomes national asset. While this study focuses soldiers, has broader relevance, giving insight how perceive shifting from possession reterritorialized nation.