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Available until 20/12/2024 150 times a day, Marie Velakutshi dives to extract shells from the murky waters of the Congo River. A tiring and dangerous activity due to the strong currents. But the young woman has no choice, this work is her only source of income. In the Congo Delta, in the middle of the mangroves, the floating village of Kizunga Manianga is home to a community of fishing women. Here, shellfish are a women's business, and the main source of livelihood for families. A huge responsibility, because traditional fishing is in decline and men have deserted the river to devote themselves to more lucrative activities. Highly prized for their flesh, shellfish are a reliable source of income and, for many families, a real lifeline. Marie Velakutshi dives up to 150 times a day in the murky waters of the Congo River to collect the precious mollusks. Underwater, visibility is no more than a few centimeters because the Congo is a tropical river loaded with organic matter from marshy soils full of humus that give it a dark color. But there is something more insidious: the river's current, one of the most powerful in the world. If Marie stays underwater too long, she drifts and must then deploy incredible energy to swim against the current without losing her precious booty. An almost impossible mission. This is why the divers are permanently tied to their boat. The shellfish that the women do not consume will soon be sold on the market. Then, Marie will go to visit her two daughters whom she has entrusted to relatives so that they can go to school and receive a good education. Report (Germany, 2024, 32mn) #congo #documentary #artefamily Subscribe to the ARTE Family Youtube channel: / @artefamilyfr Find us on social networks: Facebook: / infobyarte Twitter: / arteinfo