Self-taught artist, the Congolese Djemba Isumo Djeis is member and co-founder of OAR (Organisation des Artistes Réunis pour la défense et la promotion de la bande dessinée), an association of comic artists founded in 1993 to improve the distribution of comic books in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He started drawing in 1977 for Jeunes pour Jeunes, the oldest Congolese comic magazine. He collaborated with Jeunes pour Jeunes until 1980, drawing the comic series 'Apolosa', about the most popular hero in the story of the Congolese comics, a character created in the 1960s by Boyau.
From 1980 to 1995 he contributed to the Congolese magazines Yaya, Mac BD and Les Stars de la Bande Dessinée. He also produced six comic books about the life of the religious prophet Simon Kimbangu. Djemba Isumo Djeis participated with great success in international meetings, and in 1995 he received an award in the Festival of the Cartoon organized by the Turkish daily newspaper Hurryet. Djemba Isumo Djeis has had his work exhibited in Italy, in the exhibition 'Matite Africane' organized by Lai-momo and NGO CEFA in 2002.
