Eric Kabongo
Eric Kabongo Ilunga, born on May 21, 1984, in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), is a Belgian actor and singer of Congolese heritage. He moved to Belgium at the age of 13 after his mother married a Belgian man and settled in a small Flemish village. Currently, he resides in Waregem, West Flanders.
Kabongo initially embarked on his artistic journey as a rapper under the alias 'Krazy-E.' His foray into acting began in 2013 with an uncredited appearance as a train passenger in the film *The Fifth Estate*. The following year, he featured in the short film *D5R* and gained recognition for his role in the acclaimed Belgian film *Black*.
In 2016, Kabongo's career took a significant turn when he portrayed the refugee character 'Diallo' in the comedy *Welcome to Germany*, a performance that solidified his status as a prominent actor throughout Europe. His noteworthy work continued in 2019 with the film *Sawah*, for which he earned the Golden Palm Award for Best Supporting Actor at the Queen Palm International Film Festival. That same year, he appeared in the series *Rivallen und Rebellen*.
Additionally, a documentary titled *What About Eric?* was released in 2014, chronicling his life and later winning accolades for Best Belgian Documentary. Another documentary, *Ensor*, also dedicated to Kabongo, was awarded Best Flemish Documentary, further highlighting his impact on the arts.