He provided only the minimum infrastructure necessary to support the extraction of the countrys vast mineral wealth and killed an estimated 10 million congolese, setting a pattern which. Democratic republic of the congo languages genealogy. History, language and culture in democratic republic of congo. Mar 01, 2018 facts about democratic republic of congos culture, geography, and history.
The recent history of the democratic republic of congo, formerly known as zaire, has been one of turmoil and civil strife and civil war. The troubled heart of africa is the only book to give a complete history of the congo, filling in the blanks in the countrys history before the advent of henry stanley, david livingstone, king leopold, and other figures, and carrying us straight into todays headlines. Prime minister of the democratic republic of the congo. The democratic republic of congo is about as fucked as a country can get, and one of the most defining examples of a failed state. Congo as a whole is sparsely inhabited, with more than half of its population living in the cities. French, belgian and moroccan troops help repulse attack on katanga by angolanbased. The collapse of the congo and the great war of africa 27 march 2012. The congo river is the second longest river in africa after nile and the second largest river in the world by discharge volume of water after the amazon, and the worlds deepest river with measured depths in excess of 220 m 720 ft. This book opened my eyes to many pieces of history of the democratic republic of congo. The war officially ended in july 2003, when the transitional government of the. It is also bordered by gabon to the west, cameroon and the central african republic to the north, and cabinda to the southwest.
The second congo war also known as the great war of africa or the great african war, and sometimes referred to as the african world war began in the democratic republic of the congo in august 1998, little more than a year after the first congo war, and involved some of the same issues. Democratic republic of the congo enchantment of the world second series by terri willis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Waziri mkuu wa jamhuri ya kidemokrasia ya kongo, lingala. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Republique democratique du congo, also known as dr congo, the drc, droc, congokinshasa, or simply the congo, is a country located in central africa.
Jean malonga is considered as one of the deans of the congolese literature through his book entitled,coeur daryenne published in. Van reybrouck recounts the history of the democratic republic of congo. Under leopold ii, the congo free state became one of the most. The crisis began almost immediately after the congo became independent from belgium and ended, unofficially, with the entire country under the rule of joseph. In 1910, it was made part of the larger french equatorial africa. The troubled heart of africa is the only book to give a complete history of the congo, filling in the blanks in the countrys history before the advent of henry stanley, david livingstone, king leopold, and other. Over the past two decades, the democratic republic of congo has been at the centre of the deadliest series of conflicts since the second world war, and now hosts the largest united nations peacekeeping mission in the world. Aug 01, 2017 the democratic republic of the congo drc has a highly diverse linguistic landscape. From 1960 to 1966, the country was often known as congoleopoldville after its capital in order to distinguish it from its northwestern neighbor, also called the republic of the congo or congobrazzaville. The democratic republic of congo 1487 words bartleby. These three new books offer keen insights into the political and civil strife that have wracked congo for decades and that the country seems far. Moyen congo was a french colony which at one time comprised the presentday area of the republic of the congo and parts of gabon, and the central african republic. Diversity is the spice of life, and the highly regarded cultures of the world series celebrates just that in fully updated, and expanded editions. Jul 14, 2017 the belgian congo achieved independence on 30 june 1960 under the name the democratic republic of congo.
Democratic republic of the congo formerly zaire questia. Kituba, swahili, tshiluba, and lingala are the countrys four national languages. The congo free state was a corporate state privately controlled by leopold ii of belgium through the association internationale africaine, a nongovernmental organization. It is, by area, the largest country in subsaharan africa, the secondlargest in all of africa after algeria. National library of the democratic republic of congo. A very brief history of the democratic republic of congo. Esteemed scholar david van reybrouck balances hundreds of interviews with a diverse range of.
Just previous to this, in may a growing nationalist movement, led by patrice lumumba, had won the parliamentary elections. Robert edgerton does a masterful job presenting key elements that. One of africas largest, most populated, and generously endowed countries, the democratic republic of the congo has both dominated the surrounding region and been greatly affected by it as well. An essayist, poet and novelist, mabanckou a french citizen who now lives and works in the. The democratic republic of the congo has undergone a long period of war, and it appears that political renewal and economic recovery are bleak. Jan 10, 2019 a chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of congo, from the 1200s to the present. List of books and articles about belgian congo online. The democratic republic of the congo drc has a highly diverse linguistic landscape. Ethnologue lists 215 living languages spoken in the country. Democratic republic of the congo history genealogy.
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city in the democratic republic of congo. The earliest inhabitants of the region comprising presentday congo were the bambuti people. See also mortality study, eastern democratic republic of congo, februaryapril 2001, includes a map. Een geschiedenis is a 639 page nonfiction book by david van reybrouck. Democratic republic of congo profile timeline bbc news. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about congo, democratic republic of thes geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. Drc tales focus on a 1950s missionary family, greed and corruption in the 1960s, and the fallout from 1990s genocide. The democratic republic of the congo also known as dr congo, drc, droc, congokinshasa or simply the congo is a country located in central africa the official name of the country is the democratic republic of the congo the official language is french. Early in 2003 when the worlds attention was focused on the unfolding calamity of the iraq invasion, another deadly conflict was occurring in. The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a complex pattern of. Whether called the congo free state, or zaire, or the democratic republic of the congo, the country remains perilously unstable. The most populous city is the capital, brazzaville, which is located in the southeastern corner of the country and is a major inland port on the congo river. Books on the congo history of zaire and the belgian congo.
France is taking new measures to ensure the currency of the french language in the democratic republic of congo, where the number of speakers remain part of a dwindling minority. Ngbinda, bangbinda in congo, democratic republic of joshua. So often the history of this huge country and its many grand and. It is the second largest country in africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. The emerging states of french equatorial africa by virginia thompson. Laurentdesire kabila becomes president and renames zaire the democratic republic of congo dr congo. The country encompasses the entire congo river basin, the potential. Africa, asia, and the free and liberated peoples in every corner of the globe will ever remain at the side of the millions of congolese who will not abandon the.
Unlike ndaywels longer general history in french,1 nzongolantalaja does not cover. National library of the democratic republic of congo french. It is the third largest city in africa after cairo and lagos and the second largest french speaking city in the world other than paris, france. From 1885 to 1908, congo was colonized by the king of belgium, leopold ii, who took it as his own personal property. The belgian state annexes congo amid protests against the millions of congolese that have been killed or worked to death during the belgian control of the territory. The democratic republic of the congo pronunciation help info french. From the beginnings of the slave trade through colonization, the struggle for independence, mobutus brutal three decades of rule, and the civil war that has raged from 1996 to the present day, congo. History of democratic republic of congo the belgian congo was created in 1885, essentially as the personal property of the belgian monarch, king leopold ii. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the democratic republic of the congo. Early in 2003 when the worlds attention was focused on the unfolding calamity of the iraq invasion, another deadly conflict was occurring in the democratic republic of congo drc.
The bambuti were linked to pygmy tribes whose stone age culture was slowly replaced by bantu tribes coming from regions north of presentday democratic republic of the congo about 2,000 years ago, introducing iron age culture to the region. The democratic republic of the congo also often referred to as dr congo, drc, rdc, east congo or formerly as congo free state, belgian congo, the congo, congoleopoldville, congokinshasa, and zaire, is the second largest country by area on the african continent, bordering the republic of the congo, the central african republic, south sudan, uganda, rwanda, burundi, tanzania, zambia, and. Embassy of the republic of congo in washington dc about. Democratic republic of the congo turtledove fandom. The progress scale is derived from people group values for percent evangelical and percent christian adherent. The democratic republic of the congo is named for the congo river, which flows through the entire country. Mar 31, 2011 kinshasa is the capital and largest city in the democratic republic of congo. Republic of the congo republic of the congo history. More than 5 million people have been killed in democratic republic of the congo since the late 1990s, home to some of the most serious human rights violations since world war ii. Three new books on the democratic republic of the congo. History of the democratic republic of the congo english. Republique du congo was a sovereign state in central africa that was created with the independence of the belgian congo in 1960. Under leopold ii, the congo free state became one of the most infamous international.
Republic of the congo capital at brazzaville britannica. It is, by area, the largest country in subsaharan africa, the secondlargest in all of africa after algeria, and the 11thlargest in the world. In 1989, it became autonomous under presidential order. This huge country lies in the heart of the african continent in the equator zone and its capital city, kinshasa is a teeming metropolis. She looked at me and asked whether i thought the congolese are stupid. It is bordered by five countries, one of which is the democratic republic of congo situated to the east of congobrazzaville. Demokratiki is the head of government of the democratic republic of the congo. Patrice lumumba, the democratic republic of congos independence hero and first prime minister, famously wrote to his wife pauline from captivity in 1960, shortly before his assassination. Democratic republic of the congo, formerly zaire zi.
Democratic republic of congo dancing in the glory of monsters. The people who used the largecore bifacial sangoan tools probably subsisted by gathering food and digging up roots. Crise congolaise was a period of political upheaval and conflict in the republic of the congo today the democratic republic of the congo between 1960 and 1965. Lses jonathan silver calls michael deiberts book an essential read for those interested in wider postcolonial worlds. A chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of congo, from the 1200s to the present. It borders on angola in the southwest and west, on the atlantic ocean, cabinda an angolan exclave, and the republic of the congo in the west, on the central african republic and south sudan in the north, on uganda, rwanda, burundi. The prime minister of the democratic republic of the congo french. A friend of mine is from the democratic republic of congo. The four and a half year war in the democratic republic of congo has taken more lives than any other since world war ii and is the deadliest documented conflict in african history, says the international rescue committee. While the congolese army maintains that the adf is an islamist insurgency, most observers feel that they are only a criminal group interested in gold mining and logging. The state included the entire area of the present the democratic republic of the congo. The democratic republic of the congo article about the. It borders on angola in the southwest and west, on the atlantic ocean, cabinda an angolan exclave, and the republic of the congo in the west, on the central african republic and south sudan in the north, on uganda. The epic history of a people traces the history of one of the most devastated nations in the world.
The joshua project progress scale is an estimate of the progress of church planting among a people group, people cluster, country or language. It bulges with both the grand sweep of history and a rich variety of voices gathered through enterprising, on the ground reporting. Find out, yet, a pure part of african tourism and experience the adventure of an era nov 25 2015 by anderson jones and sampson jerry. Republique democratique du congo, also known as dr congo, the drc, droc, congo kinshasa, or simply the congo, is a country located in central africa. Esteemed scholar david van reybrouck balances hundreds of interviews with a. It is bordered by the central african republic and south sudan to the north. Interesting facts about the democratic republic of congo. National library of the democratic republic of congo wikipedia. The people of the congo, as this book shows, have suffered cruelly. The official language of the democratic republic of the congo. Republic of the congo simple english wikipedia, the free. Kituba called kikongo, lingala, swahili and tshiluba. Rebel leader laurentdesire kabila was sworn in as president on may 29 and changed the name of the country to the democratic republic of the congo. Civil wars in the democratic republic of congo, 19602010.
Democratic republic of the congo history britannica. The epidemic of domestic sexual violence that lacerates the soul of south africa is mirrored in the pattern of grotesque raping in areas of outright conflict from darfur to the democratic republic of the congo, and in areas of contested electoral turbulence from kenya to zimbabwe. Human habitation of the congo basin came relatively late in the sangoan era 100,000 to 40,000 bce. Congo, word document, private files of the familysearch content strategy.
The struggle for haiti 2005 and haiti will not perish. The best books on democratic republic of the congo. Why does the democratic republic of congo speak french. What languages are spoken in the democratic republic of. History from zaire to the democratic republic of the congo. I asked her one day why they dont drop french since its a colonial language. What languages are spoken in the democratic republic of the. With a population of over 71 million, the democratic republic of the congo. The use of the french language in congolese literature is a dominant factor.
Short history of democratic republic of congo, formerly zaire. Congo is in the centralwestern part of subsaharan africa. Over the years the positions powers and attributions have varied widely, and there were long periods. Discover librarianselected research resources on belgian congo from the. The constant bloodshed between the national and armed forces has led to countless civilian deaths, or the genocide in the congo. A history since the earthquake zed books, 2017 table of contents. List of books and articles about belgian congo online research. Republique du congo, also known as congobrazzaville, the congo republic, west congo, the former french congo, or simply the congo, is a small central african country. The epic history of a people is one of those books that lingers with the reader having a certain dream or memory like quality to it where you know that you have been touched by an experience, which is a rare and wonderful gift. The democratic republic of congo, formerly zaire, is located at the center of africa. It is, by area, the largest country in subsaharan africa, the secondlargest in all of africa after algeria, and the 11th. A discussion of three writers from the republic of congo and their works. To the south and east of it is the democratic republic of congo. The current prime minister of the democratic republic of the congo is sylvestre ilunga the position of prime minister was already present in the first government after independence of the democratic republic of the congo, with the first prime minister patrice emery lumumba.
History of the democratic republic of the congo wikipedia. Four indigenous languages have the status of national language. The allied democratic forces has been waging an insurgency in the democratic republic of the congo and is blamed for the beni massacre in 2016. Dec 12, 20 the best books on democratic republic of the congo. Discover the best democratic republic of congo in best sellers. As has always been true of these outstanding titles, an abundance of vibrant photographs including those new to this edition stimulate the imaginations of young readers as they travel the globe. The role of older powers such as france and belgium together with new. The democratic republic of congo between hope and despair. It is also and this is not a coincidence a site of crucial importance for the resources of the modern world, from rubber and ivory in the nineteenth century, through uranium during the cold war, to the coltan inside every iphone and playstation 4 its all been.
Mar 20, 2010 france is taking new measures to ensure the currency of the french language in the democratic republic of congo, where the number of speakers remain part of a dwindling minority. A harrowing and insightful memoir about a migrants sixyear journey from the democratic republic of the congo to the netherlands persecuted for political reasons, emmanuel mbolela left the democratic republic of the congo in 2002. The country is called and known by different name variations. One of the richest counties in natural resources, the democratic republic of congo is a force to be reckoned with. The belgian congo achieved independence on 30 june 1960 under the name the democratic republic of congo. Infoplease has everything you need to know about congo, democratic republic of the. The epic history of a people by david van reybrouck. The attempt to make the public believe that the allied defense forces, a small, beleaguered ugandan islamist militia, attacked a united nations peacekeeping mission in the democratic republic of the congo on 7 december 2017, killing 15 heavily armed and highly trained tanzanian peacekeepers and wounding 55 more, raises more questions than it.