Congo (Zaire)

revised 15 October 1998

Congo (Zaire) Information

Map of Congo (Zaire) with the peoples discussed in "Art and Life in Africa" CD-ROM

General Information for Congo (Zaire)

Country:

Congo, Democratic Republic of

Location:

Central Africa

Independence:

June 30, 1960

Nationality:

Congolese

Capital City:

Kinshasa (kin-sha-sa)

Population:

62,600,000

Important Cities:

Kisingani, Lubumbashi, Kolwesi

Head of State:

Joseph Kabila

Area:

2,345,410 sq.km.

Type of Government:

Dictatorship, presumably undergoing transition to Representative Government

Currency:

437 CF=1 USD

Major peoples:

Azande,Chokwe,Songo,Kongo,Kuba,Lunda,Bembe

Religion:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, African 10%

Climate:

Equatorial

Literacy:

77.3%

Official Language:

French

Principal Languages:

Lingala, Azande, Chokwe, Kongo, Luba

Major Exports:

Copper, Cobalt, Diamonds, Crude Oil, Coffee

Pre-Colonial History

The precolonial past of Congo (Zaire) was complex. A diversity of social aggregates developed, ranging from small, autonomous groups of hunters and gatherers to centralized chiefdoms, from settled indigenous village communities to predominantly Muslim and Arab trading communities. Established in the late 1300s, the Kongo Kingdom expanded until the mid-17th century. The Luba Empire was founded by NKongolo and Kalala Ilunga in mid-17th century. Other Luba chiefs, including Lunda, settled among neighboring people and introduced the concept of a state governed by divine kingship. The Luba Empire was noted for its artistic achievement in sculpture, praise poetry, and polyphonic music. In the early 1500s, Kongo King Affonso established relations with Portugal and declared Roman Catholicism the state religion. The Kuba Kingdom, founded in the 17th century, by King Shyaam aMbul aNgoong, was a highly centralized agricultural and trading state. The Kazembe Kingdom was founded in 1750s as a Lunda offshoot, following Lunda expansion and controlling salt pans and copper mines in Katanga. The Conference of Berlin held in 1884 to 1885, acknowledged Leopold II's claim to rule the Congo Free State.

Post-Colonial History

Congo (Zaire) became independent from Belgium in 1960 when the head of state, Joseph Kasavubu, dismissed the prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Col. Joseph Mobutu took over the government. Thirty years after independence Congo (Zaire) still bears the imprint of its colonial past. Behind the omnipresent apparatus of control forged by President Mobutu Sese Seko in 1965 may be detected the enduring influence of King Leopold II of Belgium. The import of different institutions, policies, and culture from the West has deeply affected Congo (Zaire). However, traditions are maintained by different peoples with different beliefs, loyalties, and tensions. Despite their historical differences, under the rule of Sese Seko Zairians were jointly repressed and neglected by a small and highly centralized political elite. In late 1996, Laurent Kabila launched an offensive against the government, which led to the ouster of Mobutu Sese Seko in May 1997. One of Kabila's first acts as the new ruler was to change the name of the country from Zaire to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was assasinated in 2001. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA the son of Laurent, is president and is joined by four vice presidents representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the political opposition. The transitional government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005, and a series of elections in 2006 to determine the presidency and National Assembly seats. Results are pending as I write.

Country:	Congo, Democratic Republic of
Location:	Central Africa
Independence:	June 30, 1960
Nationality:	Congolese
Capital City:	Kinshasa (kin-sha-sa)
Population:	62,600,000
Important Cities:	Kisingani, Lubumbashi, Kolwesi
Head of State:	Joseph Kabila
Area:	2,345,410 sq.km.
Type of Government:	Dictatorship, presumably undergoing transition to Representative Government
Currency:	437 CF=1 USD
Major peoples:	Azande,Chokwe,Songo,Kongo,Kuba,Lunda,Bembe
Religion:	Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, African 10%
Climate:	Equatorial
Literacy:	77.3%
Official Language:	French
Principal Languages:	Lingala, Azande, Chokwe, Kongo, Luba
Major Exports:	Copper, Cobalt, Diamonds, Crude Oil, Coffee
Pre-Colonial History	The precolonial past of Congo (Zaire) was complex. A diversity of social aggregates developed, ranging from small, autonomous groups of hunters and gatherers to centralized chiefdoms, from settled indigenous village communities to predominantly Muslim and Arab trading communities. Established in the late 1300s, the Kongo Kingdom expanded until the mid-17th century. The Luba Empire was founded by NKongolo and Kalala Ilunga in mid-17th century. Other Luba chiefs, including Lunda, settled among neighboring people and introduced the concept of a state governed by divine kingship. The Luba Empire was noted for its artistic achievement in sculpture, praise poetry, and polyphonic music. In the early 1500s, Kongo King Affonso established relations with Portugal and declared Roman Catholicism the state religion. The Kuba Kingdom, founded in the 17th century, by King Shyaam aMbul aNgoong, was a highly centralized agricultural and trading state. The Kazembe Kingdom was founded in 1750s as a Lunda offshoot, following Lunda expansion and controlling salt pans and copper mines in Katanga. The Conference of Berlin held in 1884 to 1885, acknowledged Leopold II's claim to rule the Congo Free State.
Post-Colonial History	Congo (Zaire) became independent from Belgium in 1960 when the head of state, Joseph Kasavubu, dismissed the prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Col. Joseph Mobutu took over the government. Thirty years after independence Congo (Zaire) still bears the imprint of its colonial past. Behind the omnipresent apparatus of control forged by President Mobutu Sese Seko in 1965 may be detected the enduring influence of King Leopold II of Belgium. The import of different institutions, policies, and culture from the West has deeply affected Congo (Zaire). However, traditions are maintained by different peoples with different beliefs, loyalties, and tensions. Despite their historical differences, under the rule of Sese Seko Zairians were jointly repressed and neglected by a small and highly centralized political elite. In late 1996, Laurent Kabila launched an offensive against the government, which led to the ouster of Mobutu Sese Seko in May 1997. One of Kabila's first acts as the new ruler was to change the name of the country from Zaire to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was assasinated in 2001. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA the son of Laurent, is president and is joined by four vice presidents representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the political opposition. The transitional government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005, and a series of elections in 2006 to determine the presidency and National Assembly seats. Results are pending as I write.