 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
About The People
Did You Know...... Formerly the Belgian Congo, this territory was inhabited by ancient Negrito peoples (Pygmies), who w »» More
Fashion... Western-style clothing is common in most urban areas. Congolese women wear a pagne, a long dress mad »» More
Socializing... Most Bantu peoples share a common cultural heritage. Most distinctive, perhaps is the general polite »» More
Family... The family is the most important focus in a Congolese life. Although family structure varies greatly »» More
| World Region: Africa
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Statistics
Capital Cities... Kinshasa
Population: 65,751,512
GDP: $19,070,000,000 (USD)
Total Area: 2,345,410 (sq km) 905,563 (sq mi)
Currency: Congolese francs
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Democratic Republic of the Congo History
The area known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo was populated as early as 10,000 years ago and settled in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. by Bantus from present-day Nigeria. Discovered in 1482 by Portuguese navigator Diego Cao and later explored by English journalist Henry Morton Stanley, the area was officially colonized in 1885 as a personal possession of Belgian King Leopold II as the Congo Free State. In 1907, administration shifted to the Belgian Government, which renamed the country the Belgian Congo. Following a series of riots and unrest, the Belgian Congo was granted its independence on June 30, 1960. Parliamentary elections in 1960 produced Patrice Lumumba as prime minister and »» More |