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DRC: The Democratic Republic of CONGO | A Country with a Troubled History | 10 INTERESTING FACTS
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the fourth most populous country in Africa. Located in the center of the continent, it is rich in history, and above all in interesting facts! It should be noted that the oldest traces of settlement in the Congo were discovered on archaeological sites in Katanga and Kivu. The first stones and other cut flints would be more than 200,000 years old according to scientists! Moreover, the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly populated by hunter-collectors, who may be ancestors of the Pygmy peoples. Between the first human traces and the formation of the first villages, the Congo is occupied by nomadic groups, stonemasons, and from different cultures. In fact, the earliest traces of true civilization date back to 2600 BC, and belonged to the “Imbonga tradition”. Other traditions have emerged as a result, both in the center of the country and in the south. These populations became sedentary, so that they ensured their own food production, which is an important criterion as a micro society.
Towards the end of the Middle Ages, different populations, then organized into chiefdoms, were built into kingdoms. Some of these kingdoms were at their peak when they first came into contact with Europeans in the 15th century. From then on, royalties have been an important part of the history of the Congo! This period was marked by different trading kingdoms, in communication with other kingdoms, but also with other continents. Of a truth, kingdoms could span thousands of miles, not to mention trade networks beyond their borders! Most of the time, trading was carried on by foot, or by water. At the time, private property did not exist, so kingdoms did not even have exact boundaries. But that was not really detrimental, because mutual aid was very present, even between different leaders. Village chiefs had some, if not complete authority, but did not exercise their power elsewhere, such as in the West. Kingdoms were therefore not necessarily the result of conquest as one might think, but rather were unions and groupings of villages speaking the same language, in order to better defend themselves
Unfortunately, and like many African countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has experienced periods of colonization, this is an integral part of its history. To understand where the Congo's colonial past came from, it is important to see how it came to be. One of the key moments was 1482. At this time, the Portuguese Diogo Cão, in search of the mythical “kingdom of the priest John”, reached the mouth of the Congo river. It was not until 1579, nearly 100 years later, that the Portuguese Duarte Lopes ascended this river! The latter was so risky and perilous, that it was really explored only in 1874. And from there, the occupation plan was already, in a way, in place. We noticed it in 1876, when a foundation was born: the African International Association. The latter was created by Leopold II, King of Belgium, and included the whole of the Congo. This colonization therefore took place as a result of a conference, and lasted until 1960 before the Congo obtained its independence.
We were talking about it just before, the Congo River can be very dangerous. But what are the specific risks? Well, on the one hand, the route itself crosses several countries. The river flows 4700 kilometers west from Kisangani, just below the falls. It then takes more and more turns to the southwest. Plus, it's the deepest river in the world! It can reach up to 250 meters deep. So this is one of the most dangerous and frightening waterways in the world! But something else complicates the crossings along this river: wildlife. In this part of the world, it is not uncommon to find menacing and awe-inspiring animals. For example, you might come across lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes ... And the list doesn't end there! There are also rhinos, gorillas, bonobo monkeys, and even okapis that only live in this region of the world! We understand better why Westerners waited 100 years before exploring this river!
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Published Sep 15, 2023
