Portal:Democratic Republic of the Congo

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo Portal

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (French: République Démocratique du Congo), also referred to as DRC, DR Congo, Congo and Congo-Kinshasa, and formerly Zaire (or Zaïre in French), is a nation in Central Africa and the third largest country on the continent. It borders the Central African Republic and Sudan on the north, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Tanzania on the east, Zambia and Angola on the south, and the Republic of the Congo on the west^[1]. The country enjoys access to the sea through a narrow forty kilometre stretch, following the Congo river into the Gulf of Guinea. The name "Congo" (meaning "hunter") is coined after the Kongo ethnic group, living in the lower Congo river area.

The population was estimated at 56.6 million in 2003, growing quickly from 46.7 million in 1997. As many as 250 ethnic groups have been distinguished and named. The most numerous people are the Kongo, Luba, and Mongo. Although 700 local languages and dialects are spoken, the linguistic variety is bridged both by the use of French and the intermediary languages Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili, and Lingala.

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Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

With a population of about 7.5 million (2005 census), it ties with Johannesburg for the status of the second largest city in sub-Saharan Africa, behind Lagos, and third largest in the whole continent, after Lagos and Cairo.

Kinshasa is a city of sharp contrasts, with posh residential and commercial areas, two universities, and sprawling slums coexisting side by side.

It is located along the southern bank of the Congo River, directly opposite the city of Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of the Congo. Kinshasa is located at 4°16′S 15°17′E.

Notable features of the city include the SOZACOM Building and Hotel Memling skyscrapers, the central market, the Kinshasa Museum and the Kinshasa Fine Arts Academy. The Boulevard du 30 Juin links the areas of the city together. (continued...)

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The Our Lady of Peace Cathedral, a landmark of the city of Bukavu, in the eastern Sud-Kivu province.

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Did you know...

...that the Democratic Republic of the Congo has born 4 different names during the 20th century: Congo Free State, Republic of the Congo aka Congo-Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Republic of Zaire...
...that the capital Kinshasa is arguably the second most populous French-speaking in the world after Paris...
...that the Okapi is an endangered forest giraffe found only in the Okapi Wildlife Reserve, in the Ituri Rainforest...

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Antoine Koffi Olomide (born August 13, 1958), is a Congolese soukous singer, producer, and composer.

Born in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo to a Congolese father and Ghanaian mother, Koffi grew up in Kinshasa.
He went to France to study where he earned a bachelors degree in economics and a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Paris. While in Paris, he began playing the guitar and writing songs. On his return to Congo he was a member of Viva la Musica, Papa Wemba's band. Koffi repopularized the slower style of soukous, which had fallen out of fashion. He dubbed this style Tcha Tcho, and it gained popularity outside Congo. Koffi's music can be quite controversial, taking on current events and topics considered taboo in some conservative societies. He has also participated in the salsa music project Africando.. (continued...)