Kongo Central

Kongo Central Province Province du Kongo Central
Province
Location of Kongo Central Province
Coordinates:
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Capital	Matadi
Largest city	Matadi
Government
• Governor	Simon Mbaki Batshia
Area
• Total	53,920 km2 (20,820 sq mi)
Population (2010 est.)
• Total	4,522,942
• Density	84/km2 (220/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Bakongo
Official language	French
National language	Kikongo
Website	kongocentral.net

Kongo Central is one of the 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its capital is Matadi.

History

At the time of independence, the area now encompassing Kongo Central was part of the greater province of Leopoldville, along with the city of Kinshasa and the districts of Kwango, Kwilu and Mai-Ndombe. The province was initially called Kongo Central followed by Bas-Zaïre, and then Bas-Congo. It was subsequently renamed Kongo Central in 2015.

Geography

Landscape of Kongo Central

BaKongo voodoo masks from the Kongo Central region

Kongo Central is the only province with a coastline (Atlantic Ocean). It borders the provinces of Kinshasa to the north-east, Kwango to the east, and the Republic of Angola to the south as well as the Republic of the Congo and Cabinda to the north.

Divisions

The provincial capital is Matadi. The only other official city is Boma. The remainder of the province is divided into the districts of Bas-Fleuve, Cataractes and Lukaya. Towns with their 2010 populations are:

Name	District	Territory	Pop. 2010	Coordinates
Boma	–	–	167,326
Inga	Bas-Fleuve District	Tshela Territory	10,417
Inkisi	Lukaya District	Kasangulu Territory	77,797
Kasangulu	Lukaya District	Kasangulu Territory	30,724
Kimpese	Cataractes District	Songololo Territory	53,660
Kimvula	Lukaya District	Kimvula Territory
Kinzau-Mvuete	Bas-Fleuve District	Tshela Territory	17,870
Lukula	Bas-Fleuve District	Lukula Territory	31,394
Luozi	Cataractes District	Luozi Territory	13,258
Madimba	Lukaya District	Madimba Territory
Matadi	–	–	291,338
Mbanza-Ngungu	Cataractes District	Mbanza-Ngungu Territory	97,037
Muanda	–	Muanda Territory	86,896
Seke-Banza	Bas-Fleuve District	Seke-Banza Territory	6,015
Songololo	Cataractes District	Songololo Territory	12,382
Tshela	Bas-Fleuve District	Tshela Territory	45,588

Bibliography

• Gillet, J. (1927) Catalogue des plantes du jardin d'essais de la mission de Kisantu. Bruxelles 166 pp.
• Pauwels, L. (1993) Nzayilu N'ti – guide des arbres et arbustes de la région de Kinshasa – Brazzaville. Meise ISBN 9072619102, 495 pp.
• Latham, P. (2003) Edible caterpillars and their food plants in Bas-Congo Mystole Publications. ISBN 0954301277, 60 pp.
• Kibungu Kembelo, A.O. (2004) Plantes medicinales du Bas-Congo et leurs usages DFID. 197 pp.
• Latham, P. (2004) Useful plants of Bas-Congo province DFID. ISBN 0954669835, 320 pp.
• Latham, P. (2008) Les chenilles comestibles et leurs plantes nourricières dans la province du Bas-Congo DFID. ISBN 9780955420863,44 pp.
• Latham, P. et Konda ku Mbuta, A. (2010) Plantes utiles du Bas-Congo. Mystole Publications. ISBN 9780955420818, 372 pp.
• Latham, P. et Konda ku Mbuta, A. (2011) Some honeybee plants of Bas-Congo province DFID. ISBN 9780955420894, 248 pp.
• Latham, P. & Konda ku Mbuta, A. (2014) Useful plants of Bas-Congo province ISBN 9780955420870, 553 pp.