Bas-Congo

Bas-Congo Province Province du Bas-Congo
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

Bas-Congo or Kongo Central is one of the eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

History

Bas-Congo was formerly known as Kongo Central^[1][2] and then Bas-Zaïre. At the time of the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the province was part of the greater province of Leopoldville, along with the city of Kinshasa and the districts of Kwango, Kwilu and Mai-Ndombe.

Geography

Landscape of Kongo Central

BaKongo voodoo masks from the Kongo Central region

Bas-Congo 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:

Following the 2005 Constitution (effective 18 February 2006), the Democratic Republic of the Congo was to be divided into 25 provinces within 36 months (18 February 2009); with Bas-Congo being renamed Kongo Central. As of October 2010, this had not taken place.^[4]

References

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.

Bas-Congo Province Cities and communes Matadi (capital) Communes Matadi Nzanza Mvuzi Boma Communes Kabondo Kalamu Moanda (territory) Nzadi Districts and territories Bas-Fleuve District Territories Lukula Seke-Banza Tshela Cataractes District Territories Luozi Mbanza-Ngungu Nkamba Songololo Lukaya District Territories Kasangulu Kimvula Madimba