Makanza
Commune
Map of Makanza, around 1890
Map of Makanza, around 1890
Makanza is located in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Makanza
Makanza
Coordinates: 1°40′41″N 19°09′59″E / 1.677922°N 19.166336°E / 1.677922; 19.166336
Country DR Congo
ProvinceÉquateur
TerritoryMakanza
Time zoneUTC+1 (West Africa Time)

Makanza or Mankanza is a town in the Équateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, headquarters of Makanza territory.

History

Makanza was formerly known as Bangala Station and then as Nouvelle-Anvers / Nieuw-Antwerpen (New Antwerp).[1] It is a port on the River Congo. Located midway between Kinshasa and Kisangani, the location housed a trading post from the 1890. The town was one of the main stages of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition. The Bangala people of the area were among the first people to come in contact with the colonialists. Their language, Lingala, eventually merged with the "Lobangi" lingua franca of the river.

From 1884 onwards, the city played an important role in the development of the Force Publique (the colonial army). This led to Lingala becoming the working language of the army.[2]

Bangala tattoos, 1889

Demographics

Year Population
1994 37,048
2004 41,447

References

  1. ↑ par), SPINDLER Marc et STEENBRINK Karel (dossier dirigé (2011-12-21). Histoire et Missions Chrétiennes N-019. Les chrétiens indonésiens : une minorité qui a des racines et des ailes (in French). KARTHALA Editions. p. 122. ISBN 9782811149901.
  2. ↑ Meeuwis M (2020). Goddeeris I, Lauro A, Vanthemsche G (eds.). Koloniaal Congo: een geschiedenis in vragen (in Dutch). Polis. pp. 278–279.
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