The Democratic Republic of Congo is a country in Central Africa that gained independence from Belgium on June 30th, 1960. It is bordered by nine countries and the South Atlantic Ocean. There are over 200 ethnic groups in the country, including Bantu, Mongo, Luba, Kongo, Mangbetu, and Azande. French is the official language, with other languages spoken, such as Kituba, Lingala, Tshiluba, and Swahili.
Did You Know These Interesting Facts About DR. Congo?
1. Music is the Biggest Export of the Country
While this might sound unbelievable, Congolese music was a thing in the 90s, before the rise of Afro beats and Amapiano. Congolese music was listened to by the entire continent and was one of the most influential music forms.
The Congolese music style is called Soukous. It has influenced the music industry in the continent. The country has produced legends in the music industry, including Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba, Awilo Longomba, Madilu System, Zaiko Langa Langa, and Werrason.
While Congolese music is not as popular as in the 90s, some musicians, including Maitre Gims, Singuila, Dadju, Damso, and Siboy, still make good music within and outside the country.
2. Its Capital City, Kinshasa, Has the Largest French Speaking Population in the World
A few years ago, Paris had the highest French-speaking population in the World. However, a recent study proves that Kinshasa, the capital city of DR. Congo, has the largest French-speaking population in the World, with over 11.1 million French speakers as against Paris’s 2,161 million. This change is due to the population growth of the capital city.
3. The Democratic Republic of Congo has a Phenomenal Wildlife
This African country is blessed with beautiful and rare wildlife. Some animals are rare and found only in the country. One of these animals is the Okapi. It is also known as the forest giraffe, the Congolese giraffe, and the zebra giraffe. The Okapi is endemic to DR. Congo. It has features of a zebra, a giraffe, and deer.
Another rare wildlife in the country is the Bonobo. It is an endangered species of chimpanzee that is considered to be man’s closest relative. The Bonobo is said to share 98.7% of their genetic codes with humans.
Besides the two animals mentioned above, DR.Congo is said to have the highest concentration of animals in the World.
Read Also: Safest Countries In Africa
4. The Country Has Experienced Violent Conflict for over 2 Decade
Civil wars have plagued the Democratic Republic of Congo, like most African countries. The country has two major wars, which observers called “Africa’s world wars.” During the second Congo War, the death toll was said to have risen to about 6 million people, making it the deadliest war since the Second World War.
While the civil wars have subsided, there are still conflicts that have led to a humanitarian crisis in the country. Especially the conflict between Rwandan and Congolese forces, which has led to the displacement of 262,000 people in 2022.
5. It is one of the Most Resource-Rich Countries in the World
This African country is blessed with different minerals and natural resources. It is blessed with diamonds, copper, cobalt, and tin ore. The country also has an abundance of coffee, which is the country’s major agricultural export, and oil
While it is expected that this abundance of natural resources would make the country prosperous, due to the mismanagement of these resources by the government and its frequent wars, this country is ranked one of the poorest in the World.
6. The Democratic Republic of Congo is Home to the World’s Deepest River
While many people will remember River Congo as the second-longest river in Africa, after the Nile, not many know that this river is the deepest in the World. It has a depth of 720 feet and is 1760 meters above sea level.
The river flows through the Republic of Congo, also known as Congo Brazzaville, the Central African Republic, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon, and Tanzania. It is the only major river to cross the equator twice. The country is named after this famous river.
7. The Country has 8 Active Volcanoes
2 of Africa’s most active volcanoes are located in DR. Congo. They are the Nyamuragira and the Nyiragongo. The Nyamuragira is the most active on the continent. Between 1865 and 2011, the volcano erupted 43 times, the most recent being in 2022.
Similarly, the Nyiragongo is famous for long active lavas that appear in the summit crater. Its most recent eruption occurred in 2021. it led to the deaths of 32 people. Before then, it erupted in 2002, killing a hundred people.
Other active volcanoes in the country are May-ya-moto, Tshibinda, Karisimbi, Visoke, Mugogo, and Mikeno.
8. The Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic Of Congo is Africa’s Most Biologically Diverse Protected Area
The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to the Virunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in the center of the Albertine Rift and is recognized for its exceptional wildlife and habitat.
The World’s critically endangered mountain gorillas live in the park and the Bwindi National Park. It is estimated that there are 1000 mountain gorillas in the park alone. Additionally, the number of bird species in Virunga exceeds the total number in the U.S. and is more than 3 times that in the UK.
Similarly, it has a vast number of reptile and amphibian species. It is the only site on earth to have 3 types of great apes: the mountain gorilla, the eastern lowland gorilla, and the eastern chimpanzee.
9. The Nouabale-Ndoki National Park is the last Natural Habitat on Earth
This park is arguably the best example of an untouched natural habitat. It has never been logged and protects wildlife populations within its coffers without contact with humans, including forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and chimpanzees.
It was created in 1993 and collaboratively managed by the Congolese government and WCS. A foundation was created in its honor in 2014 to aid in financing the park.
The Nouabale-Ndoki National Park is part of the more extensive Sangha Tri-National Forest Landscape, nominated as a world heritage site in 2012.
10. The Democratic Republic of Congo is Home to the Shortest Tribe in the World
The Pygmy tribe is an indigenous tribe that lives in the Congo rainforest. They are famous for their small body size and height size. The average Pygmy man is about 4 feet 10 inches tall, while the average woman is around 4 feet and 1 inch.
This tribe is one of the last nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa. They were seen as backward by the rest of the country and were treated as such. As a result of economic activities going on in the Congolese rainforests, the pygmies have moved deeper into the rainforest to avoid being attacked.
