Kisangani

Kisangani
Provincial capital andcity
Ville de Kisangani
Nickname: Boyoma
Kisangani Location in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Coordinates:0°31′0″N25°12′0″E
Country	DR Congo
Province	Tshopo Province
Communes	Lubunga,Makiso,Mangobo,Tshopo,Kabondo,Kisangani
Government
• Mayor	Delly Likunde
Area
• City	1,910 km2(740 sq mi)
Elevation	447 m (1,467 ft)
Population (2015)
• City	1,602,144
• Density	839/km2(2,170/sq mi)
•Urban	1,040,000
Time zone	UTC+2(Central Africa Time)
License Plate Code	CGO /25

Kisangani/kiːsəŋˈɡɑːni/(formerlyStanleyvilleorStanleystad) is the capital ofTshopoprovince in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo.It is the fifth most populous urban area in the country, with an estimated population of 1,312,000 in 2021,and the largest of the cities that lie in the tropical woodlands of the Congo.

Some 2,100 kilometres (1,300 mi) from the mouth of theCongo River,Kisangani is thefarthest navigable pointupstream. Kisangani is the nation's most important inland port afterKinshasa,an important commercial hub point for river and land transportation and a major marketing and distribution centre for the north-eastern part of the country. It has been the commercial capital of the northern Congo since the late 19th century.

History

Arab slave raid onNyangwe,circa 1870

See also:Timeline of Kisangani

BeforeHenry Morton Stanley,working on behalf ofKing Leopold II of the Belgians,founded what would become Stanley Falls Station in 1883, on the Island of Wana Rusari in theCongo River,the area was inhabited by a native Congolese tribe known as the Clans of Enya, who had usedWagenia Falls(former name Stanley Falls) for fishing. The island is located a few meters from the shore site of the present town on theLualaba River,its 7 falls spread over 100 kilometres (62 mi) between Kisangani andUbundu.

Stanley founded the area's first trading post, some 2,100 kilometres (1,300 mi) from the mouth of theCongo River,in December 1883.The settlement was known first as Falls Station (or "the Post Stanley Falls" or "The Falls" or simply "Boyoma" the African name ofBoyoma Falls) and then, withBelgian colonizationof the area, it grew into a settlement calledStanleyville.A city terminus of steamer navigation on theCongo River,the town began as a trading post. It has been the major centre of the northern Congo since the late 19th century.

Stanley left Mr. Binnie, an engineer who was aScotsman,in charge to trade with the local people and to be the chief representative of King Leopold'sCongo Free Statein the area. The name "Kisangani" was apparently used consistently by the local people, while the name "Stanleyville" was used in French (and Stanleystad inDutch). In theSwahilimanual published by theMarist Brothersin the 1920s, we find an example of substitution naming "from X to Stanleyville" which is translated "toka X Mpaka Kisangani".The name "Kisangani" is aSwahilirendering of the indigenous Congolese language wordBoyoma,meaning "City on the Island", also rendered inLingalaasSingitini (or Singatini)with the same meaning.

Europeans at Stanleyville in 1902

Soon after the establishment of ties between the Africans and Europeans,slavers from Zanzibar,traditionally called "Arabs" by European writers of the time, reachedStanley Fallsfrom the east. Relations between Free State officials and the slavers were strained and, after a fight, the station was abandoned in 1887.

After theArab-Euro wars in the Congo,in 1888 the Free State obtained (after negotiations in Zanzibar) an agreement to establish a form of power by appointing Mohammed Bin Alfan MujrebTippu Tip,one of the greatestZanzibarslavers, as first governor of the district of "Stanley Falls" stretching from easternTanganyikainIturithroughManiema.Ultimately the Europeans sent by Leopold gained complete control of the vast area in central Africa. On 15 July 1898, Stanleyville began serving as the capital of the relatively prosperous District of the Eastern Province of Stanley Falls.

Stanley Falls Station, map plan in 1893, laying the foundations of Kisangani

Official city status was achieved 50 years after the Congo Free State was taken over by Belgian Government, by incorporation Order No. 12/357 on 6 September 1958, which divided Stanleyville into 4 municipalities: Belgian I, Belgian II, Brussels and Stanley.Towards the end of 1958, the city became the stronghold ofPatrice Lumumba,the leader of the political partyMouvement National Congolais(MNC). His strong ties with the city had been forged during his days as one of 350 clerks at the central post office. EthiopianONUCtroops arrived in the city after July 1960. After the assassination of Lumumba in 1961,Antoine Gizengainstalled theFree Republic of the Congoin Stanleyville, which competed with the central government in Leopoldville (nowKinshasa). Before the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960, Kisangani was reputed to have moreRolls-Roycesper capita than any other city in the world.

Belgian paratroopers in action duringOperation Dragon Rougein 1964

In early 1964, theSimba Rebellion( "Simba Revolution" ) occurred, mushrooming into outright rebellion by May and June. By August rebels had overrun Stanleyville from their bases in Wanie Rukula. They closed the airport and barred civilians from leaving, including at least one foreign consular staff.A number of American and European nationals were taken captive, and, following intense negotiations,Operation Dragon Rougewas launched by Belgium, theArmée Nationale Congolaise(ANC), and a plethora of foreign mercenaries under ColonelMike Hoareto free the hostages.

The city was renamed Kisangani in 1966.

In 1966 and 1967, Kisangani was the site of theStanleyville mutinies,which led to widespread looting.

With the assumption of the "Zairianisation"program in the 1970s byMobutu Sese Seko,Stanleyville was officially renamed Kisangani and Stanley Falls becameBoyoma Falls,and as of 27 October 1977 the municipalities were renamed as follows: Belgian I (Mangobo and Tshopo), Belgian II (Lubunga), Brussels (Kabondo) and Stanley (Makiso).

Regional conflicts

In the 1990s, the area emerged as the theatre for a series of major battles known as the fight of Kisangani during theFirst Congo War.Laurent-Désiré Kabila,leader of theAlliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo,invaded the Congo from the eastern region of the country with assistance fromRwanda,BurundiandUgandamilitary forces. As of 30 October 1998, there were 15,000 Ugandan and 19,000 Rwandan troops on Congolese soil.Laurent Kabiladesignated Kisangani as the forward base for the foreign forces as he marched westwards towardsKinshasato overthrowMobutu Sese Seko.

The alliance of foreign military forces disintegrated when people ofHutudescent were massacred by the thousands in western Zaire and because of looting in the mining areas, in particular in Kisangani and theKivus.The population was completely opposed to the presence of foreign forces because of their behaviour.Laurent-Désiré Kabilacould not continue to support the use of Kisangani as the base for foreign fighters as they launched attacks to massacre the Hutu people – hence he demanded that Rwanda pull its forces out of the country.

In 1999, the city was the site of the first open fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan forces in theSecond Congo War,when nearly 3,000 people died in the cross fire. This followed the fracturing of the anti-government rebel groupRally for Congolese Democracy(RCD) into camps based in Kisangani andGoma.The fighting was also over the gold mines near the town. The local population was caught in the cross fire between Ugandan and Rwandan military forces, which led to the destruction of about a quarter of the city. Various buildings were damaged, most notably the roof of the Cathedral Rosaire of Notre-Dame, which was ignited by missiles. Both of the foreign forces were reported to have looted and pillaged the city. Despite the condemnation of Uganda by the International Court of Justice, establishment of responsibility, payment of compensation, and arrests have yet to be made. Furtherclashesbetween Rwandan and Ugandan forces led to thousands more deaths and widespread destruction from 5 to 10 June 2000.

During theSecond Congo War,on 14 May 2002, 160 people were massacred in Kisangani; this is believed to be the work of those under the command ofLaurent Nkunda.By the time a peace agreement was signed in 2002, the town was under the control of the Rwandan-backedRally for Congolese Democracy - Goma(RCD-Goma).

The three encounters between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani have been termed the wars of 1 day, 3 days and, the deadliest fought in 2000, 6 days.

Geography

Kisangani is strategically placed at the junction of theCongo, Tshopo, andLindirivers and at the crossroads between eastern and western Congo. Approximately central of the African continent, it is located in North-easternDemocratic Republic of the Congo(DRC), central ofTshopo Province.The location at the northernmost tip of theCongo River,navigable for large waterborne cargo betweenKinshasaand Kisangani and connected to a natural transportation waterway for much of theCongo Basin,has helped the city grow in significance as a trading city.

Kisangani is at the centre of theTshopo,and is bordered by the city of Banalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the north,UbunduandOpalaterritories to the south,Isangito the west, andBafwasendemunicipalities to the east. The city of Kisangani lies 324 km fromButa,572 kilometres (355 mi) fromIsiro,696 kilometres (432 mi) fromBuniaand 2,912 kilometres (1,809 mi) fromKinshasa.

Wagenya fishermen

TheLualaba Riverflows through a bend to a confluence with theCongo River;at the alteration of the waterways lies the city of Kisangani. Much of Kisangani City is built on land with theTshopo riveron its north and the Congo River on its south. Many tributaries and islands are intertwined, conducive to moving inland waterways. Tidal straits separate L'Île Mbiye from the mainland of Kisangani City. The city is locally referred to as Boyoma after the prominent geographical feature,Boyoma Falls.The seven cataracts have a total drop of 61 meters (200 feet). Falls Wagenia where the fishery is installed on the rapids can be seen.

The city's land area is estimated at 1910 square kilometres. The City of Kisangani has a density of 229 inhabitants per km².The city sits in the midst of the vast and isolatedCongo Basin,the second largest tropical woodlands on the planet. It is located at 0° 31' north latitude (57 km from the equator), 25° 11' east longitude from the meridian of Greenwich and 396 metres (1,299 ft) above sea level.

L'Île Mbiye is situated on theCongo Riverin the eastern part of Kisangani. It is located upstream of theWagenia Falls,between latitude 0°31' North and longitude 25°11' East, with 376 metres (1,234 ft) of altitude. It adjoins the town of Kisangani, and it is 14 km long and 4 km wide. All around Kisangani, L'Île Mbiye is the only ecosystem that has a dense forest that is relatively well preserved. The island is part of the Sustainable Forest Management in Africa Symposium project of forest ecosystem conservation conducted byStellenbosch University.The island has an area of 1,400 ha, and it comprises three types of forest: dry land forest, periodically flooded forest and swampy forest.

Climate

Despite being adjacent to the equator, the city has atropical monsoon climatedue to the fact that its driest month (January) sees on average below 60 mm of rain. Kisangani experiences an average relative humidity of 86%.

Typical climate in regions through which theCongo Riverflows is that of Kisangani, a town situated on the river's right and left bank slightly north of theEquator.Humidity is high throughout the year, and annual rainfall amounts to 1,620 millimetres (64 in) and occurs fairly regularly; even in the driest month, the rainfall totals more than 53 millimetres (2.1 in). Temperatures are also uniformly high throughout the year, and there is little diurnal variability. The average temperature at Kisangani is in the mid-20s°C (mid-70s°F). Kisangani is also a beneficiary of a cool breeze that often blows off theCongo River.

Climate data for Kisangani
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	36 (97)	36 (97)	36 (97)	35 (95)	34 (93)	34 (93)	33 (91)	33 (91)	34 (93)	34 (93)	35 (95)	35 (95)	36 (97)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	28 (82)	29 (84)	30 (86)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30.0 (86.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	26 (79)	25.5 (77.9)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24.5 (76.1)	25 (77)	24.5 (76.1)	25 (77)	25.2 (77.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	21 (70)	21 (70)	21 (70)	21 (70)	21 (70)	21 (70)	19 (66)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20 (68)	20.4 (68.7)
Record low °C (°F)	17 (63)	18 (64)	17 (63)	18 (64)	18 (64)	18 (64)	17 (63)	17 (63)	17 (63)	18 (64)	18 (64)	16 (61)	16 (61)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	53 (2.1)	84 (3.3)	178 (7.0)	158 (6.2)	137 (5.4)	114 (4.5)	132 (5.2)	165 (6.5)	183 (7.2)	218 (8.6)	198 (7.8)	84 (3.3)	1,620 (63.8)
Mean monthlysunshine hours	187	170	187	180	187	150	124	125	150	186	150	155	1,951
Source: BBC Weather Centre Kisangani

Architecture

Modern, multi-storey buildings of brick emerge from the dense walls of the vast Congo Basin jungle. Multiple kinds and scales of houses,townhouses,condominia,and apartment buildings can be found in Kisangani. The building form most closely associated with Kisangani is ofBelgiuminfluence, whose introduction and widespread adoption in colonial times saw Kisangani's buildings shift from the thatch African tradition to the low-scale and vertical rise of European business districts.

Kisangani has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles still in their original form. These include the Aumonerie which is distinctive for its facade using visible stone-tone to evoke the building's structure, the impressive 20th century headquarters landmark that is Central Prisons' with its towering fortress walls, Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Rosaire, an early cathedral revival built with massively scaled stone detailing, and the Congo Palace on avenue de l'eglise is an important example of highly influential European style buildings in Kisangani.

The character of Kisangani's urban residential districts is often defined by the elegant villas with tiled roofs of old Belgian influence,brownstonerowhouses,townhouses,andtenementsthat were built during a period of rapid expansion from 1908 to 1950. Large swaths of Kisangani's rural residential areas away from the city centre are characterized by continual strings of villages unfolding, each composed of thatched roof tops built from the early 20th century through to the present day. At times the path is filled with a sweetfloralfragrance and clouded with white and purple butterflies. Forests give way to patches ofgrassland,then clumps ofbambooand then more forest.

Communes

Houses in Motumbé district, Kisangani.

The city of Kisangani is composed of six largecommunes,which are further subdivided into smaller neighbourhoods. The partitioned communes are Lubunga, Makiso, Kisangani,Tshopo,Kabondoand Mangobo. Throughout the boroughs there are hundreds of distinct neighbourhoods, many with a definable history and character to call their own. Every municipality in the city has a nickname denoting how the Boyoma perceive their cities. Kisangani, which inSwahilimeans on the island ( "Kisanga" translates island and "ni" is on), is officially given the nickname of "City of Hope" by administrative authorities, in opposition to the title of martyred city.Boyomas' affectionately nicknamed their city "Boyoma Singa Mwambé", which translates as "before reaching the most beautiful city the pole must be thrown 8 times" (Boyoma means the most beautiful girl, while Singa is the mast and Mwambé is the number 8).

Cascades of the Tshopo River

• Kisanganicommune is commonly referred to as "Tolimo" in Kigenyi, mainly due to the craft of scaffolds installed onWagenia Falls.
• Mangobois the city's most populous commune and is known as "Mathématique" because of the difficulty in locating particular street address names that are simply manuscript numbered rather than word labelled. The commune is home to the political youth movement the "Bana Etats-Unis" (Children of the United States)
• Tshopois Kisangani City's northernmost commune, it features a longbeachfront.It is home to ahydroelectric plantand the site of Tshopo River.
• Makisois the most densely populated borough and home to many of the city's commercial and financial institutions. The commune contains the headquarters of many major corporations,NGOs,International organisations, the United Nations, as well as a number of importantadministrativestructures ofgovernorship,and many cultural attractions. It is the site of a continuous supply of electricity with some of the most beautiful houses and of the widestboulevards.Makiso is as known as "Miroir".
• Lubungais the most suburban commune in character of the Six communes. Ascribed the nickname of "Pays" it supplies Kisangani with most of its agricultural crops.
• Kabondois the commune that usually takes lead in annually hosting some of the city's largestparadesand public events mainly due to its cultural and social and ethnic diversity, an independent art scene, distinct neighbourhoods and unique architectural heritage. As a result,Kabondois known as "Pilote".

Culture

The city is a centre for television productions, radio, theatre, film,multimediaand print publishing. Kisangani's many cultural communities have given it a distinct local culture. The city's waterfront allure and nightlife has attracted residents and tourists alike. As a Central African city, Kisangani shares many cultural characteristics with the rest of the continent. It has a tradition of producing Africanjazz,Congolese rumba,soukous,African folk, andndombolomusic. The city has also produced much talent in the fields ofvisual arts,theatre, music, and dance. Some of its better known popular culture residents includeAbeti Masikini,Anne-Sylvie Mouzon,Barly Baruti,Koffi Olomideand Moreno. Yet, being at the African confluence of the South and the North and West and East traditions, Kisangani has developed a unique and distinguished cultural face. Another distinctive characteristic of Kisangani culture life is to be found in the animation of its downtown, particularly during summer, prompted by cultural and social events, particularly festivals. The city's largest festival is the Cercle Boyoma Culture festival, which is the largest in the world of its kind. Other popular festivals include the Kisangani Jazz Festival, Kisangani Film Festival, Nuits d'Afrique and the Kisangani Fireworks Festival.

Entertainment and performing arts

Strongly influenced by the city's immigrants, productions such as those ofBarly Barutiand others used song in narratives that often reflected themes of hope and ambition. Artists of all cultural disciplines in Kisangani such as musicians, stage actors, comedians, fashion, cultural operators,draftsmen,folk music,painters, sculptors, andsilkscreenmeet annually for the seasonal culture shows. Cercle Boyoma Culture is one of such shows where cultural activities of Kisangani come together synergistically for an exchange and reflection involving different associations of all cultural disciplines. Cercle Boyoma Culture is annually held in Makiso on 14 Fina Avenue from the month of December through to June. The culture show displays a digital audio recording studio, a large stage show, 10 booths that hostlibraries,internet cafes,sewing stations, interactive gaming machines andcafeterias.

The cultural space in Kisangani provides multitudes of beauty pageants a platform to exchange experiences, provide mentoring consultation and hosting of training seminars. Miss Boyoma is annually held in December, organised by the cities' authority to determine the most beautiful girl in Kisangani. Elysée of 17 years old is Miss Boyoma 2009.

Other live music genres which are part of the city's cultural heritage include Kisangani Blues, Kisangani Soul,African Jazz,soukousandgospel.The city is the birthplace of Congolese legendary musicians Abeti Masikini andKoffi Olomideand is the site of an influential nu-rumba scene. In the 1950s, the city was a center for African Folk, soukous andAfrican jazz.This influence continued into the more developed soukous of the 1960s. The city has been an epicenter forNdomboloculture since the 1980s. A flourishing independent folk music culture brought forth Kisangani Blues. The city has also been spawning a critically acclaimed underground nu-rumba scene with various bands gaining national attention in the nu-rumba world. Annual festivals feature various acts such as the Cercle Boyoma Culture Festival.

Kisangani is also the city of world-famous choreographer and stage director Faustin Linyekula. Since 2007, the Studios Kabako, the cultural organization he founded in Kinshasa in 2001, has been resettled in Kisangani. There, the Studios Kabako have been accompanying the debuts of young Congolese artists from training to production and touring, in the fields of dance, theatre, music and video. The rising generation of young dancers and choreographers trained by the Studios Kabako include Jeannot Kumbonyeki, Michel Kiyombo, Dorine Mokha, Djino Alolo and Yves Mwamba among others...

The Studios Kabako have opened there the only professional recording studio of the Eastern part of Congo, accompanied musicians include guitarist Flamme Kapaya, rap singers Pasnas, Franck Moka and Shoggy, musicians Pépé Lecoq...

Kisangani is also the home-town of film-maker Dieudo Hamadi.

Tourism

Shopping along the avenue de l'Eglise, its many restaurants, as well as Kisangani's eminent architecture, continue to draw tourists. The city is the DRC's third-largest convention destination. Most conventions are held atStade Lumumba,just north of Stade du Marche. The historic City Hall also now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries and exhibit halls. The Alliance Franco-Congolese (AFRACO) building which hosts governmental conference.

The variety of attractions in Kisangani includebotanical gardens,museums, factories,zoos,exhibition halls,elevators,retail stores,breweries,warehouses,libraries,mills,auditoriumsandrefinerieswhich today provide a legacy of historic and architectural interest, especially in the downtown area.

Rosaire of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Market and the impressive 19th century headquarters of all major Kisangani banks on 1st Avenue. Kisangani holds a campus of theNational University of the Congo,which includes the renowned Medicine Faculty, also known because of the refutedoral polio vaccine AIDS hypothesis.Kisangani also maintains the city's focal library atUniversity of Kisangani.The city holds an extensive collection of ancient Congolese and near East African archaeological artifacts, at its regional archaeological and ethnological, the National Museum of Kisangani.

Other landmarks include: L'Hôtel des chutes, Le Voyageur, Hellénique ainsi que Psistaria, l'Hôtel Congo Palace, l'Hôtel Boyoma, l'Hôtel Kisanganian and L'Hôtel Palm Beach.Place de la Femme which was completed in 1934 as a dedication to Boyomaise women, the landmark One of the most revered religious leaders Reverend Father Gabriel Grison was buried at the Mission St. Gabriel in Kisangani and has monument dedicated to him on Monseigneur Grison Avenue.Mobutus'residential home on route de Lubutu, Place des Martyrs that held the Lumumba Square until 1967, the controversial Central Public Fountain that anchors the downtown park was installed by the distraction of the popular monument of Stanley and its surrounding structures are but a few notable examples of 20th-century architecture.

On the right bank of the Tshopo River, theKisangani Zooattracts many visitors, as well as theKisangani Hydroelectric Damthat supplies electricity to the city of Kisangani. At spectacular waterfall ofWagenia Falls,fishing with the old age tradition tools installed on the rapids can be witnessed. Fishing is practiced through a scaffold installed among rocks, with vines attached and serving through the tensioning creels of woven conical vines immersed in the current of the river.

A major destination includes the forest ecosystem of L'Île Mbiye, which is part of a protection conservation forest program called Sustainable Forest Management in Africa as spearheaded byStellenbosch University.L'Île Mbiye is an ecosystem with a well preserved dense forest. The Island has an area of 1,400 ha, and it comprises three types of forest: dry land forest, periodically flooded forest and swampy forest. The Island is situated on theCongo Riverin the eastern part of Kisangani. It is located upstream of theWagenia Falls,between latitude 0°31' North and longitude 25°11' East, with 376 m of altitude. It adjoins the town of Kisangani, and it is 14 km long and 4 km wide.

Cuisine

Kisangani lays claim to a large number of regional specialties, all of which reflect the city's ethnic and working-class roots. Included among these is its nationally renowned deep-dishManioc.

Kisangani's food culture, influenced by the city's immigrants and large number of dining patrons, is diverse. Arab-Swahili and Indian immigrants have made the city famous for their traditional foods. Some of the mobile food vendors licensed by the city have made foods such as husking paddy standbys of contemporary Kisangani street food, althoughkosa kosa(prawns from the river, also known ascossa cossa) andKisangani coffeeare still the main street fare. The city is also home to many of the finest prawn cuisine restaurants in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo(DRC).

The Riviera, La Vanille and Rwenzori constitute some of the city's principal restaurants.

Media

Kisangani is served by a variety of media outlets, including severalSwahili,Lingalaand French language television stations, newspapers, radio stations, and magazines. There are four over-the-air Swahili and Lingala-language television stations and they also air multicultural programming. There are also five over-the-airFrench-languagetelevision stations, including: Radio Télévision Nationale Congolaise (RTNC), Télé Boyoma and Radio Télévision Amani (RTA).

Kisangani has four daily newspapers, in Swahili and Lingala language Kisangani Gazette and the French-language Mungongo, La Tshopo, Le Thermomètre, Agence de Presse Congolaise and Kisangani. There are also two free French dailies, Nationaliste and Kisanga. Kisangani also has numerous weekly tabloids and community newspapers serving various neighbourhoods and schools. Mungongo is produced by young journalists ofUniversité de Kisanganiat the Faculty of Arts, with supervision of the news agency Syfia Great Lakes.

There are 11 AM and 23 FM radio stations in Kisangani. Of these13 broadcast in French, 16 broadcast in multiple languages and three stations are bilingual. The major Kisangani station networks include: Radio-Télévision Numérique Boyoma(RTNB), OPED FM andRadio Okapi.All three networks broadcast in Lingala, French and Swahili.

OPED FM specializes in environmental issues and is headquartered in Kisangani. OPED is acronym for l'Organisation pour la Protection de l'Environnement et le Développement. OPED FM broadcasts can be heard in Germany through radioDeutsche Welle.

RTNB has niche prioritizes business coverage offinancial markets.The station works in partnership withRadio Télévision Belge Francophone(RTBF) and Radio Africa n°1. Programs of the two stations regularly broadcast in Kisangani.

Kisangani is a filming-friendly location. Since the 1920s, many motion pictures have been filmed in the city, most notablyThe Nun's Story.

Sports

Stade Lumumba

Sports of all kinds play an important part in many Boyomai's lives. The city of Kisangani is home to several stadiums with the 3 main stadiums beingStade Lumumba,Stade du Marche and the Stade of Athenee Royal.

The city is represented in Nationwide Football LeagueLinafootbyTS Malekesa,RC Etoile d' and AS NIKA in the 2009/2010 season. They both play their home games at a soccer-specific stadium calledStade Lumumba.

Kisangani is also represented in Province Oriental Provincial League by, CS Makiso, Sotexki SC, RC Stella, AS Kisangani, RC Boyoma, Echo Sport, CS Monami, FC Procure, AS Vita Boyoma and AS Pars. They draw packed crowds at the small but picturesque Stade of Athenee Royal for their regular-season games. The current president of the Kisangani Football Association the Entente Urbaine of Football in Kisangani (EUFKIS) is Anaclet Kanangila who succeeded to the post left by Robert Kabemba.

Retired boxerBiko Botowamunguis originally from Kisangani.

Places of worship

Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Kisangani

Among theplaces of worship,they are predominantlyChristianchurches and temples:Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kisangani(Catholic Church),Kimbanguist Church,Baptist Community of Congo(Baptist World Alliance),Baptist Community of the Congo River(Baptist World Alliance),Assemblies of God,Assemblies of God,Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo(Anglican Communion),Presbyterian Community in Congo(World Communion of Reformed Churches).There are alsoMuslimmosques.

Economy

Sunset over the Congo river.

Kisangani's economy is the one largest of cities in the Congo Basin and is the largest in the former Orientale province. It's an intricate hub of business and commerce and is one of three "command centers" for the Congolese economy (along withKinshasaandLubumbashi). Before the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960, Kisangani was reputed to have moreRolls-Roycesper capita than any other city in the world. It flourished because of the many Boyoman who prospered during a boom in coffee, cotton and rubber production late in the colonial era, when those commodities still fetched high prices.Strategically positioned and central on a geographical map of the continent of Africa, at the confluence of theLualaba Riverand Congo River, Kisangani is the inception and terminus point of river traffic between east and west of DR Congo, playing a major economic role in the '5 Chantiers' economic recovery and redevelopment of theDemocratic Republic of the Congo(DRC).The city is today an important centre of commerce, finance, industry,metallurgy,panning,real estate, hydro industries, agriculture,breweries,technology, culture, media, andarts.

One of Africa's great trading centres;Kisangani's strengths in its transportation system have contributed to the development of the city. SOTEXKI, the Textile Society of Kisangani produces fabrics and manufactures clothing, whileBralimaproduces beverages, REGIDESO treats and supplies water to the population, SORGERIE (Société de Gestion, de Gérance et d'Investissement), produces soaps, vegetable oils and other cosmetic products. Compagnie Forestière de Transformation (CFT) is the firm that process and exports African teak.Pharmaceuticals,printed material,food processing,telecommunications,textile and clothing manufacturing, tobacco and transportation, also play major roles in the city's economy. Theservice sectoris strong and includes civil, mechanical and process engineering, finance, higher education, and also research and development.

The forest island of Mbiye is one of the natural ecosystems in Kisangani that play a leading economic role with regard to the supply of food, medicines and building material, in which is of critical importance to the survival of plant life, wildlife and human populations.

Realising the importance of the biosphere and preservation of the forests biodiversity: "Forty million Congolese depend in one way or another for their survival on the Congo forest" says Stephan Van Praet of Greenpeace, who coordinated the research for the report, entitled Carving up the Congo. "I can assure you they know the value of their forests. If you cut the sapele trees you take away the caterpillars they rely on as a source of protein."

L'Île Mbiye in Kisangani is part of the Sustainable Forest Management in Africa Symposium project of forest ecosystem conservation conducted by Stellenbosch University.Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is also looking to expand the area of forest under protection, for which it hopes to secure compensation through emerging markets for forest carbon.

The Port of Piroguiers is the largest inland port in the DRC, after the nation's capitalKinshasa,handling million tonnes of cargo annually. As one of the most important ports in DRC, it remains a trans-shipment point link Kinshasa to the North-Eastern provinces for grain, sugar, petroleum products,machinery,andconsumer goods.For this reason, Kisangani is a railway hub of DRC and has always been an extremely important rail city; it is home to the headquarters ofSociété Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo.Since the resumption of road traffic between Kisangani and its eastern cities, the markets of the city are regularly supplied and export food from and toBeni,BuniaandButembo.

The city's television and film industry is among the largest in the country. Creative industries such as new media, advertising, fashion, design and architecture account for a growing share of employment, with Kisangani City possessing a strong competitive advantage in these industries. Other important sectors includemedical researchand technology, non-profit institutions, and universities.

Kisangani's informal sector is highly developed. Its composed ofhandicrafts,local brick manufactures, merchants close to the banks of the river that sell a variety of edible products (like prawns, kosa kosa and caterpillars), others engage in artisanal quarrying,ceramics,coffee growing,Jewellerdealing, producing cultural artifacts, precious metalsgoldsmithingorsubsistence farming.

Manufacturing accounts for a large share of employment.Garments,chemicals,metal products,processed foods,and furniture are some of the principal products. Most of the food products derived from rural areas whose main activities are agriculture and livestock include kosa kosa andprawns,which are exported to all major cities of the DRC. The Wagenia, whom mostly fish the rapids of the famousWagenia Fallson theCongo Riverare known for the possession of excellent fishing skills.The food-processing industry is a stable major manufacturing sector in the city. Chocolate is Kisangani's leading specialty-food export, with imports of cocoa from nearbyKabinda District.

During the holidays, the young people enjoy the school holidays by engaging in part-time jobs, learning earlier on how to earn money and gaining family budgetary skills, thus adding to the family income. The children are likely to open up small vending businesses, of which the services offered may include selling boiled eggs, cooking oil or operating shoeshine stores, to name a few. Many parents believe that part-time work helps children to become more independent as well as providing them (and sometimes their families) with some extra income.

Demographics

During its first century, Kisangani grew at a rate that ranked among the fastest growing in theBelgian Congo.Within the span of forty years, the city's population grew from slightly under 15,018 to over 121,765 by 1958. By the close of the 20th century, Kisangani was the third largest city inZaire,and the largest of the cities that existed in the former Orientale province. Within thirty-three years of Zairieanastion, the population had tripled to over 600,000, and reached its highest ever-recorded population of 672,739 for the 2003 census.

The population is ethnically diverse and is changing rapidly, especially in large cities such as Kisangani, so it is not always easy to get an exact picture of the ethnic origin of all the population from census statistics. The last census in 2003 counted almost 672 739 inhabitants in the city of Kisangani. Lubunga is the town's most populous but least dense with 115 775 inhabitants while Mangobo with 98 434 inhabitants is the most dense.

Demography has evolved as follows since colonial times:

Historical population of Kisangani
(Source:)

Year	1958	1970	1984	1993	2004	2007
Population	121,726	216,526	317,581	406,249	682,599	628,367

Kisangani is the most populous city of the Northern provinces in the DRC, with an estimated 2008 population of 1,200,000 (up from 406,249 thousand in 1993). This amounts to about more than half the population of the northern regional population lives in the province ofTshopo.Over the last decade the city's population has been increasing.

Historical populations

In 1905, there were a total of eleven stations and stations of the state in the area ofStanley Fallsand Stanleyville. The total number of state officials increased to 40.

In 1909, the European Stanleyville numbered 80 and the native population was estimated at 15,000 people within a radius of 5 kilometers.

At the time the sprawling population in 1918 required the District Commissioner to create a daily food market in Kisangani, near the Hospital Avenue, 1 kilometre from shore. Two more weekly markets were also created on the other side, one near the docks and another at CFL Mission St. Gabriel. The population in the 1920s increased to 4,000Africansand 200 Europeans, with an average of 2000 inhabitants moving around downtown Stanleyville (in the chiefdom Arabized).

The population of Stanleyville, in the early 1950s stood at 40,000 and by the late 1950s the population reached 70,000.

Ethnicities

The population of Kisangani is exceptionally diverse. Throughout its history the city has been a major melting pot of entry for immigrants. Today, some of the city's population has foreign ancestry and among Congolese cities, this proportion is exceeded only byKinshasaandLubumbashi.In Kisangani no single community or region of origin dominates.

Some of the many African ethnic groups in Kisangani are: Bamanga, Popoi,Boa,Lokele,Turumbu,Mbole,Kumu, Wagenia, Rega,Topoke,Lokele,Turumbu,Basoko, Lendu,Budu,Bangetu,Logo,Alur,Hema,Azandeand Yira ethnic group also have a notable presence.Non-African ethnic groups include manyFlemingsof Belgian origin. There are also small groups ofGreeks,Chinese,Walloons,Indiansand, lately,Lebanese.

The city has a heterogeneous population of over 250 ethnic African majorities of which Wagenia and Kumu compose the native population:

• In the north of the city of the Tshopo Commune, reside the Bamanga, Popoi,Boathat emigrated all the way fromButa.
• To the south of the city live the population groups of the Lokele, Turumbu, Mbole, Kumu, Wagenia and Rega, in the Lubunga Commune. Some arrived from the province ofManiemaby the way ofUbunduroad and rail, as well as the Opala road and the river toward the neighbouring territory ofIsangi.
• Towards the west in the Commune of Mangobo, lie the Topoke, Lokele, Turumbu and Basoko, whom emigrated through theCongo Riverand Tshopo River, which divides the city into two banks of Tshopo.
• To the east of the city in the commune ofKabondo,is home to the Lendu, Budu, Bangetu, Logo,Alur,Hema, Nande, Yira, whom arrived Kisangani the Ituri road inBunia.

Language

Frenchis the official language of the DR Congo (DRC) and widely used and understood.Common local languages in Kisangani includeLingala,Pa-ZandeandSwahili.

Boyoma Kisanganien(sis)

• Abeti Masikini
• Anne-Sylvie Mouzon
• Bamanisa Jean Saidi
• Barly Baruti
• Jean-Luc Ernst
• Ntema Ndungidi
• Koffi Olomide
• Moreno (Batamba Wenda Morris)
• Reverend Father Gabriel Grison

Government

During independence of theDemocratic Republic of the Congo,the city was the political central base of theMouvement National Congolais(MNC). Patrice Lumumbas' strong ties with the city had been forged during his days as one of 350 clerks at the central post office. Kisangani is now home to influential political youth groups such as Bana Etats-Unis andVendome.

Since its devolution in 2006, Kisangani has been the Capital ofTshopowith a "strong" mayor-council form of government. Decentralisation of central government power was enabled to give provincial governments more control of matters that directly affect them. The government of Kisangani is more centralized than that of most other DRC cities. As a constitutional democracy, Kisangani is governed by a wide range of institutions: thejudiciary,the police, the civil service and the institutions of local government. In Kisangani, the central government is responsible forpublic education,correctional institutions,libraries,public safety,recreational facilities,sanitation,water supplyandwelfareservices.

ThePeople's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy(PPRD) holds the majority of public offices. As of November 2006, most of registered voters in the city are PPRD. Kisangani is the capital of theTshopo Province.Kisangani was given the official nickname "City of Hope" by its government. Kisangani, a city home to some 1,200,000 civilians, is administratively divided into six urban communes: Makiso,Tshopo,Mangobo,Kabondo,Kisangani, and Lubunga and the communities ofLubuyaand Bera are also parts of Kisangani City. Each commune is home to dozens of smaller neighborhoods (known in French as quartiers).

The head of the city government in Kisangani is the mayor, who is first among equals in the city council. The mayor in the period of 2008–2009 was Guy Shilton Baendo.The city council is a democratically elected institution and is the final decision-making authority in the city, although much power is centralized in the executive committee. The council has jurisdiction over many matters, including public security, agreements with other governments, subsidy programs, the environment, urban planning, and a three-year capital expenditure program. The city council is also required to supervise, standardize or approve certain decisions made by the commune councils.

Reporting directly to the City Council, the executive committee exercises decision-making powers similar to that of the cabinet in a parliamentary system and is responsible for preparing various documents including budgets andby-laws,submitted to theCity Councilfor approval. The decision-making powers of the executive committee cover, in particular, the awarding of contracts or grants, the management of human and financial resources, supplies and buildings. It may also be assigned further powers by the City Council.

Administration history

During much of the last half of the 20th century, Kisangani's politics were dominated by a growingMouvement National Congolais(MNC) organization dominated by the charismaticPatrice Lumumba.During 1964 Kisangani was under siege of the Simbas, a group of powerful radical tradition with large and highly organized socialist, anarchist and labor organizations.

Indeed, a decree of Governor General dated 6 September 1958 and entered into force on 1 January 1959 established the city of Stanleyville. The city was divided into communes; each headed by a Mayor, the chief head of all of Stanleyville City was the city's first Mayor.

The first consultation was held in commune of Stanleyville on Sunday, 14 December 1958. By Order No. 12/35 of 6 September 1958, the territory of Stanleyville took the status of a city. Stanleyville was divided into 4 municipalities: Belgian I, Belgian II, Brussels and Stanley.

Stanleyville's City Council assisted each mayor in running the whole city, whilst each of the municipalities was assisted by Municipal Councils. The mayors of municipalities and municipal council members were elected. The city council included members of law, the mayors of municipalities, members appointed has company representatives, middle class representative and members representing the municipal councils.

Laws

Kisangani and its administrative representatives formed a prominent group responsible for drafting of the Congolese Forestry Code. The new forestry code according to section 89 requires logging companies, to draw up social responsibility contracts with their concessions, which may include building schools, housing and clinics while they carry out logging operations. Essentially the law demands firms to set up company towns.Greenpeacehas however attacked this corporate-centred model, because it undermines the state's responsibility to create a functioning system of social services.

The law states that the schooling age is from 5 to 19 years old, which comprises 39% of Kisangani's population. The working age begins at 20 years and retirement age is set at 69 years old of which is 41.42% of the city's demography.

Education

Since the 1950s, Kisangani has been a Congolese center of higher education and research with several universities that are in the city proper or in the immediate environs. Kisangani has the third largest campus of the National University of Congo. Much of the scientific research in the city is done in medicine and the life sciences. The Medicine Faculty at the Université de Kisangani was made infamous by Polio Vaccine conspiracy theorists.

In 2007, there were 381 academic and research staff, most of them (215) active in the humanities and social sciences – but the recent history of the institution overshadows its current realities.

Currently, the university's income is derived from student fees (49 percent) and government subsidies (51 percent), but university management reports that the current income level is insufficient for effective operation. In addition, there is a serious need for infrastructure rehabilitation and additions, as well as for the acquisition of research literature. Although the university does not have a strategic plan to develop additional income sources, it is taking steps to increase academic fees to improve the daily operation of the institution.

The main challenges facing the university include serious weaknesses in the university'sinformation and communication technology(ICT) capabilities; and then the lack of qualified staff, of financial means, of premises and equipment, and of literature and laboratories. Clearly, the university's physical infrastructure has not been rebuilt since the troubles. This is one reason why only 20% of the institutional focus of theUniversité de Kisanganiis reckoned for research.

Kisangani is the seat of theUniversité de Kisangani(1963), Université Mariste du Congo, Institut Superieur du Commerce (ISC), Institut Superieur Pedagogique and Institut de Batiment et de Travaux Publiques, and the KisanganiHellenicCenter. The Kisangani Public Library, which has the largest collection of any public library system in the Kisangani, serves Makiso,Tshopo,Mangobo,Kabondo,Kisangani, Lubunga,Lubuyaand Bera. The city's public school system is managed by the Kisangani Department of Education. The primary and secondary schools are public and privately run by secular and religious groups in the city.

Infrastructure

Kisangani grew in importance as a trading port while under Belgian rule. After the upperCongo basinwars of Euro-Arab in the 1880s the city became the Belgian military and political base of operations in Northern Congo. In the mid-20th century, the city was transformed by immigration and development. A visionary development proposal expanded the city street grid to encompass all of Boyoma, and the 1819 opening of a railroad built to bypass the cataracts on theCongo River,opened shipping routes further into the Congo jungle. Kisangani became the most populous urbanized area and the undisputed economic and cultural centre of Northern Congo.

Transport

The transportation system in Kisangani is extensive and complex. It includes the longest suspension bridge in Northern Congo.Public local transport is served by a network of buses, commuter trainsand waterways that extend across and off the island.

Unlike many major cities, Kisangani does not have a problem with vehicular traffic congestion. Kisangani's high rate of public transit use, daily Toleka users and many pedestrian commuters makes it the most energy-efficient major city in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo(DRC). Walk and tolek modes of travel account for high percentage of all modes for trips in the city. The Tolek is a cycling taxi ( "Toleka" means "Time" inLingala), that emerged as the primary means of transportation around Kisangani during the mid-1990s.

As the city lies between stretches of the Tshopo and Congo Rivers, many tributaries and islands are intertwined conducive to moving inland waterways for the population of Kisangani and the transportation of goods by ships, boats or canoe (paddle or motorized), from one bank to another and from one neighbourhood to another is made possible. Waterway systems connect Kisangani to various locales within and outside the city (includingIsangiand Lomami). Kisangani is the highest navigable point on theRiver Congoand the terminus of river traffic from Kinshasa and all ports operated byONATRA.

A considerable amount of automobile taxis and buses are also employed to supporting public transit throughout the city. The building of new gas stations and rehabilitation efforts for redevelopment of urban roads and the opening of the No. 4 National Highway Road are among the main factors behind this resumption of automobiles. The redevelopment of the National Highway Road No.4 has meant an increase in scrambling shuttles of traffic between Kisangani,Bafwasende,Komanda,Nurse,Mambasa,BeniandButembo.Kisangani provides connections toUbunduand Opala, along the southern corridors ofUbunduand Opala road respectively as well as long-distance road networks to cities such as Lubutu,Walikale,GomaandKigali(inRwanda) by way of the National Highway Road No. 2.Kisangani is part of theTrans-African Highway network8 (TAH 8), at a length of 6259 km, theTrans-African HighwaybetweenLagos(Nigeria) –Mombasa(Kenya) is longest transcontinental route between east–west of Africa. Kisangani also has access to the Indian Ocean coast by way of a highway corridor connecting the city toDar es Salaam(Tanzania)

Shipping beyond Kisangani is impossible due to theBoyoma Falls;aportage railwaywas therefore built toUbundu.It is operated bySociete Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo,starting from Kisangani Station.This is considered the first section of theGreat Lakes line.

Kisangani is served byKisangani Bangoka International Airporton the far east side and the olderSimi-Simi Airporton the west side. Bangoka is for commercial passenger flights and cargo only, whereas Simi-Simi mainly serves military purposes, though it also hosts some private and humanitarian flights.

Future and proposed projects

Rail

In October 2007 a railway was proposed to connect Kisangani to Kasese in western Uganda. This railway would extend as1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in) gauge to the Kenyan port ofLamu.

Road

The transcontinental road projects in Africa,Trans-African Highwaynetwork encompass Kisangani through theLagos-Mombasa Highway.

Following the mandate of "5 Chantiers" the city of Kisangani road network undergoing redevelopment to make the city more integrated with towns and cities of other provinces, especially the eastern regions that previously made up the former Orientale Province. Boulevards in and around downtown Kisangani are part of the project.

Further reading

See also:Bibliography of the history of Kisangani

• Jason Stearns:Dancing in the Glory of Monsters: The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa,,2011.ISBN978-1610391078
• V.S. Naipaul:A Bend in the River,1979.ISBN978-0-679-72202-1
• Michela Wrong:In the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz,2002.ISBN978-0-06-093443-9
• Joseph Conrad:Heart of Darkness,1899
• Tim Butcher:Blood River: A Journey to Africa's Broken Heart,2008.ISBN0099494280

External links

• Provinceorientale.cdthe Government official site for Orientale Province.
• Stanleyville.beCity of Kisangani Website.
• Bamanisajean.unblog.fris Governor Jean Bamanisa's blog site.
• Unikis.ac.cdis the official website of the University of Kisangani (Unikis).
• @Prov_orientaleTwitter for Orentale Provincial Government.
• FacebookOrentale.
• Kisangani.beKisangani Agroforestry Cultivation and Conservation.
• Cboc.e-monsiteArchived13 August 2011 at theWayback Machineis the Official Cercle Boyoma Culture.