Bandundu Province
Encyclopedia
Bandundu is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. It borders the provinces of Kinshasa
and Bas-Congo
to the west, Équateur
to the north, and Kasai-Occidental
to the east. The provincial capital is also called Bandundu (formerly Banningville)
.
In 1966, Bandundu was formed by merging the three post-colonial political regions: Kwilu
, Kwango
, and Mai-Ndombe
. Following the 2006 Constitution, the three regions were to have been restored as provinces by 18 February 2009. As of October 2010, this has not taken place.
(also called Kikongo ya Leta) spoken south of the river. These languages have become so commonplace that many have grown up using them as their first language. There are also many local dialects such as Lele and Wongo.
Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
There are currently ten provinces and one city-province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo:* An Ituri Interim Administration also exists in the Ituri region of Orientale province- Proposed provinces :...
. It borders the provinces of Kinshasa
Kinshasa
Kinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
and Bas-Congo
Bas-Congo
Bas-Congo is one of the eleven provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only province with a coastline and it borders Bandundu province to the east and Kinshasa to the northeast...
to the west, Équateur
Équateur
Équateur is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is in the north of the country, and bordered the Republic of the Congo to the west, the Central African Republic to the north, to the east the Orientale province, and to the south the Kasai-Oriental, Kasai-Occidental, and...
to the north, and Kasai-Occidental
Kasai-Occidental
Kasai-Occidental is one of the ten provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It borders the provinces of Bandundu to the west, Équateur to the north, Kasai-Oriental to the east, and Katanga to the southeast. To the south it borders the country of Angola...
to the east. The provincial capital is also called Bandundu (formerly Banningville)
Bandundu
Bandundu, formerly known as Banningville or Banningstad, is a city in Bandundu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Bandundu is the capital of Bandundu Province. It is located on the north bank of the Kwango River, just below the juncture of the Kwango and the Kwilu, 8 km upstream from...
.
In 1966, Bandundu was formed by merging the three post-colonial political regions: Kwilu
Kwilu Province
Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226...
, Kwango
Kwango Province
Kwango is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226...
, and Mai-Ndombe
Mai-Ndombe Province
Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226...
. Following the 2006 Constitution, the three regions were to have been restored as provinces by 18 February 2009. As of October 2010, this has not taken place.
Cities and towns
| Name | Pop. 2010 | Coordinates | Future province |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagata | 18,938 | 3.73°S 17.95°E | Kwilu Kwilu Province Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Bandundu Bandundu Bandundu, formerly known as Banningville or Banningstad, is a city in Bandundu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.Bandundu is the capital of Bandundu Province. It is located on the north bank of the Kwango River, just below the juncture of the Kwango and the Kwilu, 8 km upstream from... (Banningville) |
137,460 | 3.31°S 17.38°E | Mai-Ndombe Mai-Ndombe Province Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Bolobo Bolobo Bolobo is a town on the Congo River in Kwango District of Bandundu Province in the western part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo .... |
31,735 | 2.16°S 16.24°E | Mai-Ndombe Mai-Ndombe Province Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Bulungu | 54,880 | 4.55°S 18.60°E | Kwilu Kwilu Province Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Dibaya-Lubue (Dibaya-Lubwe) | 37,390 | 4.15°S 19.87°E | |
| Feshi Feshi Feshi is a territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in the Kwango District.-Subdivisions:The territory contains the following sectors:*Feshi Sector*Ganaketi Sector*Kobo Sector*Mukoso Sector-Reference:... |
7,591 | 6.12°S 18.17°E | Kwango Kwango Province Kwango is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Gungu | 22,946 | 5.80°S 19.33°E | Kwilu Kwilu Province Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Idiofa Idiofa Idiofa is a town in, and a territory of Kwilu District, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies at an altitude of 1820 ft , east of the larger city of Kikwit, and west of the Lubue River. The town is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Idiofa. Idiofa is served by Idiofa Airport... |
58,637 | 5.03°S 19.60°E | Kwilu Kwilu Province Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Inongo Inongo Inongo is a town and seat of Mai-Ndombe District of western Democratic Republic of the Congo. As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 45,159.... |
46,657 | 1.94°S 18.28°E | Mai-Ndombe Mai-Ndombe Province Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Kahemba Kahemba Kahemba is a territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in the Kwango District.Divisions are:*Kulindji Sector*Bindu Sector*Bangu Sector*Muloshi Chiefdom*Mwa-Mushiko Chiefdom*Mwendjila Chiefdom-References:... |
18,061 | 5.25°S 19.70°E | Kwango Kwango Province Kwango is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Kasongo-Lunda | 22,860 | 6.48°S 16.83°E | Kwango Kwango Province Kwango is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Kenge Kenge Kenge is a town and seat of Kwango District of northern Democratic Republic of the Congo.As of 2009 it had an estimated population of 41,612.- Namesake :Kenge is one of a number of towns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with this name. See:... |
42,884 | 4.83°S 16.90°E | Kwango Kwango Province Kwango is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Kikwit Kikwit Kikwit is the largest city of Kwilu District, lying on the Kwilu River in the southwestern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kikwit is also known in the region under the nickname "The Mother". The population is approximately 294,210... |
370,328 | 5.03°S 18.81°E | Kwilu Kwilu Province Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Kiri | 14,033 | 1.45°S 19.00°E | Mai-Ndombe Mai-Ndombe Province Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Kutu Kutu, Democratic Republic of the Congo Kutu is a town and territory in Mai-Ndombe District, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is situated at the intersection of the Fimi River and the southern tip of Lake Mai-Ndombe.-References:... |
37,405 | 2.73°S 18.15°E | Mai-Ndombe Mai-Ndombe Province Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Mangai Mangai Mangai is a town in Kwilu District, Bandundu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mangui lies on the southern bank of the Kasai River, at an altitude of 912 ft The town is served by Mangui Airport.- External links :*... (Mangaï) |
43,155 | 4.04°S 19.53°E | Kwilu Kwilu Province Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Masi-Manimba | 30,542 | 4.77°S 17.92°E | Kwilu Kwilu Province Kwilu is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. These 25 provinces were to have been created from the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Mushie Mushie Mushie is a town in, and a territory of Mai-Ndombe District, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It lies at an altitude of 1118 ft , on the northern bank of the Kasai River, along the section where the Kasai is known as the Kwa River, approximately 10 miles west of the Kasais confluence with the Fimi... |
42,409 | 3.02°S 16.92°E | Mai-Ndombe Mai-Ndombe Province Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Oshwe | 21,681 | 3.40°S 19.50°E | Mai-Ndombe Mai-Ndombe Province Mai-Ndombe is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
| Popokabaka Popokabaka Popokabaka is a territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is located in the Kwango District, Bandundu province. The territory is divided into three sectors: Yonso, Popokabaka and Lufuna.The Kwango River runs through the territory.... |
12,564 | 5.70°S 16.58°E | Kwango Kwango Province Kwango is one of 25 new provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo specified in the country's 2005 Constitution , under Article 2. It was to be created from country's the existing 10 provinces within 36 months , according to Article 226... |
Principal languages
Two main trade languages are spoken in the Bandundu Province: Lingala, spoken north of the Kasai River, and KitubaKituba
Kituba is a widely used lingua franca in Central Africa. It is a creole language based on Kikongo, a family of closely related Bantu languages. It is an official language in Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa....
(also called Kikongo ya Leta) spoken south of the river. These languages have become so commonplace that many have grown up using them as their first language. There are also many local dialects such as Lele and Wongo.
Major bodies of water
- Kasai RiverKasai RiverThe Kasai River is a tributary of the Congo River, located in central Africa. The river begins in Angola and serves as the border between Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo , then flows into the DRC, where it joins the Congo northeast of Kinshasa. The Kasai's tributaries include the...
- Kwango RiverKwango RiverThe Cuango or Kwango is a transboundary river of Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo. It is the largest left bank tributary of the Kasai River in the Congo River basin. It flows through Malanje town in Angola...
- Kwenge River
- Kwilu River
- Lukenie RiverLukenie RiverThe Lukenie River is a river in the central Congo basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo .River barges from Kinshasa journey up the Congo, Kwah , and Fimi Rivers to the Lukenie as far as the landing at Kole, a journey of 6 to 12 weeks. This is not done during the low water season , however,...
- Lake Mai-NdombeLake Mai-NdombeLake Mai-Ndombe is a large freshwater lake in Bandundu Province in western Democratic Republic of Congo, at . It drains to the south through the Fimi River into the Kwah and Congo Rivers. Known until 1972 as Lake Leopold ; Mai-Ndombe means “black water” in Lingala...