Makanza

Makanza
Map of Makanza, around 1890
Makanza
Coordinates: 1.677922°N 19.166336°E / 1.677922; 19.166336
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Province	Équateur
District	Équateur District
Territory	Makanza Territory

Makanza is a community in the Équateur province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, headquarters of the Makanza Territory.

History

Makanza was formerly known as Bangala Station and then as Nouvelle-Anvers / Nieuw-Antwerpen (New Antwerp). 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.

Sectors

Bangala tattoos, 1889

The territory of Makanza has 3 sectors:

• Bangala, four groups of 34 villages,
• Mweko, two groups of 21 villages,
• Ndobo, four groups of 17 villages.

Towns

The main towns are:

• Bolombo
• Mabanga
• Makanza, capital
• Malele
• Malundja
• Mobeka
• Lusenge

Demographics

• 1994= 37,048
• 2004= 41,447