The Congo River

The Congo River By: Anna, Fiona, and Matea

Geography ●

Begins at the junction of Luvua and Lualaba rivers

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Many important tributaries

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Creates border between Zaire and the Republic of Congo

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Drains more than 1,600,000 square miles of land

Importance/General Info ●

Important navigational system in Africa

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Second largest river in the world by discharge

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world’s deepest river

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Overall length of 4,700 km

Peoples of the Congo River - The Beginnings of slavery

Peoples of the Congo River - Christianity

Peoples of the Congo River - Henry Stanley

Peoples of the Congo River (1890-1900) ●

(1890) Joseph Conrad spent six months as an employee of the Belgian trading company, the Société Anonyme Belge pour le Commerce du Haut-Congo

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(1890) Britain recognizes France’s attempt to dominate Madagascar, France recognizes Britain's dominance in Zanzibar (which was quickly becoming Nigeria), Britain and Germany signed a treaty recognizing German East Africa and Uganda falling under British rule

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(1890) Cecil Rhodes and white settlers are settling in Africa, Rhodes makes war against King Lobengula, defeating him in 1993 and selling various animals and products to white settlers, saving himself financially

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(1891) France united territories of Congo Francais and Gabon

Peoples of the Congo River (1890-1900) ●

(1892) Berlin Conference acknowledged Colony of Congo Francais

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(1892) Congo Francais partitioned into 40 concessions by the French, leased for 30 years; concessions included exploitation of rubber and ivory

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(1898) railway built between Matadi and Léopoldville (giving the lower Congo River a way to transport produce to the sea

Peoples of the Congo River - General Info ●

Almost all engage in fishing (by nets, poison, stakes ext.)

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Various tribes: the Enya, Ngombe, Mbuti, Aka, Baka, Twa, at one time there were over 450 different tribes and chiefs

Peoples of the Congo River - General Info ●

Also raise dikes (of rather impressive size) to cultivate crops like cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes and yams

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European traders had a large impact on the start of cash crops (fish, timber) and increasing development in the river tribes