Brazzaville

Brazzaville is the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Congo. It is an important financial and administrative center, located on the north side of the Congo River. Across the river lies Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The city is home to more than 2.1 million people, which is more than a third of the country's population. Many people in Brazzaville work in jobs that are not related to farming.

During World War II, Brazzaville became an important place for Free France between 1940 and 1942. In 2013, Brazzaville was named a City of Music by UNESCO and joined the Creative Cities Network.

Toponymy

The name "Brazzaville" starts with "Brazza," which comes from the surname of Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, an explorer from Italy who worked for France. He is known for founding the town.

The name Brazzaville actually means 'city of the armed wing' without anyone meaning for it to. The word "Brazza" comes from a village named Brazzacco in Italy, and that name comes from a Latin word meaning 'armed wing'.

In local languages like Kongo and the Teke languages, Brazzaville has many different names.

Geography

Brazzaville is a big city located to the north of the Congo River. It sits just below the Pool Malebo, and includes Mbamu, a large island that belongs to the Republic of Congo.

The city is about 506 km (314 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean and around 474 km (295 mi) south of the equator. It lies on flat plains at an altitude of 317 m (1,040 ft). Downstream, the Congo River has rapids called Livingston Falls, which make it hard to travel further upriver.

Across the river, on the southern bank, is Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is the only place in the world where two national capital cities are right across from each other on opposite sides of a river.

In March 2018, the "Brazzaville Declaration" was signed to help protect the Cuvette Centrale, a huge wetland area in the Congo Basin. This region is very important because it stores a lot of carbon, helping to keep the Earth’s climate stable. The declaration was signed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia.

History

See also: Timeline of Brazzaville

Long ago, before any European visitors came, two small trading places called Mfwa and Mpila were home to people from the Tio Kingdom, part of the Eastern Teke group.

The city of Brazzaville began when French explorers arrived during a time when many European countries were racing to claim land in Africa, known as the Scramble for Africa. An explorer named Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, who was born in Italy but became a French citizen, started the city on September 10, 1880. The local leader, Iloo I, agreed to let French leaders protect his land.

Later, Brazzaville became an important city for France in Africa. It was the capital of French-controlled areas and grew with big buildings and a railway. During World War II, it was a base for leaders who opposed Nazi control.

Over the years, the city has seen many changes and challenges, including conflicts and people moving there for safety.

Demographics

As of the 2023 census, Brazzaville had a population of 2.15 million people.

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, had more than 10 million people in 2014. Together, the area around Kinshasa and Brazzaville has about 12 million people, but they face many challenges and are not closely connected. Since the mid-19th century, the two cities have competed in trade and other areas. There have been ideas to build a bridge between them, and in 2018, groups agreed to work on this project.

Government

Brazzaville is a special area called a commune inside a larger area called a department, both sharing the same name. It has its own local government with a mayor leading the municipal council.

The commune of Brazzaville is split into nine smaller parts, each with its own number. Since 2011, the department also includes a new area called Ile Mbamou, and in October 2024, it added another commune named Kintélé.

See also: List of mayors of Brazzaville

Economy

Brazzaville grew because of its location near the Congo River, which helped it become a place for trading and industry. Ships and boats could bring raw materials from inland areas to the city. A railway to Pointe-Noire also helped businessmen send their products to the port for export. Today, Brazzaville has many industries, including machine shops, textiles, tanning, and manufacturing. As a major port on the Congo River, it receives raw materials like rubber, wood, and agricultural products, which are then sent to Pointe-Noire for export.

Many companies, government groups, and NGOs have offices in Brazzaville to work with government leaders. The World Health Organization also has its regional office for Africa here. Some important companies based in Brazzaville are the country’s main airline, Equatorial Congo Airlines, and the mobile phone company Warid Congo.

Culture

Roger Erell, a well-known architect, designed a house in Brazzaville for Charles de Gaulle when he led Free France. The city is home to important buildings such as the Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza Mausoleum, the Nabemba Tower, and the Congressional Palace.

Visitors and residents also enjoy places like the Marien Ngouabi Mausoleum, the Brazzaville Zoo, and the Poto-Poto School of Painting.

Places of worship

Many people in Brazzaville became Christian during the time when France controlled the area. Today, Christian churches are very common in the city. The Roman Catholic Church has a big church area called an archdiocese there. Over time, new churches have been started by people who moved to the city and by local groups that follow Protestant beliefs. Some examples are the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-du-Congo in Brazzaville, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Brazzaville and Gabon, the Evangelical Church of Congo, and the Assemblies of God.

Education

The Marien Ngouabi University is a public university in Brazzaville. It was named after a former leader and opened in December 1971. Today, around 26,000 students attend the university.

There are also international schools, such as the Lycée Français Saint-Exupéry de Brazzaville which teaches in French, and the American International School of Brazzaville.

Climate

Brazzaville has a tropical wet and dry climate. The wet season lasts from October to May, while the dry season is shorter and happens from June to September. The driest months are July and August, with very little rain. Because Brazzaville is south of the equator, its dry season starts around the time of its "winter" solstice in June. The city's temperatures stay fairly steady all year long.

Transport

The city has Maya-Maya Airport, which offers regular flights to Pointe-Noire and to places in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. There is a short flight between Brazzaville and Kinshasa that happens twice a week, taking only five minutes.

The Congo-Ocean Railway has a station in the city. In 2014, it ran the La Gazelle train service every other day to Pointe-Noire and other stops along the way.

Brazzaville is a key river port. Ferries travel to Kinshasa and Bangui, stopping at Impfondo. Ferries and fast private boats are the main way to travel between Kinshasa and Brazzaville. The Livingstone Falls are near the city where the Djoué River meets the Congo River. Because of the falls, trains must carry their loads around this part of the river.

While there is no organized public bus system, private buses can be found in the capital.

Taxis are common and easy to spot because they are painted green with white roofs. A short ride costs CF700. About twenty percent of vehicles in Brazzaville are taxis. There are also shared taxis that follow set routes and cost CF150.

Plans are in place for a road-rail bridge to connect Brazzaville with Kinshasa. Both cities use the same train track width of 1067mm.

Notable people

See Category:People from Brazzaville

Politics and religion

Some important people from Brazzaville include Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the city's founder, and Prosper Philippe Augouard, a French priest who helped start the city. There are also leaders like Ambroise Noumazalaye, who was Prime Minister, and Antoinette Sassou Nguesso, the current First Lady.

Art

Brazzaville has produced many talented artists and musicians. Aurlus Mabélé was a famous singer, and Bill Kouélany is a well-known artist and writer. Other notable names include Sardoine Mia, a modern artist, and Jean Serge Essous, a skilled musician who played the saxophone and clarinet.

Media and science

In media and science, Emmanuel Dongala is a chemist and writer, and Alain Mabanckou is a famous novelist and poet. Dominique Tchimbakala works as a TV news anchor, bringing stories to viewers.

Sport

Many athletes come from Brazzaville. François M'Pelé and Rolf-Christel Guié-Mien were successful football players for their country. Serge Ibaka is a professional basketball player, and Lorène Bazolo represented her country in track and field at the Olympics.

Twin towns and sister cities

Brazzaville has friendly connections with cities in other countries. These include:

• Dresden, Germany
• Weihai, China
• Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

These partnerships help the cities work together and share ideas.