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List of renamed places in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Map of the Belgian Congo, 1914

This is a list of place names of towns and cities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which were subsequently changed after the end of Belgian colonial rule. Place names of the colonial era tended to have two versions, one in French and one in Dutch, reflecting the two main languages of Belgium. Many of these place names were chosen after local geography or eponymous colonial figures.

Many of the place name changes occurred under the authenticité programme in the 1960s and 1970s during the dictatorship of Mobutu Sese Seko. In some cases, the names had genuine pre-colonial usage or had already been used unofficially during the colonial period. Mobutu also changed the country's name from Congo to Zaire. Today, European speakers of both French and Dutch use the modern Congolese place names.

Towns and cities

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Kinshasa, formerly known as Léopoldville or Leopoldstad
Lubumbashi, formerly known as Élisabethville or Elisabethstad
Kisangani, formerly known as Stanleyville or Stanleystad
Mbandaka, formerly Coquilhatville or Cocquilhatstad
Current Name Former name in French Former name in Dutch Former Namesake
Aketi Aketi Port-Chaltin Aketi-Chaltinhaven Named in honour of Louis-Napoléon Chaltin, a colonial military officer of the Congo Free State.
Bandundu Banningville Banningstad Named in honour of Émile Banning, influential Belgian civil servant and confidant of Leopold II
Boteka Flandria Flanders, a region in Belgium
Bukavu Costermansville Costermansstad Named in honour of Paul Costermans, colonial administrator in the Free State, in 1927
Djokupunda Charlesville Charlesstad
Gombe (Kinshasa) Kalina Named in honour of E. Kalina, an Austrian soldier who died in 1883.
Ilebo Port-Francqui Francquihaven Named in honour of Émile Francqui, businessman and philanthropist
Isiro Paulis Named in honour of Albert Paulis
Kalemie Albertville Albertstad Named in honour of King Albert I
Kananga Luluabourg Luluaburg Named after the nearby Lulua river
Kasa-Vubu (Kinshasa) Dendale
Kikwit Poto-Poto[a]
Kindu Kindu Port-Émpain Kindu Empain-Haven Named in honour of Edouard Empain, Belgian industrialist
Kinshasa Léopoldville Leopoldstad Named in honour of King Leopold II, King-Sovereign of the Congo Free State
Kirungu Baudouinville Boudewijnstad Named in honour of Prince Baudouin, nephew (and intended successor) of Leopold II
Kisangani Stanleyville Stanleystad Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer
Kwilu Ngongo Moerbeke Named after the Belgian hometown of Maurice Lippens, a major investor in the local sugar industry
Likasi Jadotville Jadotstad Named in honour of Jean Jadot [fr], businessman and industrialist
Lingwala (Kinshasa) Saint-Jean Named after St John the Apostle
Lubao Sentery
Lubumbashi Élisabethville Elisabethstad Named in honour of Queen Elisabeth
Lufu-Toto Cattier Named in honour of Félicien Cattier, businessman
Luila Wolter
Lokandu Riba-Riba
Lokutu Elisabetha Named in honour of Queen Elisabeth
Lusanga Leverville Leverstad Named after William Lever, British businessman and co-founder of Lever Brothers which owned a local subsidiary, Huileries du Congo Belge (HCB), which produced palm kernels.
Makanza Nouvelle-Anvers Nieuw Antwerpen Named after the Belgian port city of Antwerp
Makiso Stanley Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer and namesake of Stanleyville
Mapangu Brabanta Named after Brabant in Belgium
Matonge (Kinshasa) Renkin Named in honour of Jules Renkin, Belgian politician, Colonial Minister (1908–18) and later Prime Minister (1931–32)
Mbandaka Coquilhatville[b] Cocquilhatstad Named in honour of Camille Coquilhat, colonial administrator and town's founder.
Mbanza-Ngungu Thysville Thysstad Named in honour of Albert Thys, Belgian colonist and businessman
Mobayi-Mbongo Banzyville Banzystad
Mbuji-Mayi Bakwanga
Ngaliema (Kinshasa) Stanley Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer
Nsiamfumu Vista
Nzoro Vankerckhovenville Vankerckhovenstad Named in honour of Belgian explorer Willem Frans Van Kerckhoven
Tshilundu Mérode Named after the House of Mérode
Ubundu Ponthierville Ponthierstad Named in honour of the Pierre Ponthier [fr], colonial soldier

Landmarks and geographic terms

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Pool Malebo, formerly Stanley Pool
Current Name Former name in French Former name in Dutch Former Namesake
Boyoma Falls Stanley Falls Stanleywatervallen Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer
Lake Mai-Ndombe Lac Léopold II Leopold II Meer Named in honour of King Leopold II, King-Sovereign of the Congo Free State
Pool Malebo Stanley Pool Named in honour of Henry Morton Stanley, explorer
Mayombe Crystal
Virunga National Park Parc Albert Albert Park Named in honour of King Albert I

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ From 1937. Before that, the city was known as Makaku or Makal
  2. ^ Previously known as "Équateurville"

References

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