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About Brazzaville

A view of Brazzaville

Situated on the right bank of the majestic River Congo, second water body after the Amazon by virtue of its current (40.000 m3/s), the city of Brazzaville covers a surface area of almost 100 km2. Leaning on the Stanley Pool (a vast interior sea of 30km) and together with its twin city of Kinshasa, it constitutes a vast urban space formed by the two closest capitals in the world.

This African city of a singular destiny was founded on the 3 October 1880 by the French eponym explorer Pierre Savorgnan De Brazza. In 1904, Brazzaville became the capital of the French Congo and of the French Equatorial Africa (AEF). At the beginning of World War II in 1940, she became the capital of Free France after the occupation of France by Nazi Germany. It was during the “Brazzaville Conference” in 1944, in prelude to the emancipation of former French African colonies, that the new French colonial policy was defined.

The historic city of Brazzaville became the capital of the Republic of Congo after the proclamation of independence in 1960. Since then, she has hosted important international events, notably:

  • The launching of the African Olympic Movement with the organisation of the first African Games in Congo ;
  • The first conference of African scientists ;
  • The first conference of writers against Apartheid ;
  • The “Funds Africa” initiation which contributed to the liberation of Namibia and South Africa from the infamous Apartheid regime.

By virtue of its myriad identity exchange programmes, Brazzaville remains an immense cultural hub. It has witnessed an intense development of arts its drive for creative work is quite remarkable. Brazzaville is a land of artists with genius as it saw the rising of:

  • The “Cumba” and its conversion to the Congolese Rumba, a musical rhythm and theme initiated by Paul KAMBA ;
  • The mythical “ Les Bantous de la capitale” (Bantus of the capital city) ;
  • The de Poto-Poto painting school created in the mid-50s which rapidly became a reference for African plastic artists before independence.

The current population of Brazzaville stands at 2.000.000 inhabitants. This population is regularly enriched by rural influx and foreign migrants. Brazzaville is actually one of the African capitals with many nationals, a quality that affirms its place as a free city and a haven of reception, thereby confirming the legendary hospitality of Congo in general and of Brazzaville in particular.

Brazzaville is a transit city due to its exceptional and natural geographical location which places it at the centre of communication within the Central African region. Brazzaville is linked to the ocean by railway, to Kinshasa (DRC) by river and to Bangui (CAR) and to Cameroun by road.

Fondly called "Brazza-la-verte" (Green Brazza), due to its ever present expanse of greenery, Brazzaville is home to a good number of green spaces, with historic monuments, touristic and picturesque sites, quality restaurants and hotels of international standard. The view of the River Congo is an unparalleled attraction for many tourists.

Brazzaville is the political capital and hosts government institutions as well as a high representation of diplomatic missions accredited to the Republic of Congo.

Thanks to these many qualities, Brazzaville’s position as a multipolar metropolitan city is bound to be strengthened in the years to come.

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