Bandalungwa

Etymology

The name Bandalungwa originates from a linguistic misinterpretation during an interaction between a Belgian colonial administrator and the local inhabitants. The incident occurred during a visit to Chief Lingwala Ngambo, grandson of the Humbu ethnic group's Chief Selembao. Lingwala had been allocated land near the present-day sites of CHANIMetal and UTEXAFRICA but later relocated north to what is now Bandalungwa, while Selembao resettled farther south.

Inquiring about the ownership of a nearby lake, Chief Lingwala asked his people in the Teke dialect. The response was "bana ba Lingwala", with bana meaning "water" (or river), and ba serving as a determinative conjunction meaning "of". However, the Belgian administrator misheard this as "Bandalungwa", and the name was subsequently adopted. Chief Lingwala's legacy is physically commemorated within the commune; his body was buried in 1923 at No. 3 Mpumbu Il Avenue in the Lubudi quartier.

Geography

Hydrology

Bandalungwa is traversed by two rivers, essential for sanitation and agriculture. The Makelele River forms the western boundary with the commune of Kintambo, while the Basoko River separates Bandalungwa from the Kokolo Military Camp and Ngiri-Ngiri commune to the north. These watercourses facilitate efficient drainage and flood management while supporting large-scale market gardening within the commune. Known locally as inga and bilanga, these gardens provide much of Kinshasa's fresh vegetable supply. The hydrological system also includes the Mfuti Watershed, a subject of environmental studies focused on combating erosion and managing water quality. Challenges like sediment build-up in this watershed illustrate the interaction between urban growth and environmental care, with erosion endangering water ecosystems and usability.

Administrative division

Administratively, Bandalungwa is governed by a mayor and a deputy mayor, supported by a structured network of municipal services. These include departments responsible for civil status, population management, housing, environmental regulation, social affairs, and small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as branches of the Agence Nationale de Renseignements (ANR) and the general migration directorate. Policing and security fall under the territorial police.

The commune is divided into eight quartiers (quarters), which are subdivided into avenues. While these quartiers serve as functional units for governance and service delivery, they lack independent legal status.

''Quartiers'':

• Adoula
• Bisengo
• Kasa-Vubu
• Makelele
• Lubudi
• Lingwala
• Lumumba
• Kokolo

History

Historically, the area was a lake that evolved into a sandy plateau inhabited by the Bateke and Bahumbu peoples, who established a kingdom encompassing Bandalungwa and also the present-day communes of Selembao, Kasa-Vubu, Ngiri-Ngiri, Kintambo, and Lingwala. This kingdom, led by a series of rulers, saw its last king, Lungua, died on 20 August 1920, in the village of Bampao.

Bandalungwa, in its modern incarnation, was formally established on 8 December 1955, during the late colonial period. Its creation was part of a development initiative funded by the Belgian monarchy, designed to provide housing for Congolese civil servants and educators. Initial construction began with three quartiers: Mawa (now Adoula), Max-Hoan (now Bisengo), and Cynkin (now Makelele), characterized by rows of two-story colonial-style homes. These homes, which remain a distinctive feature of the commune, were built to accommodate the needs of public service workers and their families.

The first administrator of Bandalungwa was Nor, a Belgian official, who oversaw the commune's development. In 1959, Ngoma Oscar became the first Congolese administrator. After independence in 1960, Bandalungwa experienced rapid urbanization fueled by significant rural-to-urban migration, which transformed the commune into a densely populated, working-class area with modest incomes. Despite the lack of a comprehensive urbanization policy, the colonial-era housing infrastructure has largely remained intact, with minimal modifications over time.

Socioeconomic and urban developments

During the 1990s and early 2000s, Bandalungwa grappled with urban issues, including overcrowding, pervasive criminal activities, and pervasive nighttime noise.

In 2011, a significant urban development project was announced to construct 1,000 social housing units on the former Bandalungwa nursery site at the intersection of Kasa-Vubu and Libération (formerly 24 Novembre) avenues. Led by the Chinese company Société Zhen Gwei Technique Congo (STZC), the project was intended to span three years and cost nearly $160 million. However, delays and a relaunch in 2013 under the succeeding Minister of Urban Planning and Housing, Fridolin Kasweshi, shifted the timeline. The project aimed to establish a residential area called "Joseph Kabila Kin-oasis City", featuring diverse housing options, including apartments, villas, and public amenities like markets, hotels, and cultural spaces. By 2014, several structures were nearing completion, with media outlets like 7sur7 accentuating the emergence of modern multi-story buildings. In the ensuing years, numerous extended-stay hotels have been developed, financed by members of the Congolese diaspora.

Demographics

Economy

Bandalungwa is characterized by its bustling commercial and leisure sectors, which are supported by a blend of modern infrastructure and traditional markets. Residential structures in the commune feature a range of urban forms, including adjoining houses, semi-detached dwellings, and blocks of six to ten residences. In response to demographic pressures, new modern self-construction have emerged, including high-end developments such as the "Kin Oasis" residential area in the southern part of the Kokolo Military Camp.

The commune thrives around three key agglomerations:

• Bandal-Adoula (formerly Moulaert): Known for its residential zones with individual, semi-detached, and isolated houses.
• Bandal-Bisengo: A commercial hub featuring numerous blocks dedicated to retail and leisure activities. This area hosts popular establishments such as the Michael supermarket, which operates day and night, and caters to a diverse clientele.
• Bandal-Makelele (formerly Syn-kin): A significant zone that integrates residential and commercial activities.

The commune thrives in its bustling retail and hospitality industries, centered on dynamic streets including Inga, Kimbondo, and Kasa-Vubu avenues, as well as the shopping blocks in Bandal-Bisengo and Bandal-Makelele. These hotspots are dotted with cafés, open-air terraces, refreshment stands, and casual dining establishments. Lumumba market in Bandal-Adoula is the central daytime trading hub that offers essential goods and services. Two key fairs, Jardin d'Eden and Solution, held during the dry season, boost the economy, attract crowds, and stimulate business interactions. Tourist attractions like Teke Chief Lungwal's tomb on Kimbondo Avenue and an early residence of President Mobutu on Inga Avenue also enhance cultural tourism.

Religious institutions, including the Catholic parishes of Saint-Michel (established in 1955) and Saint-Charles Luanga (established in 1961) serve as community centers and support various local initiatives.

Culture

Music

The commune is often referred to as Kinshasa's musical epicenter. The dominant musical genres include Congolese rumba, ndombolo, soukous, jazz, hip hop, R&B, dancehall, mopacho, and Afrobeats. A notable cultural asset is Kinshasound, which is a prominent hip-hop recording studio located in the Makelele quartier. Established in 2001 by DDT and Kevin Kim-Piobi, the studio has been instrumental in nurturing Congolese music. It has hosted artists such as Marshall Dixon and Poison Mobutu and facilitated the early careers of JB Mpiana, Werrason, and Fally Ipupa.

Bandalungwa has also produced a lineage of prominent musicians, with many influential figures in contemporary Congolese music beginning their careers in this commune. Notable names include Wenge Musica, JB Mpiana, Werrason, Fally Ipupa, Ferré Gola, Céléo Scram, Jossart N'Yoka Longo, Blaise Bula, Didier Masela, JDT Mulopwe, Bill Clinton Kalonji, Saak Saakul, and King Kester Emeneya.

Food, sports, and recreation

Notable local dishes include ntaba (grilled goat) and poulet grillé kinoise (Kinshasa-style grilled chicken).

Association football is the most popular sport. The commune hosts three notable football fields: Terrain Allemagne, Terrain Ngoma, and Terrain Municipal. In its heyday, Bandalungwa also housed the Bandalungwa-Kintambo Sports Complex (COBASKI), which features facilities like an Olympic swimming pool, basketball court, and tennis court.

References

References

1. Malu-Malu, Arthur. (2 August 2017). "RDC: balade dans les rues branchées de Bandal".
2. Essolomwa, Laurent. (10 February 2018). "Kinshasa: Bandal, un des coins touristiques de la capitale province".
3. (17 April 2024). "Dans la commune de Bandalugwa, on dénombre désormais plus 3000 bars, plus 1000 hôtels et près de 200 églises!".
4. "''Géographie de Kinshasa'' (Geography of Kinshasa)". Ville de Kinshasa (City of Kinshasa).
5. Mbau, Prosper. (October 2008). "Étude réalisée sur base des données de la concertation des organisations de la commune de Bandalungwa et celles de Selembao". Collectif de Développement Intégré au Congo (CODIC).
6. Vunamusa, Alphonse. (2007). "Conception d'un système informatisée pour la gestion de lettres administrative: cas de la commune de Bandalungwa/Kinshasa". [[Haute École de Commerce de Kinshasa]].
7. Ilundu, Odon Nswele. (3 March 2024). "Perception of Adolescents in the Commune of Bandalungwa on Practices to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections". Scholars Middle East Publisher.
8. (2015). "Monographie de la ville de Kinshasa". IDRC.CRDI.
9. Mula, Jean Rufin. (June 2022). "Le carrefour congolais". [[University of Kinshasa]].
10. (12 May 2011). "Kinshasa: César Lubamba rassure sur la construction de 1000 logements sociaux à Bandalungwa".
11. (28 March 2013). "RDC: le gouvernement relance le projet de 1 000 logements à Kinshasa".
12. (12 April 2013). "Construction de logements en RDC: la Licoco demande des comptes au gouvernement".
13. "L'oeil de Bandal".
14. Katalayi Mutombo, Hilaire. (October 2014). "Urbanisation et fabrique urbaine à Kinshasa: défis et opportunités d’aménagement". [[Bordeaux Montaigne University]].
15. Mwavita, Dorcas. (19 November 2024). "Bandalungwa/Kintambo: La rivière Makelele en plein curage pour protéger les riverains des inondations".
16. Nsapu, Lovic-Benjamin. (18 November 2024). "Prévention des inondations: début des travaux de curage de la rivière Makelele à Kinshasa".
17. (13 September 2021). "Plaidoyer pour le curage de la rivière de Basoko entre les communes de Bandalungwa et Ngaliema à Kinshasa".
18. Djani, Salakiaku Luntadila. (27 January 2023). "Pollution des eaux de surface et ses conséquences sur les écosystèmes aquatiques et les humains : cas des rivières de Kinshasa en République Démocratique du Congo (Synthèse bibliographique)". Revue Africaine d'Environnement et d'Agriculture.
19. Mbopanga, Roda Bongeli. (November 2023). "A Study of Erosion in the Mfuti Watershed for the Sanitation and Protection of the Zamba-Telecom Road in Kinshasa/DR Congo". International Journal of Advances in Scientific Research and Engineering.
20. (24 May 2015). "Introduction Générale".
21. Kujirakwinja, Deo. (2002). "La problématique du lotissement dans la ville de Goma. cas des quartiers Keshero et Katoyi". Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de Bukavu (ISDR/Bukavu).
22. (24 May 2015). "Introduction Générale".
23. (24 May 2015). "Introduction Générale".
24. (10 December 2014). "Nouveaux logements à Kinshasa : prix exorbitants pour le commun des mortels".
25. Kebongo, Didier. (13 October 2014). "KINSHASA Un boom immobilier sans logements sociaux!".
26. Malu-Malu, Arthur. (2 August 2017). "RDC: balade dans les rues branchées de Bandal".
27. "L'oeil de Bandal".
28. (10 September 2016). "Kinshasa sans complexe: Bandal c'est Bandalungwa".
29. "L'oeil de Bandal".
30. Curnis, Kiala. (5 December 2024). "Kinshasa: 69 ans de Bandalungwa, Éric Tshikuma pour une gouvernance économique gage du progrès social".
31. "L'oeil de Bandal".