Pool Malebo

The Pool Malebo (wey dem before dey call am Stanley Pool), also sabi am for history as Mpumbu, Lake Nkunda, Lake Nkuna, Lake Ntamo, or Lake Ngobila, na wide, lake-like widening of the lower Congo River for Central Africa wey dey form natural basin wey river dey expand before e go drop go downstream enter Livingstone Falls. This pool dey serve as international border between Republic of the Congo for north and Democratic Republic of the Congo for south, with the capital cities Brazzaville and Kinshasa wey dey face each other directly for opposite shores. E dey cover around 500 square kilometers, and e get about 35 kilometers length and 23 kilometers width. The water no too deep; normally e dey between 3 to 10 meters, but during rainy season flood fit make water level change well well. The name Malebo, wey be plural of lilebo for Lingala, dey refer to Borassus palm tree wey dey plenty around the shores, islands, and alluvial plains around the area. The word pool na English word wey mean basin or lake. Dem rename am Stanley Pool for 1887 after explorer Henry Morton Stanley, wey be the first European wey map the area during im expedition and talk say the place get about 400 km2 surface area. Later, for January 1972, after independence and Africanization policy, dem change the name come Pool Malebo. Long before white men reach there, Pool Malebo don already be big cultural, trade, and political center for Bantu people for Congo Basin. Geography Description and toponymy Pool Malebo na place where Congo River expand turn like lake. The word pool for English fit mean lake or pond. Kinshasa dey for south side of the water, while Brazzaville dey for north side. Before colonial naming, local people get different names for the area like N'Tamo (Ntamo), Nkouna (Nkuna or Nkunda), Pumbo, Pumbu, Mpumbu, or Ngobila. Ntamo and Nkouna The names Ntamo and Nkouna show for many early explorer records, especially Henry Morton Stanley and other historians. According to Congolese historian Jérôme Olland, Stanley even use Ntamo for im book In Darkest Africa. French explorer Léon Guiral for 1889 also talk say Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza meet interpreter Ashimbo Taba for Nkouna. But missionary Father Albert Le Gallois talk say even though early explorers dey use Nkouna for big island Mbamu, the name no really dey common among Téké people wey dey live for that side. Pumbo, Pumbu, or Mpumbu The names Pumbo, Pumbu, or Mpumbu also appear for old records. For Olfert Dapper book Description of Africa, he describe Pombo as place under Makoko ruler of Téké. Historian Jan Vansina explain say the name fit refer to north shore of Stanley Pool, wey be political center of Téké kingdom. Other scholars also link am to Bahumbu area. Some people even say Mpumbu mean “big market”. For Kinshasa history, Professor Pascal Kapagama talk say for 16th century, big market wey dem call Mpumbu dey there, and that na where Kinshasa name come from. Some researchers also talk say Mpumbu be important slave trade market for Central Africa, where goods from inland river regions dey pass go Atlantic coast. Stanley Pool and Pool Malebo For 1887, dem rename am Stanley Pool after Henry Morton Stanley. Frank Pocock, wey follow Stanley and dey work under Leopold II of Belgium, na im suggest the name for 12 March 1877 when dem enter the basin, as Stanley write am for Through the Dark Continent. After independence of Congo-Léopoldville, for January 1972, dem change am come Pool Malebo. The name Malebo come from Lingala word lilebo (plural malebo), wey mean Borassus palm tree wey plenty for the river banks, islands, and flood plains. So Pool Malebo mean “lake of Borassus palm”. Terrain and navigation Pool Malebo get about 35 km length and 23 km width, and e cover around 500 km² area. E get islands inside, and biggest one na M'Bamou Island wey dey for middle. The island area be about 180 km² and e belong to Republic of the Congo. Water depth dey shallow, 3 to 10 meters, but flood fit change water level reach 3 meters every year. Average height of the area na about 272 m above sea level. For south side, Brazzaville and Kinshasa dey face each other directly, and dem be one of the closest capital cities for the world (except Rome and Vatican City wey dey inside each other). Maluku dey for upstream entrance of the basin. From there, Pool Malebo mark the beginning of navigable Congo River go reach Mbandaka, Makanza, Bangui, and even Kisangani. Downstream from Ngaliema Bay, river go enter strong rapids wey dem call Livingstone Falls, where water drop about 300 meters before e reach Matadi port. History Early history European contact with di Congo River area start for 1483, when Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão reach di river mouth and start relation between di Kingdom of Portugal and di Kingdom of Kongo. Dis event end di relative isolation of Central Africa from outside world networks and start written records about di region. But archaeological and linguistic research, especially for Bantu languages, show say human settlement for Congo Basin dey exist long before Europeans come, with evidence of farming and iron and copper work going back "about two thousand years". From sixteenth century go forward, di area enter Atlantic trade system, especially through transatlantic slave trade. Major trade route develop along di Congo River from Atlantic coast reach middle basin. Pool Malebo become very important transshipment point inside dis system, divide di trade into two zones. Di western zone, from coast reach di pool, depend mostly on land routes and act as corridor for goods movement, with important centers like Tungwa, Tshela, São Salvador, Kimongo, and Ludima linked by road networks. Di eastern zone, from Pool Malebo reach Ubangi–Uélé meeting point, mainly be production area, supplying items like pottery, salt, sugarcane alcohol, ivory, rubber, and copal. Di area around Pool Malebo belong to di Tio Kingdom, whose people dem mostly know as Batéké. Jan Vansina, wey write full study about dis kingdom, explain say Batéké likely be Kongo word wey dem use for groups inside Tio Kingdom or to describe their traits. For whole Kongo region, Batéké plateau, and central Congo valley, di name Téké dey linked to selling. For Kikongo, téké mean "to sell", because Tio people get strong trading lifestyle and neighbors see dem as traders. Vansina note say Tio be among di Central African groups wey Europeans and Americans know well because dem dey around Pool Malebo. Plenty enslaved people wey dem export go Americas, plus ivory from Congo Basin, pass through markets for dis area. Tio Kingdom likely start when small communities join together under one leader, di Makoko (king). According to Isidore Ndaywel è Nziem, one of those communities include old ruins of kingdom called N'guunu, wey dey Pool Malebo. Dis unification happen around sixteenth century. Over time, Tio build strong trade link with neighbors like Kingdom of Kongo and Loango, make goods move from Atlantic coast reach interior. Pool Malebo become main storage point and central junction for dis trade route. For di southern bank of di pool, di Mfumu and Humbu (Bahumbu) people dey live there. Dem relate to Batéké culturally and linguistically but still be different groups. Vansina explain say Bahumbu control di southern part of di Pool. Most of their villages dey inside land behind hills, and their capital dey at Lemba. Di leader of Lemba, wey dey Mbanza-Lemba, be main authority for di southern shore of di Pool. For many centuries, Europeans no fit enter Pool Malebo area. Compared to West Africa, Congo Basin colonization happen late. Geography block dem small, but strong resistance from Bakongo and Batéké traders stop Europeans and missionaries from coming near di Pool. François Bontinck record how Italian missionaries for seventeenth century struggle enter Makoko Kingdom through Kingdom of Kongo. Their first try fail, one missionary dem beat am and threaten to kill am. Dem reach di Pool second time, but dem still no allow dem cross river to meet Makoko. Other missionaries face same resistance. After many failed attempts, dem try Ngobila canal route, but warriors loyal to di king attack dem. Dem burn their village, and king later rebuild am far away. Di attackers want keep missionaries out because dem fear say baptism and Christian influence go spoil trade interest. Tio people stay far from Kongo Kingdom because dem fear say missionaries wey follow Portuguese trade routes go expose their trade advantages like transit fees and market control. In the end, missionaries return to Kongo without meeting Makoko. Di Makoko Kingdom still remain attractive to missionaries, but strong resistance from traders block their plans. River trade and socioeconomic transformation For di 19th century, river trade wey dey long distance really grow well well, even though dem don ban slave trade already. From Pool Malebo, caravans of porters dey carry goods go trading stations near mouth of Congo River for Lower Congo. Congolese guides wey dey cross di area dey lead plenty caravans wey dey move enslaved people join things like chili peppers, palm kernels, peanuts, sesame, ivory, and later rubber. For some days, communities for Lower Congo dey supply di stations, where Europeans dey bake bread for big ovens, and people dey easily get European goods like gin, firearms, gunpowder, and cloth. By dis time, Bobangi don join Batéké for trade around Pool Malebo. Dem come from Ubangi River area, move enter middle Congo, then reach Pool between late 18th and early 19th century. Dem no be invaders; dem just follow trade opportunities. Dem dey call themselves "river people", and dem boost trade well well. One Bobangi trader fit offload at least 1 ton goods every year, totaling around 40 tons yearly. Dem trade mainly ivory and enslaved people wey dey go coastal posts, exchange for European goods like guns and textiles. Slave export continue till around 1850–1860, then new goods like tobacco take over. For 1870s, Bobangi deliver about 5,000 to 6,000 elephant tusks go Pool Malebo. Dem become expert for navigation of Congo River and tributaries like Alima, Likouala, and Ikelemba. Dem caravans dey move with 10 to 60 pirogues loaded with goods. Lingala language, wey come from river trade lingua franca, spread as main trade language for di region. Bobangi first participate, then later dominate trade network until Léopoldville post and steam navigation introduced by Henry Morton Stanley in 1881, which disrupt but no totally end their system. As 19th century dey end, Congo River trade system collapse. Dis happen because French and Belgian authorities divide river zones, new trading posts appear, steam transport start, and railway construction begin. The trade once connect Africa, Europe, and Americas into world economy since 17th century. But control of trade dey with small elite around Pool Malebo, wey get right to sell ivory and enslaved people. Chiefs become rich with captives, weapons, and imported goods. Inland chiefs get less power because dem only participate indirectly. Local life still depend on farming and craft work. Agriculture grow. Cassava processing for river market need plenty women labor, while tobacco production need men labor, often enslaved. Some crafts like ironworking decline because imported metal cheap pass local tools. Canoe and paddle production also reduce. But pottery increase well well. South side of Pool Malebo get many villages. Some dey riverbank, others inland. Major ones include Ntassa (Kinshasa) and Ntamo (Kintambo), wey be main market centers. Villages like Kinshasa, Kintambo, and Lemba exist there. Others like Nolo, Kingabwa, Mokilao, Kinsuka dey along river with Batéké people. Inland villages belong to Bahumbu, with Mbanza-Lemba as major hub. Jan Vansina talk say riverside villages be like commercial towns. Dem mix Tio and Bobangi population, with few free men controlling many enslaved people. Some villages get 500–1,000 people. Women for riverside villages dey do pottery and make cassava bread (chikwangue). Dem also sell goods in market. Even though work plenty, dem still get more free time than inland women. Bahumbu people focus on farming. Dem grow banana, sugarcane, pineapple, cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, beans. Dem also fish, hunt, and sell livestock, peanuts, kaolin, tobacco. Markets dey very important for trade and social life. Market be place for announcements, laws, disputes, and even entertainment. Barter system start am, later dem introduce shells, cloth, necklaces, metal rods, and motako coins. European goods later become common and even replace some local products. Items include fabrics, blankets, glassware, salt, cutlery, jewelry, bottles, candles, tableware, gin, rum. But pottery still strong. African societies change socially because of trade. New elites emerge from commerce, while old chiefs lose some power. Gap between rich and poor increase. European penetration, founding of Léopoldville, and Kinshasa emergence Trade for Pool Malebo still strong, but no yet capitalist system. Wealth dey circulate, but land no dey sell and labor mainly through slavery. Real disruption come later with colonial system after Stanley open Congo Basin to Europe. Stanley explore from Zanzibar reach Congo River and Boma in 1877. He name Pool Malebo as Stanley Pool. Later, he plan to open region for global trade under support of King Leopold II. Léopoldville post establish on 1 December 1881 by Stanley on hill Konzo Ikulu (later Mont Léopold / Mont Ngaliema). Trade continue and Batéké act as middlemen. From 1890–1911, town grow fast. Missions, port, railways, hospitals, schools, military camps develop. African workers organized into camps Kiliamani and Mampeza. Kinshasa post grow slowly at first. Dutch and Portuguese traders set posts. Railway connect Kinshasa and Léopoldville. Kinshasa later expand with new river port (1910–1912), attracting companies from Europe. By 1914–1915, population reach about 13,000. In 1920, Léopoldville and Kinshasa merge, later become capital of Belgian Congo in 1923. After independence, name change to Kinshasa in 1966. Economy and Léopoldville growth Port and river trade Léopoldville grow because of river transport. Stanley introduce steamboat En Avant in 1881. Dis start modern river fleet system. By 1894, 43 steamers dey operate. Port traffic increase to over 16,000 tons by 1907. Colonial companies move inland to collect rubber, ivory, copal. Motako copper rod become currency for trade. Railway from Matadi to Stanley Pool complete in 1898. This reduce dependence on porter labor and boost economy. Colonization and power Colonial rule involve forced labor, flogging, displacement, and control from Brussels. Economic system focus on extraction and profit. European powers compete for Congo resources like uranium, copper, cobalt, diamonds. Batéké chiefs resist colonial labor and lose villages after conflicts. Some flee to French side of river. Villages cleared for plantations, military camps, and infrastructure. Traditional systems weaken. Ecology Climate Kinshasa get tropical climate with rainy season (Sept–May) and dry season (June–Aug). Rain peak for Nov, Dec, March. Flora River banks get palm, papyrus swamp. Water plants like Eichhornia dey float. Some invasive species spread fast and block native plants. Fish Over 200 fish species dey area, many be catfish and mormyrids. See also Pombeiros References Template:Commons category Dis be template wey go make wanna references make structured. Template:Regions of Africa