Pool Malebo

Pool Malebo

lake

Inflows	Congo River
Outflows	Congo River
Drainage basin	Congo Basin
Country	Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Edey de administrative territorial entity insyd	Kinshasa
Coordinate location	4°16′55″S 15°29′19″E

De Pool Malebo (wey dem before dey call am Stanley Pool), dem sanso be known for history as Mpumbu, Lake Nkunda, Lake Nkuna, Lake Ntamo, anaa Lake Ngobila, be wide, lake-like widening of de lower Congo River for Central Africa wey dey form natural basin wey river dey expand before e go drop go downstream enter Livingstone Falls. Dis pool dey serve as international border between Republic of the Congo for north den Democratic Republic of the Congo for south, plus de capital cities Brazzaville den Kinshasa wey dey face each other directly for opposite shores.

E dey cover around 500 square kilometers, wey e get about 35 kilometers length den 23 kilometers width. De water no too deep; normally e dey between 3 to 10 meters, buh during rainy season flood fit make water level change well well.

De name Malebo, wey be plural of lilebo for Lingala, dey refer to Borassus palm tree wey dey plenty around de shores, islands, den alluvial plains around de area. De word pool na English word wey mean basin anaa lake. Dem rename am Stanley Pool for 1887 after explorer Henry Morton Stanley, wey be de first European wey map de area during im expedition wey talk say de place get about 400 km² surface area. Later, for January 1972, after independence den Africanization policy, dem change de name come Pool Malebo. Long before white men reach der, Pool Malebo already be big cultural, trade, den political center for Bantu people for Congo Basin.

Geography

Description and toponymy

Pool Malebo be place wer Congo River expand turn like lake. De word pool for English fit mean lake anaa pond. Kinshasa dey for south side of de water, while Brazzaville dey for north side.

Before colonial naming, local people get different names for de area like N'Tamo (Ntamo), Nkouna (Nkuna anaa Nkunda), Pumbo, Pumbu, Mpumbu, anaa Ngobila.

Ntamo den Nkouna

De names Ntamo den Nkouna show for many early explorer records, especially Henry Morton Stanley den oda historians. According to Congolese historian Jérôme Olland, Stanley even use Ntamo for ein book In Darkest Africa. French explorer Léon Guiral for 1889 sanso 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, de name no really dey common among Téké people wey dey live for dat side.

Pumbo, Pumbu, anaa Mpumbu

De names Pumbo, Pumbu, anaa Mpumbu sanso 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 de name fit refer to north shore of Stanley Pool, wey be political center of Téké kingdom. Oda scholars sanso link am to Bahumbu area. Sam 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, wey dat be wer Kinshasa name come from.

Some researchers sanso talk say Mpumbu be important slave trade market for Central Africa, wer goods from inland river regions dey pass go Atlantic coast.

Stanley Pool den Pool Malebo

For 1887, dem rename am Stanley Pool after Henry Morton Stanley. Frank Pocock, wey follow Stanley wey dey work under Leopold II of Belgium, e be suggest de name for 12 March 1877 wen dem enter de basin, as Stanley write am for Through the Dark Continent.

After independence of Congo-Léopoldville, for January 1972, dem change am come Pool Malebo. De name Malebo cam from Lingala word lilebo (plural malebo), wey mean Borassus palm tree wey plenty for de river banks, islands, den flood plains. So Pool Malebo mean “lake of Borassus palm”.

Terrain den navigation

Pool Malebo get about 35 km length den 23 km width, wey e cover around 500 km² area. E get islands insyd, den biggest one be M'Bamou Island wey dey for middle. De island area be about 180 km² wey e belong to Republic of the Congo. Water depth dey shallow, 3 to 10 meters, buh flood fit change water level reach 3 meters every year. Average height of de area be about 272 m above sea level.

For south side, Brazzaville den Kinshasa dey face each other directly, wey dem be one of de closest capital cities for de world (except Rome den Vatican City wey dey insyd each other).

Maluku dey for upstream entrance of de basin. From der, Pool Malebo mark de beginning of navigable Congo River go reach Mbandaka, Makanza, Bangui, den even Kisangani. Downstream from Ngaliema Bay, river go enter strong rapids wey dem call Livingstone Falls, wer water drop about 300 meters before e reach Matadi port.

History

Early history

Aerial view from northwest side of de Congo River, wey dey show de upstream half of Pool Malebo den Mbamu Island. De northern outskirts of Brazzaville dey show for right front.

European contact with de Congo River area start for 1483, when Portuguese navigator Diogo Cão reach de river mouth and start relation between de Kingdom of Portugal den de Kingdom of Kongo. Dis event end de relative isolation of Central Africa from outsyd world networks wey dem start written records about de region. But archaeological den linguistic research, especially for Bantu languages, show say human settlement for Congo Basin dey exist long before Europeans come, plus evidence of farming den iron den copper work wey dey go back "about two thousand years". From sixteenth century go forward, de area enter Atlantic trade system, especially thru transatlantic slave trade. Major trade route develop along de Congo River from Atlantic coast reach middle basin. Pool Malebo become very important transshipment point inside dis system, divide de trade into two zones. De western zone, from coast reach de pool, depend mostly on land routes den act as corridor for goods movement, plus important centers like Tungwa, Tshela, São Salvador, Kimongo, den Ludima dem link by road networks. De eastern zone, from Pool Malebo reach Ubangi–Uélé meeting point, mainly be production area, wey dey supply items like pottery, salt, sugarcane alcohol, ivory, rubber, den copal.

Bateke couple, Congo Free State, 1898.

Di area around Pool Malebo belong to de 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 anaa to describe dema traits. For whole Kongo region, Batéké plateau, den central Congo valley, de name Téké dem link to selling. For Kikongo, téké mean "to sell", secof Tio people get strong trading lifestyle den neighbors see dem as traders. Vansina note say Tio be among de Central African groups wey Europeans den Americans know well secof dem dey around Pool Malebo. Plenty enslaved people wey dem export go Americas, plus ivory from Congo Basin, pass thru markets for dis area. Tio Kingdom likely start wen small communities join together under one leader, de Makoko (king). According to Isidore Ndaywel è Nziem, one of those communities include old ruins of kingdom dem call N'guunu, wey dey Pool Malebo. Dis unification happen around sixteenth century. Over time, Tio build strong trade link plus neighbors like Kingdom of Kongo den Loango, make goods move from Atlantic coast reach interior. Pool Malebo become main storage point den central junction for dis trade route.

Iloo I (dem sanso know as Illoy Loubath Imoumba anaa Mboulignaoh Illoh), chief of de Bateke of Mbé den king of de Bateke from 1874, get title Makoko, Onkô, anaa Ma-Onkô, wey dem dey use for traditional ruler. E die for 1892.

For de southern bank of de pool, de Mfumu den Humbu (Bahumbu) people dey live der. Dem relate to Batéké culturally den linguistically but still be different groups. Vansina explain say Bahumbu control de southern part of de Pool. Most of dema villages dey insyd land behind hills, den dema capital dey at Lemba. De leader of Lemba, wey dey Mbanza-Lemba, be main authority for de southern shore of de 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 den Batéké traders stop Europeans den missionaries from coming near de Pool. François Bontinck record how Italian missionaries for seventeenth century struggle enter Makoko Kingdom thru Kingdom of Kongo. Dema first try fail, one missionary dem beat am den threaten to kill am. Dem reach de Pool second time, buh 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 de king attack dem. Dem burn dema village, den king later rebuild am far away. De attackers want keep missionaries out secof dem fear say baptism den Christian influence go spoil trade interest. Tio people stay far from Kongo Kingdom secof dem fear say missionaries wey follow Portuguese trade routes go expose dema trade advantages like transit fees den market control. In de end, missionaries return to Kongo without meeting Makoko. De Makoko Kingdom still remain attractive to missionaries, but strong resistance from traders block demz plans.

River trade den socioeconomic transformation

Mfumu men insyd Kinshasa Léopoldville

For de 19th century, river trade wey dey long distance really grow well well, even though dem 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 de area dey lead plenty caravans wey dey move enslaved people join things like chili peppers, palm kernels, peanuts, sesame, ivory, den later rubber. For some days, communities for Lower Congo dey supply de stations, where Europeans dey bake bread for big ovens, den people dey easily get European goods like gin, firearms, gunpowder, den cloth.

By dis time, Bobangi join Batéké for trade around Pool Malebo. Dem cam from Ubangi River area, move enter middle Congo, then reach Pool between late 18th den early 19th century. Dem no be invaders; dem just follow trade opportunities. Dem dey call themselves "river people", wey 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 den enslaved people wey dey go coastal posts, exchange for European goods like guns den 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 den tributaries like Alima, Likouala, den Ikelemba. Dem caravans dey move with 10 to 60 pirogues loaded plus goods. Lingala language, wey come from river trade lingua franca, spread as main trade language for de region. Bobangi first participate, then later dominate trade network until Léopoldville post den steam navigation wey Henry Morton Stanley introduce insyd 1881, wich disrupt but no totally end dema system.

Eastward view across Stanley Pool from Léopoldville terrace, ca. 1889.

As 19th century dey end, Congo River trade system collapse. Dis happen secof French den Belgian authorities divide river zones, new trading posts appear, steam transport start, den railway construction begin. De trade once connect Africa, Europe, den Americas into world economy since 17th century. But control of trade dey plus small elite around Pool Malebo, wey get right to sell ivory den enslaved people. Chiefs cam be rich plus captives, weapons, den imported goods. Inland chiefs get less power secof dem only participate indirectly. Local life still depend on farming den 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 secof imported metal cheap pass local tools. Canoe den paddle production sanso reduce. But pottery increase well well.

View of Kinshasa village insyd 1912

South side of Pool Malebo get many villages. Some dey riverbank, others inland. Major ones include Ntassa (Kinshasa) den Ntamo (Kintambo), wey be main market centers. Villages like Kinshasa, Kintambo, den Lemba exist der. Others like Nolo, Kingabwa, Mokilao, Kinsuka dey along river plus Batéké people. Inland villages belong to Bahumbu, plus Mbanza-Lemba as major hub. Jan Vansina talk say riverside villages be like commercial towns. Dem mix Tio den Bobangi population, plus few free men wey dey control many enslaved people. Some villages get 500–1,000 people. Women for riverside villages dey do pottery den dey make cassava bread (chikwangue). Dem sanso sell goods insyd market. Even though work plenty, dem still get more free time than inland women.

Market insyd Matadi, circa 1899

Market scene insyd Matadi, circa 1905

Bahumbu people focus on farming. Dem grow banana, sugarcane, pineapple, cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, beans. Dem sanso fish, hunt, den sell livestock, peanuts, kaolin, tobacco. Markets dey very important for trade den social life. Market be place for announcements, laws, disputes, den even entertainment. Barter system start am, later dem introduce shells, cloth, necklaces, metal rods, den motako coins.

European goods later become common den 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 secof trade. New elites emerge from commerce, while old chiefs lose some power. Gap between rich den poor increase.

European penetration, founding of Léopoldville, den Kinshasa emergence

Colonial system begin after Henry Morton Stanley expeditions open Congo Basin

Trade for Pool Malebo still strong, but no yet capitalist system. Wealth dey circulate, but land no dey sell den labor mainly thru slavery. Real disruption come later plus colonial system after Stanley open Congo Basin to Europe. Stanley explore from Zanzibar reach Congo River den Boma insyd 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 den Batéké act as middlemen. From 1890–1911, town grow fast. Missions, port, railways, hospitals, schools, military camps develop. African workers organize into camps Kiliamani den Mampeza. Kinshasa post grow slowly at first. Dutch den Portuguese traders set posts. Railway connect Kinshasa and Léopoldville. Kinshasa later expand with new river port (1910–1912), wey dey attract companies from Europe. By 1914–1915, population reach about 13,000. Insyd 1920, Léopoldville den Kinshasa merge, later become capital of Belgian Congo insyd 1923. After independence, name change to Kinshasa insyd 1966.

Economy den Léopoldville growth

Port den river trade

En Avant steam launch on Congo River 1889

Léopoldville grow secof river transport. Stanley introduce steamboat En Avant insyd 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 construction Matadi–Léopoldville 1887

First locomotive reach Léopoldville 1898

Railway from Matadi to Stanley Pool complete in 1898. This reduce dependence on porter labor and boost economy.

Colonization and power

Forced labor punishment with chicotte ca. 1905

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 den lose villages after conflicts. Some flee to French side of river.

Batéké people at Stanley Pool c.1900

Villages cleared for plantations, military camps, den infrastructure. Traditional systems weaken.

Ecology

Climate

Kinshasa get tropical climate plus rainy season (Sept–May) den 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 den block native plants.

Fish

Over 200 fish species dey area, many be catfish den mormyrids.

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  Aerial view of Pool Malebo
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  Stanley route shown in black line