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PEOPLE & PLACES
Congo Jazz – Soukous
This is the kind of music you just can't sit still to! Originating in the 1930s, Soukous is a mix of Congolese and other traditional African sounds along with a strong dose of Caribbean and South American flavours. The most famous star of this music is Papa Wendo who toured Europe and North America during the 1940s and 1950s with his band Victoria Bakolo Miziki. Hear one of his most famous songs, Marie-Louise, on at this YouTube Link. 2010 saw a revival of interest in the cool Congo Jazz of the 1950s.
Mountain Gorillas
The Mountain Gorilla is an endangered species that lives within four national parks, including on the volcanic mountains of Virunga National Park in eastern DR Congo. Mountain Gorillas have very thick fur that insulates them from the cold temperatures where they live. Adult males are called ‘silverbacks’ because they have a saddle of silver-colored hair on their backs. Standing tall, males reach almost 2metres (6ft 3in) in height, and weigh, on average, a hefty 220 kg (490 lb). Substantial international efforts are underway to ensure the survival of this remarkable animal, by protecting them from poaching, loss of habitat, and war. Today, the Mountain Gorilla population is on the rise.
Heart of Darkness / Apocalypse Now
Apocalypse Now, the award-winning Hollywood movie with a star-studded cast, is based on the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Although the movie is set in during the Vietnam War, the book was set in 19th century Congo. The compelling message of Conrad’s book is still clearly visible in the movie as the extreme dark side of human nature is distilled in the oft-cited quotation: “The horror! The horror!”
Okapi Wildlife Reserve – UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve is home to about 5,000 of the estimated 30,000 okapi surviving in the wild, plus other threatened species of birds and primates, such as the forest elephant. The Reserve has dramatic scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers, and is home to nomadic pygmy Mbuti hunters and Bantu farmers. So what IS an okapi? Overall, the Okapi is shaped like a giraffe with a short neck, but they have black and white striped legs like a zebra, and dark reddish bodies.
Lake Taganyika – Longest Lake in the World
Lake Taganyika is one of the Great Lakes in Africa. It is not only the longest lake in the world (670 km), it is also the second largest fresh water lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest lake in the world. Lake Taganyika is an excellent place for fishing, and apparently, for swimming and bodysurfing as well.
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