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145-681: Orientale Province ( French : Province orientale , lit. 'Eastern province') is one of the former provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its predecessors the Congo Free State and the Belgian Congo . It went through a series of boundary changes between 1898 and 2015, when it was divided into smaller units. The District of Orientale Province was created from Stanley Falls District on 15 July 1898. The district
290-720: A French official to teachers in the department of Finistère , in western Brittany, included the following: "And remember, Gents: you were given your position in order to kill the Breton language". The prefect of Basses-Pyrénées in the French Basque Country wrote in 1846: "Our schools in the Basque Country are particularly meant to replace the Basque language with French..." Students were taught that their ancestral languages were inferior and they should be ashamed of them; this process
435-518: A Swahili interpretation of the indigenous term Boyoma , denoting "City on the Island," and is similarly rendered in Lingala as Singitini (or Singatini ). Stanley subsequently journeyed to Bas-Congo (modern-day Kongo Central Province ) and entrusted the settlement to Adrian Binnie, who, alongside twenty Hausa and ten Wangwana, became the principal representative of King Leopold II's Congo Free State in
580-569: A bend to a confluence with the Congo River ; at the alteration of the waterways lies the city of Kisangani. Much of Kisangani City is built on land with the Tshopo River on its north and the Congo River on its south. Many tributaries and islands are intertwined, conducive to moving inland waterways. Tidal straits separate L'Île Mbiye from the mainland of Kisangani City. The seven cataracts have
725-431: A comprehensive academic study entitled "The World's 10 most influential languages". In the article, Weber ranked French as, after English, the second-most influential language of the world, ahead of Spanish. His criteria were the numbers of native speakers, the number of secondary speakers (especially high for French among fellow world languages), the number of countries using the language and their respective populations,
870-611: A decree establishing nine districts within the colony, including Stanley Falls District , each governed by a district commissioner. In 1887, Stanley proposed Tippu Tip as the governor ( wali ) of the Stanley Falls District, a proposal accepted by both Leopold II and Barghash bin Said . Tippu Tip assumed the position on 24 February 1887, and Stanley Falls District remained under Arab control until June 1888. However, hostilities resumed, and Arab Swahili influence in Stanley Falls District
1015-587: A distinct local culture. The city's waterfront allure and nightlife has attracted residents and tourists alike. As a Central African city, Kisangani shares many cultural characteristics with the rest of the continent. It has a tradition of producing African jazz , Congolese rumba , soukous , African folk, and ndombolo music. The city has also produced much talent in the fields of visual arts , theatre, music, and dance. Some of its better known popular culture residents include Abeti Masikini , Anne-Sylvie Mouzon , Barly Baruti , Koffi Olomide and Moreno. Yet, being at
1160-543: A foreign language. Due to the rise of French in Africa, the total French-speaking population worldwide is expected to reach 700 million people in 2050. French is the fastest growing language on the continent (in terms of either official or foreign languages). French is increasingly being spoken as a native language in Francophone Africa, especially in regions like Ivory Coast , Cameroon , Gabon, Madagascar , and
1305-562: A large stage show, 10 booths that host libraries , internet cafes , sewing stations, interactive gaming machines and cafeterias . The cultural space in Kisangani provides multitudes of beauty pageants a platform to exchange experiences, provide mentoring consultation and hosting of training seminars. Miss Boyoma is annually held in December, organized by the cities' authority to determine the most beautiful girl in Kisangani. Elysée of 17 years old
1450-494: A legacy of historic and architectural interest, especially in the downtown area. Rosaire of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Central Market and the impressive 19th century headquarters of all major Kisangani banks on 1st Avenue. Kisangani holds a campus of the National University of the Congo , which includes the renowned Medicine Faculty, also known because of the refuted oral polio vaccine AIDS hypothesis . Kisangani also maintains
1595-431: A marshy tropical rainforest, which endows it with abundant natural resources . Its strategic position at a key freight breakpoint on the river also makes Stanleyville a vital hub for communications and goods transshipment operations. During the Belgian Congo colonial period, Stanleyville's urban structure comprised a commercial center and residential districts for Europeans (Belgians, Portuguese) and Asians, separated from
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#17328560401061740-556: A natural transportation waterway for much of the Congo Basin , has helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. The city is bordered by Banalia Territory to the north, Ubundu and Opala territories to the south, Isangi to the west, and Bafwasende municipalities to the east. Kisangani lies 324 km from Buta , 572 kilometres (355 mi) from Isiro , 696 kilometres (432 mi) from Bunia and 2,912 kilometres (1,809 mi) from Kinshasa . The city's topography
1885-688: A period of prosperity and prominence among European nations. Richelieu established the Académie française to protect the French language. By the early 1800s, Parisian French had become the primary language of the aristocracy in France. Near the beginning of the 19th century, the French government began to pursue policies with the end goal of eradicating the many minorities and regional languages ( patois ) spoken in France. This began in 1794 with Henri Grégoire 's "Report on
2030-494: A relic of the old nominal case system of Latin longer than most other Romance languages (with the notable exception of Romanian which still currently maintains a case distinction), differentiating between an oblique case and a nominative case. The phonology was characterized by heavy syllabic stress, which led to the emergence of various complicated diphthongs such as -eau which would later be leveled to monophthongs. The earliest evidence of what became Old French can be seen in
2175-573: A second language. French is the second most taught foreign language in the EU. All institutions of the EU use French as a working language along with English and German ; in some institutions, French is the sole working language (e.g. at the Court of Justice of the European Union ). French is also the 16th most natively spoken language in the world, the sixth most spoken language by total number of speakers , and
2320-465: A second language. However it has also become a native language in a number of urban areas, especially in regions like Ivory Coast , Cameroon , Gabon, Madagascar , and the Democratic Republic of the Congo . In some North African countries, though not having official status, it is also a first language among some upper classes of the population alongside indigenous languages, but only
2465-897: A second one among the general population. In 2015, approximately 40% of the Francophone population (including L2 and partial speakers) lived in Europe, 36% in sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean, 15% in North Africa and the Middle East, 8% in the Americas, and 1% in Asia and Oceania. French is the second most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union . Of Europeans who speak other languages natively, approximately one-fifth are able to speak French as
2610-433: A total drop of 61 meters (200 feet). Wagenia Falls where the fishery is installed on the rapids can be seen. The soil in Kisangani is typical of the central Congo Basin , characterized by red ochre ferralitic soils, also known as Ferralsols or Oxisols . These soils are known for their considerable thickness, red to yellow coloring, and acidic pH (less than 6). The low silica sesquioxide ratio of
2755-536: A variant of Canadian French , is spoken in parts of New England . Missouri French was historically spoken in Missouri and Illinois (formerly known as Upper Louisiana ), but is nearly extinct today. French also survived in isolated pockets along the Gulf Coast of what was previously French Lower Louisiana , such as Mon Louis Island , Alabama and DeLisle, Mississippi (the latter only being discovered by linguists in
2900-437: Is 95%, and in the French collectivity of Wallis and Futuna , it is 84%. In French Polynesia and to a lesser extent Wallis and Futuna, where oral and written knowledge of the French language has become almost universal (95% and 84% respectively), French increasingly tends to displace the native Polynesian languages as the language most spoken at home. In French Polynesia, the percentage of the population who reported that French
3045-434: Is Miss Boyoma 2009. Other live music genres which are part of the city's cultural heritage include Kisangani Blues, Kisangani Soul, African Jazz , soukous and gospel . The city is the birthplace of Congolese legendary musicians Abeti Masikini and Koffi Olomide and is the site of an influential nu-rumba scene. In the 1950s, the city was a center for African Folk, soukous and African jazz . This influence continued into
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#17328560401063190-745: Is a Romance language of the Indo-European family . Like all other Romance languages, it descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire . French evolved from Gallo-Romance , the Latin spoken in Gaul , and more specifically in Northern Gaul. Its closest relatives are the other langues d'oïl —languages historically spoken in northern France and in southern Belgium, which French ( Francien ) largely supplanted. French
3335-467: Is a widespread second language among the Lebanese people , and is taught in many schools along with Arabic and English. French is used on Lebanese pound banknotes, on road signs, on Lebanese license plates , and on official buildings (alongside Arabic). Today, French and English are secondary languages of Lebanon , with about 40% of the population being Francophone and 40% Anglophone. The use of English
3480-484: Is also a working language in nonprofit organisations such as the Red Cross (alongside English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and Russian), Amnesty International (alongside 32 other languages of which English is the most used, followed by Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Italian), Médecins sans Frontières (used alongside English, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic), and Médecins du Monde (used alongside English). Given
3625-614: Is also the city of world-famous choreographer and stage director Faustin Linyekula. Since 2007, the Studios Kabako, the cultural organization he founded in Kinshasa in 2001, has been resettled in Kisangani. There, the Studios Kabako have been accompanying the debuts of young Congolese artists from training to production and touring, in the fields of dance, theatre, music and video. The rising generation of young dancers and choreographers trained by
3770-430: Is among the top five most studied languages worldwide, with about 120 million learners as of 2017. As a result of French and Belgian colonialism from the 16th century onward, French was introduced to new territories in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. French has a long history as an international language of literature and scientific standards and is a primary or second language of many international organisations including
3915-456: Is an official language in 27 countries , as well as one of the most geographically widespread languages in the world, with about 50 countries and territories having it as a de jure or de facto official, administrative, or cultural language. Most of these countries are members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the community of 54 member states which share
4060-462: Is an ecosystem with a well preserved dense forest. The Island has an area of 1,400 ha, and it comprises three types of forest: dry land forest, periodically flooded forest and swampy forest. The Island is situated on the Congo River in the eastern part of Kisangani. It is located upstream of the Wagenia Falls , between latitude 0°31' North and longitude 25°11' East, with 376 m of altitude. It adjoins
4205-406: Is diverse, with a population density of 229 residents per km . It sits in the midst of the vast and isolated Congo Basin, the second largest tropical woodlands on the planet. It is located at 0° 31' north latitude (57 km from the equator), 25° 11' east longitude from the meridian of Greenwich and 396 metres (1,299 ft) above sea level . The altitude fluctuates across different plateaus, with
4350-628: Is enacted only in New Brunswick, where about one third of the population is Francophone. French is also an official language of all of the territories ( Northwest Territories , Nunavut , and Yukon ). Out of the three, Yukon has the most French speakers, making up just under 4% of the population. Furthermore, while French is not an official language in Ontario , the French Language Services Act ensures that provincial services are available in
4495-907: Is encircled by several significant forest islands , which are more or less on the outskirts and positioned relatively distant from the city center. Notable among these floral islets are Mbie Island, characterized by patches of degraded primary forests and secondary forests dominated by Gilbertiodendron dewevrei and Scorodophloeus zenkeri . The Kilometer 25 Rail Forest Reserve, sprawling over 3,370 hectares, has been reforested with diverse tree species, including Terminalia superba , Pericopsis elata , Entandrophragma cylindricum , and Khaya anthotheca . The Kilometer 32 Rail Forest Reserve, covering 3,605 hectares, also features reforestation efforts with species such as Khaya spp ., Entandrophragma cylindricum , and Terminalia superba , with 95 hectares specifically designated for reforestation. The Babagulu Forest Reserve, spanning an area of 2,360 hectares along
Orientale Province - Misplaced Pages Continue
4640-620: Is encircled by several significant forested reserves: Kisangani Arboretum : Covering 60 hectares, this artificial forest represents a state of secondary forest with 43 cultivated tree species from 21 botanical families, including Caesalpiniaceae, Meliaceae , and Sapotaceae . The arboretum contains spontaneous trees from the pre-existing forest, such as Autranella congolensis , Donella pruniformis , Omphalocarpa procera , Gilbertiodendron dewevrei , Strombosiopsis tetrandra , Cynometra alexandrii , Entandrophragma angolense , Guarea cedrata , and Pericopsis elata . Kisangani
4785-495: Is growing in the business and media environment. Out of about 900,000 students, about 500,000 are enrolled in Francophone schools, public or private, in which the teaching of mathematics and scientific subjects is provided in French. Actual usage of French varies depending on the region and social status. One-third of high school students educated in French go on to pursue higher education in English-speaking institutions. English
4930-404: Is known as Old French. The period of Old French spanned between the 8th and 14th centuries. Old French shared many characteristics with Latin. For example, Old French made use of different possible word orders just as Latin did because it had a case system that retained the difference between nominative subjects and oblique non-subjects . The period is marked by a heavy superstrate influence from
5075-466: Is little diurnal variability. The average temperature at Kisangani is in the mid-20s°C (mid-70s°F). Kisangani is also a beneficiary of a cool breeze that often blows off the Congo River . Modern, multi-storey buildings of brick emerge from the dense walls of the vast Congo Basin jungle. Multiple kinds and scales of houses, townhouses , condominia , and apartment buildings can be found in Kisangani. The building form most closely associated with Kisangani
5220-481: Is of Belgium influence, whose introduction and widespread adoption in colonial times saw Kisangani's buildings shift from the thatch African tradition to the low-scale and vertical rise of European business districts. Kisangani has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles still in their original form. These include the Aumonerie which is distinctive for its facade using visible stone-tone to evoke
5365-462: Is often considered to be a useful skill by business owners in the United Kingdom; a 2014 study found that 50% of British managers considered French to be a valuable asset for their business, thus ranking French as the most sought-after foreign language there, ahead of German (49%) and Spanish (44%). MIT economist Albert Saiz calculated a 2.3% premium for those who have French as a foreign language in
5510-428: Is often defined by the elegant villas with tiled roofs of old Belgian influence, brownstone rowhouses , townhouses , and tenements that were built during a period of rapid expansion from 1908 to 1950. Large swaths of Kisangani's rural residential areas away from the city centre are characterized by continual strings of villages unfolding, each composed of thatched roof tops built from the early 20th century through to
5655-775: Is one of the official languages of such major international and regional courts, tribunals, and dispute-settlement bodies as the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights , the Caribbean Court of Justice , the Court of Justice for the Economic Community of West African States , the Inter-American Court of Human Rights , the International Court of Justice , the International Criminal Tribunal for
5800-466: Is situated within the equatorial forest plain at coordinates 0°30' north latitude and 25°20' east longitude, just 80 kilometers from the equator. Kisangani is located approximately 2,100 kilometers (1,300 miles) from the mouth of the Congo River , making it the farthest navigable point upstream. Kisangani is administratively divided into six communes . Five communes— Kabondo , Kisangani , Makiso , Mangobo , and Tshopo—are strategically situated on
5945-562: Is taught in universities around the world, and is one of the world's most influential languages because of its wide use in the worlds of journalism, jurisprudence , education, and diplomacy. In diplomacy, French is one of the six official languages of the United Nations (and one of the UN Secretariat 's only two working languages ), one of twenty official and three procedural languages of the European Union , an official language of NATO ,
Orientale Province - Misplaced Pages Continue
6090-435: Is the country's fifth-most populous urban area, with an estimated population of 1,602,144 as of 2018, and the largest of the cities in the tropical woodlands of the Congo. Geographically, Kisangani is flanked by Banalia Territory to the north, Bafwasende to the east, Ubundu Territory to the south, and is bordered by both Opala and Isangi Territories to the west. The city spans an area of 1,910 square kilometers and
6235-538: Is the language of business and communication, with French being an element of social distinction, chosen for its emotional value. French is an official language of the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu , where 31% of the population was estimated to speak it in 2023. In the French special collectivity of New Caledonia , 97% of the population can speak, read and write French while in French Polynesia this figure
6380-700: Is the largest in the world of its kind. Other popular festivals include the Kisangani Jazz Festival, Kisangani Film Festival, Nuits d'Afrique and the Kisangani Fireworks Festival. Strongly influenced by the city's immigrants, productions such as those of Barly Baruti and others used song in narratives that often reflected themes of hope and ambition. Artists of all cultural disciplines in Kisangani such as musicians, stage actors, comedians, fashion, cultural operators, draftsmen , folk music , painters, sculptors, and silkscreen meet annually for
6525-479: Is the native language of about 23% of the Swiss population, and is spoken by 50% of the population. Along with Luxembourgish and German, French is one of the three official languages of Luxembourg , where it is generally the preferred language of business as well as of the different public administrations. It is also the official language of Monaco . At a regional level, French is acknowledged as an official language in
6670-492: Is the second-most spoken language (after English) in the states of Maine and New Hampshire . In Louisiana , it is tied with Spanish for second-most spoken if Louisiana French and all creoles such as Haitian are included. French is the third most spoken language (after English and Spanish) in the states of Connecticut , Rhode Island , and New Hampshire . Louisiana is home to many distinct French dialects, collectively known as Louisiana French . New England French , essentially
6815-424: Is the sole official language in the province of Quebec , where some 80% of the population speak it as a native language and 95% are capable of conducting a conversation in it. Quebec is also home to the city of Montreal , which is the world's fourth-largest French-speaking city, by number of first language speakers. New Brunswick and Manitoba are the only officially bilingual provinces, though full bilingualism
6960-738: The Aosta Valley region of Italy where it is the first language of approximately 50% of the population, while French dialects remain spoken by minorities on the Channel Islands . It is also spoken in Andorra and is the main language after Catalan in El Pas de la Casa . The language is taught as the primary second language in the German state of Saarland , with French being taught from pre-school and over 43% of citizens being able to speak French. The majority of
7105-459: The Aosta Valley region of Italy; and various communities elsewhere. French is estimated to have about 310 million speakers, of which about 80 million are native speakers. According to the OIF, approximately 321 million people worldwide are "able to speak the language" as of 2022, without specifying the criteria for this estimation or whom it encompasses. In Francophone Africa, it is spoken mainly as
7250-460: The Bas-Uele , Haut-Uele , Ituri and Tshopo districts . These were elevated to provinces in 2015 under the 2006 constitution. The province lay in the northeast of the country. Originally it bordered Équateur to the west, Congo-Kasaï to the southwest and Katanga to the south. After being reduced in size, it bordered Équateur to the west, Kasaï-Oriental province to the southwest, Maniema to
7395-461: The Congo River flows is that of Kisangani, a town situated on the river's right and left bank slightly north of the Equator . Humidity is high throughout the year, and annual rainfall amounts to 1,620 millimetres (64 in) and occurs fairly regularly; even in the driest month, the rainfall totals more than 53 millimetres (2.1 in). Temperatures are also uniformly high throughout the year, and there
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#17328560401067540-539: The Democratic Republic of Congo . There is not a single African French , but multiple forms that diverged through contact with various indigenous African languages . Sub-Saharan Africa is the region where the French language is most likely to expand, because of the expansion of education and rapid population growth. It is also where the language has evolved the most in recent years. Some vernacular forms of French in Africa can be difficult to understand for French speakers from other countries, but written forms of
7685-485: The European Union , French was the dominant language within all institutions until the 1990s. After several enlargements of the EU (1995, 2004), French significantly lost ground in favour of English, which is more widely spoken and taught in most EU countries. French currently remains one of the three working languages, or "procedural languages", of the EU, along with English and German. It is the second-most widely used language within EU institutions after English, but remains
7830-547: The Francien dialect is one that not only continued but also thrived during the Middle French period (14th–17th centuries). Modern French grew out of this Francien dialect. Grammatically, during the period of Middle French, noun declensions were lost and there began to be standardized rules. Robert Estienne published the first Latin-French dictionary, which included information about phonetics, etymology, and grammar. Politically,
7975-820: The International Olympic Committee , the Council of Europe , the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , Organization of American States (alongside Spanish, Portuguese and English), the Eurovision Song Contest , one of eighteen official languages of the European Space Agency , World Trade Organization and the least used of the three official languages in the North American Free Trade Agreement countries. It
8120-609: The Oaths of Strasbourg and the Sequence of Saint Eulalia , while Old French literature began to be produced in the eleventh century, with major early works often focusing on the lives of saints (such as the Vie de Saint Alexis ), or wars and royal courts, notably including the Chanson de Roland , epic cycles focused on King Arthur and his court , as well as a cycle focused on William of Orange . It
8265-546: The Second Congo War , on 14 May 2002, 160 people were massacred in Kisangani; this is believed to be the work of those under the command of Laurent Nkunda . By the time a peace agreement was signed in 2002, the town was under the control of the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy - Goma (RCD-Goma). The three encounters between Uganda and Rwanda in Kisangani have been termed the wars of 1 day, 3 days and,
8410-951: The United Nations , the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization , the World Trade Organization , the International Olympic Committee , the General Conference on Weights and Measures , and the International Committee of the Red Cross . French is a Romance language (meaning that it is descended primarily from Vulgar Latin ) that evolved out of the Gallo-Romance dialects spoken in northern France. The language's early forms include Old French and Middle French . Due to Roman rule, Latin
8555-493: The clay fraction, coupled with a low cation exchange capacity and primary mineral content, results in a soil with low clay activity and soluble element content, yet exhibiting fairly good stability of aggregates. Despite being adjacent to the equator, the city has a tropical monsoon climate due to the fact that its driest month (January) sees on average below 60 mm of rain. Kisangani experiences an average relative humidity of 86%. Typical climate in regions through which
8700-455: The 1990s) but these varieties are severely endangered or presumed extinct. French is one of two official languages in Haiti alongside Haitian Creole . It is the principal language of education, administration, business, and public signage and is spoken by all educated Haitians. It is also used for ceremonial events such as weddings, graduations, and church masses. The vast majority of the population speaks Haitian Creole as their first language;
8845-474: The 20th century, when it was replaced by English as the United States became the dominant global power following the Second World War . Stanley Meisler of the Los Angeles Times said that the fact that the Treaty of Versailles was written in English as well as French was the "first diplomatic blow" against the language. During the Grand Siècle (17th century), France, under the rule of powerful leaders such as Cardinal Richelieu and Louis XIV , enjoyed
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#17328560401068990-420: The African confluence of the South and the North and West and East traditions, Kisangani has developed a unique and distinguished cultural face. Another distinctive characteristic of Kisangani culture life is to be found in the animation of its downtown, particularly during summer, prompted by cultural and social events, particularly festivals. The city's largest festival is the Cercle Boyoma Culture festival, which
9135-526: The Arabized plateau in the southeast and the medical plateau to the west ranging from 37 to 45 meters, and the Boyoma plateau in the northeast reaching up to 46 meters. The National Institute of Statistics (INS) reports that Kisangani covers a total area of approximately 1,910 square kilometers. Kisangani's vegetative landscape is emblematic of the central forest sector of the Guinean region , characterized by dense tropical forests that have experienced various degrees of anthropogenic degradation . The city
9280-437: The Belgians , founded what would become Stanley Falls Station in 1883, the area was inhabited by Wagenya , who used Wagenia Falls (which was formerly named Stanley Falls) for fishing. The station was founded on the Island of Wana Rusari, a few meters from the contemporary site of Kisangani, along the Lualaba River . This area, characterized by its seven falls spanning 100 kilometres (62 mi) between Kisangani and Ubundu ,
9425-510: The Canadian capital, is also effectively bilingual, as it has a large population of federal government workers, who are required to offer services in both French and English, and is just across the river from the Quebecois city of Gatineau . According to the United States Census Bureau (2011), French is the fourth most spoken language in the United States after English, Spanish, and Chinese, when all forms of French are considered together and all dialects of Chinese are similarly combined. French
9570-614: The Caribbean that are collectively referred to as the French West Indies , namely Guadeloupe , Saint Barthélemy , Saint Martin , and Martinique . French is the official language of both French Guiana on the South American continent, and of Saint Pierre and Miquelon , an archipelago off the coast of Newfoundland in North America. French was the official language of the colony of French Indochina , comprising modern-day Vietnam , Laos , and Cambodia . It continues to be an administrative language in Laos and Cambodia, although its influence has waned in recent decades. In colonial Vietnam,
9715-474: The Congo from the eastern region of the country with assistance from Rwanda , Burundi and Uganda military forces. As of 30 October 1998, there were 15,000 Ugandan and 19,000 Rwandan troops on Congolese soil. Laurent Kabila designated Kisangani as the forward base for the foreign forces as he marched westwards towards Kinshasa to overthrow Mobutu Sese Seko . The alliance of foreign military forces disintegrated when people of Hutu descent were massacred by
9860-408: The Empire, this local elite had been slowly abandoning Gaulish entirely, but the rural and lower class populations remained Gaulish speakers who could sometimes also speak Latin or Greek. The final language shift from Gaulish to Vulgar Latin among rural and lower class populations occurred later, when both they and the incoming Frankish ruler/military class adopted the Gallo-Roman Vulgar Latin speech of
10005-434: The Falls appear prosperous. Yet, they remain strangers to the town and are not part of its monetary economy. Their trade with the town is limited to the exchange of foodstuffs against indigo obtained from soldiers. The Wagenya especially exchange fish for cloth brought by the administration or its workers". The establishment of the CFL ( Compagnie du Chemin de Fer du Congo Supérieur aux Grands Lacs Africains ) in 1902, with
10150-416: The Germanic Frankish language , which non-exhaustively included the use in upper-class speech and higher registers of V2 word order , a large percentage of the vocabulary (now at around 15% of modern French vocabulary ) including the impersonal singular pronoun on (a calque of Germanic man ), and the name of the language itself. Up until its later stages, Old French , alongside Old Occitan , maintained
10295-648: The Kisangani- Ituri road, primarily consists of Gilbertiodendron dewevrei . L'Île Mbiye is located on the Congo River in the eastern part of Kisangani, upstream of the Wagenia Falls , with an altitude of 376 metres (1,234 ft). Adjacent to Kisangani, it is 14 km long and 4 km wide. Featuring a dense and relatively well-preserved forest, it is part of the Sustainable Forest Management in Africa Symposium project conducted by Stellenbosch University . The island, with an area of 1,400 hectares, comprises three types of forest: dry land forest, periodically flooded forest, and swampy forest. The Lualaba River flows through
10440-458: The Ramangas, renowned for their expertise in canoe and wooden furniture manufacturing. Stanley returned to the region on 1 December 1883, to establish the initial trading post in the region, situated approximately 2,100 kilometres (1,300 mi) from the Congo River 's mouth, following negotiations with Arab-Swahili traders who had settled in the area the previous year. The station, designated as
10585-481: The Studios Kabako include Jeannot Kumbonyeki, Michel Kiyombo, Dorine Mokha, Djino Alolo and Yves Mwamba among others... The Studios Kabako have opened there the only professional recording studio of the Eastern part of Congo, accompanied musicians include guitarist Flamme Kapaya, rap singers Pasnas, Franck Moka and Shoggy, musicians Pépé Lecoq... Kisangani is also the home-town of film-maker Dieudo Hamadi. Shopping along
10730-552: The Uele, Kibali-Ituri and Haut-Congo provinces. In 2015 it was dissolved into the provinces of Bas-Uélé , Haut-Uélé , Ituri and Tshopo . In 1998 the Orientale villages of Durba and Watsa were the center of an outbreak of Marburg virus disease among gold mine workers. The Ituri district of Orientale was the scene of the Ituri conflict . As of 2014, militia groups continue to fight in
10875-453: The all-black "indigenous camps" by green strips, schools, military barracks or playgrounds. The city's official status was formalized by incorporation Order No. 12/357 on 6 September 1958, dividing Stanleyville into four communes: Belgian I, Belgian II, Brussels, and Stanley. Towards the end of 1958, the city became the stronghold of Patrice Lumumba , the leader of the political party Mouvement National Congolais (MNC). His strong ties with
11020-742: The avenue de l'Eglise, its many restaurants, as well as Kisangani's eminent architecture, continue to draw tourists. The city is the DRC's third-largest convention destination. Most conventions are held at Stade Lumumba , just north of Stade du Marche. The historic City Hall also now houses the city's Visitor Information Center, galleries and exhibit halls. The Alliance Franco-Congolese (AFRACO) building which hosts governmental conference. The variety of attractions in Kisangani include botanical gardens , museums, factories, zoos , exhibition halls , elevators , retail stores , breweries , warehouses , libraries , mills , auditoriums and refineries which today provide
11165-514: The boroughs there are hundreds of distinct neighborhoods, many with a definable history and character to call their own. Every municipality in the city has a nickname denoting how the Boyoma perceive their cities. Kisangani, which in Swahili means on the island (" Kisanga " translates island and " ni " is on), is officially given the nickname of "City of Hope" by administrative authorities, in opposition to
11310-504: The building's structure, the impressive 20th century headquarters landmark that is Central Prisons' with its towering fortress walls, Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Rosaire , an early cathedral revival built with massively scaled stone detailing, and the Congo Palace Hotel on avenue de l'eglise is an important example of highly influential European style buildings in Kisangani. The character of Kisangani's urban residential districts
11455-417: The city famous for their traditional foods. Some of the mobile food vendors licensed by the city have made foods such as husking paddy standbys of contemporary Kisangani street food, although kosa kosa (prawns from the river, also known as cossa cossa ) and Kisangani coffee are still the main street fare. The city is also home to many of the finest prawn cuisine restaurants in the Democratic Republic of
11600-585: The city had been forged during his days as one of 350 clerks at the central post office. Ethiopian ONUC troops arrived in the city after July 1960. After the assassination of Lumumba in 1961, Antoine Gizenga installed the Free Republic of the Congo in Stanleyville, which competed with the central government in Leopoldville (now Kinshasa ). Before the country gained independence from Belgium in 1960, Kisangani
11745-502: The city's focal library at University of Kisangani . The city holds an extensive collection of ancient Congolese and near East African archaeological artifacts, at its regional archaeological and ethnological, the National Museum of Kisangani. Other landmarks include: L'Hôtel des chutes, Le Voyageur, Hellénique ainsi que Psistaria, l'Hôtel Congo Palace, l'Hôtel Boyoma, l'Hôtel Kisanganian and L'Hôtel Palm Beach. Place de la Femme which
11890-478: The country near French-speaking Quebec, however, it is the foreign language more commonly taught. Vowel phonemes in French Kisangani Kisangani / k iː s ə ŋ ˈ ɡ ɑː n i / (formerly Stanleyville or Stanleystad ) is the capital of Tshopo Province , located on the Congo River in the eastern part of the central Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo . It
12035-405: The country. In 1999, the city was the site of the first open fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan forces in the Second Congo War , when nearly 3,000 people died in the cross fire. This followed the fracturing of the anti-government rebel group Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) into camps based in Kisangani and Goma . The fighting was also over the gold mines near the town. The local population
12180-586: The deadliest fought in 2000, 6 days. Kisangani is strategically placed at the junction of the Congo , Tshopo, and Lindi rivers and at the crossroads between eastern and western Congo. Approximately central of the African continent, it is located in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), central of Tshopo Province . The location at the northernmost tip of the Congo River , navigable for large waterborne cargo between Kinshasa and Kisangani and connected to
12325-606: The deaths of seven Hausas, while the Bangala auxiliaries fled, promising to inform the authorities as they retreated downriver . On 26 August 1886, Deane and Dubois set fire to the station and sought refuge in the surrounding woods. Dubois drowned while attempting to cross to the mainland, while the remaining survivors endured thirty days in the wilderness until they were finally rescued by Captain Camille Coquilhat . On 3 September 1886, Administrator General Camille Janssen issued
12470-508: The demographic prospects of the French-speaking nations of Africa, researcher Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry wrote in 2014 that French "could be the language of the future". However, some African countries such as Algeria intermittently attempted to eradicate the use of French, and as of 2024 it was removed as an official language in Mali and Burkina Faso . Significant as a judicial language, French
12615-418: The districts of Bas-Uele , Haut-Uele , Ituri , Stanleyville , Aruwimi , Maniema , Lowa and Kivu . It was divided in 1933 into Costermansville (later Kivu) and Stanleyville Province. Stanleyville Province was renamed Orientale/Oost Province from 1947 to 1963, when it was broken up into Kibali-Ituri , Uélé and Haut-Congo provinces. Orientale Province was reconstituted in 1966 from the amalgamation of
12760-601: The downtown park was installed by the distraction of the popular monument of Stanley and its surrounding structures are but a few notable examples of 20th-century architecture. On the right bank of the Tshopo River, the Kisangani Zoo attracts many visitors, as well as the Kisangani Hydroelectric Dam that supplies electricity to the city of Kisangani. At spectacular waterfall of Wagenia Falls , fishing with
12905-521: The eastern shore of the Congo Free State became a battleground for control over the lucrative Arab slave trade . To protect Stanley Falls Station, Walter Deane, an officer dispatched by Francis de Winton , arrived with a contingent of thirty-two Hausa soldiers and forty Bangala auxiliaries. Although they were promised an ample supply of ammunition and reinforcements, these resources never materialized. The situation deteriorated in mid-July 1886 with
13050-448: The economic power of the countries using the language, the number of major areas in which the language is used, and the linguistic prestige associated with the mastery of the language (Weber highlighted that French in particular enjoys considerable linguistic prestige). In a 2008 reassessment of his article, Weber concluded that his findings were still correct since "the situation among the top ten remains unchanged." Knowledge of French
13195-585: The elites primarily spoke French, while many servants who worked in French households spoke a French pidgin known as " Tây Bồi " (now extinct). After French rule ended, South Vietnam continued to use French in administration, education, and trade. However, since the Fall of Saigon and the opening of a unified Vietnam's economy, French has gradually been effectively displaced as the first foreign language of choice by English in Vietnam. Nevertheless, it continues to be taught as
13340-506: The first government authority to adopt Modern French as official was the Aosta Valley in 1536, while the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts (1539) named French the language of law in the Kingdom of France . During the 17th century, French replaced Latin as the most important language of diplomacy and international relations ( lingua franca ). It retained this role until approximately the middle of
13485-858: The former Yugoslavia , International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda , the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea the International Criminal Court and the World Trade Organization Appellate Body . It is the sole internal working language of the Court of Justice of the European Union , and makes with English the European Court of Human Rights 's two working languages. In 1997, George Weber published, in Language Today ,
13630-818: The gender of the corresponding word in Gaulish. The estimated number of French words that can be attributed to Gaulish is placed at 154 by the Petit Robert , which is often viewed as representing standardized French, while if non-standard dialects are included, the number increases to 240. Known Gaulish loans are skewed toward certain semantic fields, such as plant life ( chêne , bille , etc.), animals ( mouton , cheval , etc.), nature ( boue , etc.), domestic activities (ex. berceau ), farming and rural units of measure ( arpent , lieue , borne , boisseau ), weapons, and products traded regionally rather than further afield. This semantic distribution has been attributed to peasants being
13775-561: The headquarters for the entire eastern Congo Free State, including Katanga and Kivu , for several years until 1933. However, Stanleyville remained an underdeveloped administrative hub surrounded by native Congolese villages. As noted by Bogumil Jewsiewicki 's "According to the testimony of the age", "The villages of the Arabs, Kisangani-Singitini, as well as those of the Wagenya and the Lokeles around
13920-450: The language are very closely related to those of the rest of the French-speaking world. French is the second most commonly spoken language in Canada and one of two federal official languages alongside English. As of the 2021 Canadian census , it was the native language of 7.7 million people (21% of the population) and the second language of 2.9 million (8% of the population). French
14065-474: The language, although it has now given way to Tamil and English. A former French mandate , Lebanon designates Arabic as the sole official language, while a special law regulates cases when French can be publicly used. Article 11 of Lebanon's Constitution states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which the French language is to be used". The French language in Lebanon
14210-602: The language. The Act applies to areas of the province where there are significant Francophone communities, namely Eastern Ontario and Northern Ontario . Elsewhere, sizable French-speaking minorities are found in southern Manitoba, Nova Scotia , Prince Edward Island and the Port au Port Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, where the unique Newfoundland French dialect was historically spoken. Smaller pockets of French speakers exist in all other provinces. The Ontarian city of Ottawa ,
14355-475: The last to hold onto Gaulish. The beginning of French in Gaul was greatly influenced by Germanic invasions into the country. These invasions had the greatest impact on the northern part of the country and on the language there. A language divide began to grow across the country. The population in the north spoke langue d'oïl while the population in the south spoke langue d'oc . Langue d'oïl grew into what
14500-708: The mandate of constructing a rail/river linkage between Stanleyville and Katanga, accelerated development with the labor force ranging from 1,200 to 4,100 men. The construction of the Stanleyville-Ponthierville (now Ubundu ) railway, initiated in February 1903 and concluded in September 1909, spurred substantial urban expansion with lined and overhung trees, buildings surrounded by trees in bloom, well-constructed residential and commercial buildings. Stanleyville's economic significance largely stemmed from its location in
14645-506: The more developed soukous of the 1960s. The city has been an epicenter for Ndombolo culture since the 1980s. A flourishing independent folk music culture brought forth Kisangani Blues. The city has also been spawning a critically acclaimed underground nu-rumba scene with various bands gaining national attention in the nu-rumba world. Annual festivals feature various acts such as the Cercle Boyoma Culture Festival. Kisangani
14790-420: The necessity and means to annihilate the patois and to universalize the use of the French language". When public education was made compulsory , only French was taught and the use of any other ( patois ) language was punished. The goals of the public school system were made especially clear to the French-speaking teachers sent to teach students in regions such as Occitania and Brittany . Instructions given by
14935-630: The official use or teaching of French. It is spoken as a first language (in descending order of the number of speakers) in France; Canada (especially in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick); Belgium ( Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region ); western Switzerland (specifically the cantons forming the Romandy region); parts of Luxembourg; parts of the United States (the states of Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont); Monaco;
15080-489: The old age tradition tools installed on the rapids can be witnessed. Fishing is practiced through a scaffold installed among rocks, with vines attached and serving through the tensioning creels of woven conical vines immersed in the current of the river. A major destination includes the forest ecosystem of L'Île Mbiye, which is part of a protection conservation forest program called Sustainable Forest Management in Africa as spearheaded by Stellenbosch University . L'Île Mbiye
15225-528: The other main foreign language in the Vietnamese educational system and is regarded as a cultural language. All three countries are full members of La Francophonie (OIF). French was the official language of French India , consisting of the geographically separate enclaves referred to as Puducherry . It continued to be an official language of the territory even after its cession to India in 1956 until 1965. A small number of older locals still retain knowledge of
15370-462: The preferred language of certain institutions or administrations such as the Court of Justice of the European Union , where it is the sole internal working language, or the Directorate-General for Agriculture . Since 2016, Brexit has rekindled discussions on whether or not French should again hold greater role within the institutions of the European Union. A leading world language , French
15515-432: The present day. At times the path is filled with a sweet floral fragrance and clouded with white and purple butterflies. Forests give way to patches of grassland , then clumps of bamboo and then more forest. The city of Kisangani is composed of six large communes , which are further subdivided into smaller neighborhoods. The partitioned communes are Lubunga, Makiso, Kisangani, Tshopo , Kabondo and Mangobo. Throughout
15660-690: The protection of the International Association of the Congo , albeit without success. By January 1885, Captain Alphonse van Gèle arrived at Stanley Falls, following his exploration of the Ubangi River , only to discover that Tippu Tip had devastated the surrounding area and, on behalf of the Sultan of Zanzibar , repudiated the treaty. This incident marked the onset of the Congo Arab War , during which
15805-495: The province and have reportedly committed many atrocities against the local population, such as forcing women into sex slavery and forcing men to work in mines. The province was divided into the city of Kisangani and the districts of Bas-Uele , Haut-Uele , Ituri and Tshopo . Cities and towns, with their 2010 populations, are: French language French ( français [fʁɑ̃sɛ] or langue française [lɑ̃ɡ fʁɑ̃sɛːz] )
15950-568: The provinces on 25 March 2015. Consequently, Orientale Province was dissolved, and Kisangani became the capital of the newly established Tshopo Province . In the 1990s, the area emerged as the theatre for a series of major battles known as the fight of Kisangani during the First Congo War . Laurent-Désiré Kabila , leader of the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo , invaded
16095-408: The region. Binnie expanded Stanley's holdings, clearing land and constructing a village, complete with gardens. Following the establishment of relations between the local African communities and European traders, Arab-Swahili slave traders from Zanzibar —commonly referred to as "Arabs" in contemporary European accounts—reached Stanley Falls from the east. Relations between Free State officials and
16240-464: The rest largely speak French as a first language. As a French Creole language , Haitian Creole draws the large majority of its vocabulary from French, with influences from West African languages, as well as several European languages. It is closely related to Louisiana Creole and the creole from the Lesser Antilles . French is the sole official language of all the overseas territories of France in
16385-545: The return of Tippu Tip to Zanzibar, leaving his brother-in-law and business partner, Bwana Nzige, and Nzige's son, Rashid, to oversee their operations in the region. When an enslaved woman from a nearby village, who had been cruelly flogged by her Arab Swahili master, sought refuge in Deane's camp, tensions reached a boiling point. Deane refused to return the woman to her master, offering to pay her ransom instead. This act of defiance incited Tippu Tip's men, who accused Deane of stealing
16530-510: The right bank, while the Lubunga commune is on the left bank. Kisangani is the nation's most important inland port after Kinshasa , an important commercial hub point for river and land transportation and a major marketing and distribution centre for the north-eastern part of the country. It has been the commercial capital of the northern Congo since the late 19th century. Before Henry Morton Stanley , working on behalf of King Leopold II of
16675-452: The seasonal culture shows. Cercle Boyoma Culture is one of such shows where cultural activities of Kisangani come together synergistically for an exchange and reflection involving different associations of all cultural disciplines. Cercle Boyoma Culture is annually held in Makiso on 14 Fina Avenue from the month of December through to June. The culture show displays a digital audio recording studio,
16820-503: The settlement was consistently identified as "Kisangani" by the local populace, while Europeans commonly used the French term "Stanleyville" (or Stanleystad in Dutch ). The Swahili language manual published by the Marist Brothers in the 1920s provides an instance of this naming substitution: "from X to Stanleyville" is translated as "toka X Mpaka Kisangani". The name "Kisangani" is
16965-588: The slavers were fraught with tension. In October 1884, Lieutenant Arvid Wester , who had succeeded Binnie as the station's overseer, brokered a treaty with the Arab Swahili slavers. The treaty, signed by a son of the infamous Afro-Omanis slave trader Tippu Tip , was intended to curb slave raiding and foster peaceful relations with whites in the region. However, the treaty was short-lived, as Tippu Tip's forces soon resumed their activities, which exacerbated tensions. The natives simultaneously placed themselves under
17110-464: The south was split off at this time. The district was also called Stanleyville District . In 1910 the new vice-government general of Katanga was formed the south, with parts of Lualaba District and parts of Stanleyville. Orientale/Oost Province was formed in 1913 in the Belgian Congo from the District of Orientale Province, expanded to include Haut-Uélé, Bas-Uélé and Aruwimi. The new province contained
17255-478: The south, and North Kivu to the southeast. It also bordered the Central African Republic and South Sudan to the north, and Uganda to the east. The provincial capital was Stanleyville , later renamed Kisangani . On 15 July 1898 the Stanley Falls District became the District of Orientale Province (District de la province Orientale), with Stanleyville as its headquarters. The Lualaba District in
17400-510: The territorial division aimed at implementing the decentralization policy, the constitution proposed the subdivision of the territory into 26 provinces , as stipulated in Article 2 of the 2006 Constitution. Programming Law No. 15/004, which determined the modalities for the installation of these new provinces, was adopted on 28 February 2015, followed by the Organic Law establishing the boundaries of
17545-528: The thousands in western Zaire and because of looting in the mining areas, in particular in Kisangani and the Kivus . The population was completely opposed to the presence of foreign forces because of their behaviour. Laurent-Désiré Kabila could not continue to support the use of Kisangani as the base for foreign fighters as they launched attacks to massacre the Hutu people – hence he demanded that Rwanda pull its forces out of
17690-443: The title of martyred city. Boyomas' affectionately nicknamed their city "Boyoma Singa Mwambé", which translates as "before reaching the most beautiful city the pole must be thrown 8 times" (Boyoma means the most beautiful girl, while Singa is the mast and Mwambé is the number 8). The city is a centre for television productions, radio, theatre, film, multimedia and print publishing. Kisangani's many cultural communities have given it
17835-462: The total number of French speakers will reach approximately 500 million in 2025 and 650 million by 2050, largely due to rapid population growth in sub-Saharan Africa . OIF estimates 700 million French speakers by 2050, 80% of whom will be in Africa. In a study published in March 2014 by Forbes , the investment bank Natixis said that French could become the world's most spoken language by 2050. In
17980-425: The town of Kisangani, and it is 14 km long and 4 km wide. Kisangani lays claim to a large number of regional specialties, all of which reflect the city's ethnic and working-class roots. Included among these is its nationally renowned deep-dish manioc . Kisangani's food culture, influenced by the city's immigrants and large number of dining patrons, is diverse. Arab-Swahili and Indian immigrants have made
18125-673: The two official languages—along with Dutch —of the Brussels-Capital Region , where it is spoken by the majority of the population (approx. 80%), often as their primary language. French is one of the four official languages of Switzerland, along with German, Italian, and Romansh , and is spoken in the western part of Switzerland, called Romandy , of which Geneva is the largest city. The language divisions in Switzerland do not coincide with political subdivisions, and some cantons have bilingual status: for example, cities such as Biel/Bienne and cantons such as Valais , Fribourg and Bern . French
18270-479: The ultimate destination of the expedition, was commissioned by the Comité d'études du Haut-Congo . Stanley was accompanied by two Scottish engineers, a German mechanic, and a sailor from Stanleyville, with Scottish engineer Adrian Binnie assuming the role of station director. Initially referred to as Falls Station or "The Post Stanley Falls," "The Falls," or colloquially "Boyoma" (the indigenous name for Boyoma Falls ),
18415-508: The urban intellectual elite. The Gaulish language likely survived into the sixth century in France despite considerable Romanization . Coexisting with Latin, Gaulish helped shape the Vulgar Latin dialects that developed into French contributing loanwords and calques (including oui , the word for "yes"), sound changes shaped by Gaulish influence, and influences in conjugation and word order. Recent computational studies suggest that early gender shifts may have been motivated by
18560-479: The use of French in official government publications, public education except in specific cases, and legal contracts; advertisements must bear a translation of foreign words. In Belgium, French is an official language at the federal level along with Dutch and German. At the regional level, French is the sole official language of Wallonia (excluding a part of the East Cantons , which are German-speaking ) and one of
18705-426: The woman. Although threatened, Deane was not immediately attacked until the arrival of a river steamer, which brought only one Belgian officer, Lieutenant Dubois, but none of the promised reinforcements or supplies. A large force of Manyema crossed from the mainland at night to assault the station. Despite holding out for three days, the defenders were eventually overwhelmed as their ammunition dwindled, resulting in
18850-531: The workplace. In 2011, Bloomberg Businessweek ranked French the third most useful language for business, after English and Standard Mandarin Chinese . In English-speaking Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, French is the first foreign language taught and in number of pupils is far ahead of other languages. In the United States, French is the second-most commonly taught foreign language in schools and universities, although well behind Spanish. In some areas of
18995-402: The world's French-speaking population lives in Africa. According to a 2023 estimate from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie , an estimated 167 million African people spread across 35 countries and territories can speak French as either a first or a second language . This number does not include the people living in non-Francophone African countries who have learned French as
19140-417: Was also influenced by native Celtic languages of Northern Roman Gaul like Gallia Belgica and by the ( Germanic ) Frankish language of the post-Roman Frankish invaders. Today, owing to the French colonial empire , there are numerous French-based creole languages , most notably Haitian Creole . A French-speaking person or nation may be referred to as Francophone in both English and French. French
19285-768: Was caught in the cross fire between Ugandan and Rwandan military forces, which led to the destruction of about a quarter of the city. Various buildings were damaged, most notably the roof of the Cathedral Rosaire of Notre-Dame, which was ignited by missiles. Both of the foreign forces were reported to have looted and pillaged the city. Despite the condemnation of Uganda by the International Court of Justice, establishment of responsibility, payment of compensation, and arrests have yet to be made. Further clashes between Rwandan and Ugandan forces led to thousands more deaths and widespread destruction from 5 to 10 June 2000. During
19430-530: Was completed in 1934 as a dedication to Boyomaise women, the landmark One of the most revered religious leaders Reverend Father Gabriel Grison was buried at the Mission St. Gabriel in Kisangani and has monument dedicated to him on Monseigneur Grison Avenue. Mobutus' residential home on route de Lubutu, Place des Martyrs that held the Lumumba Square until 1967, the controversial Central Public Fountain that anchors
19575-791: Was during the period of the Crusades in which French became so dominant in the Mediterranean Sea that became a lingua franca ("Frankish language"), and because of increased contact with the Arabs during the Crusades who referred to them as Franj , numerous Arabic loanwords entered French, such as amiral (admiral), alcool (alcohol), coton (cotton) and sirop (syrop), as well as scientific terms such as algébre (algebra), alchimie (alchemy) and zéro (zero). Within Old French many dialects emerged but
19720-440: Was expanded to become Orientale Province in 1913. It was divided in 1933 into Costermansville (later Kivu) and Stanleyville Province. Stanleyville Province was renamed Orientale Province from 1947 to 1963, when it was broken up into Kibali-Ituri, Uélé and Haut-Congo provinces. Orientale Province was reconstituted in 1966. Between 1971 and 1997 it was called Haut-Zaïre, then it returned to the name of Orientale. The province contained
19865-698: Was first traversed by Stanley in 1877 after navigating the rapids and falls that impeded further upstream navigation, mistakenly believing he was descending the Nile River . He documented that approximately a thousand fish in Stanley Falls, each weighing between two and twenty kilograms, were caught daily, with the Wagenya maintaining significant reserves of smoked fish for trade. The trade network extended beyond foodstuffs to include canoes, fishing nets, pottery, wooden utensils, and metallic objects crafted by specialized artisans, often from distinct ethnic groups, such as
20010-400: Was gradually adopted by the inhabitants of Gaul. As the language was learned by the common people, it developed a distinct local character, with grammatical differences from Latin as spoken elsewhere, some of which is attested in graffiti. This local variety evolved into the Gallo-Romance tongues, which include French and its closest relatives, such as Arpitan . The evolution of Latin in Gaul
20155-633: Was known in the Occitan-speaking region as Vergonha . Spoken by 19.71% of the European Union's population, French is the third most widely spoken language in the EU, after English and German and the second-most-widely taught language after English. Under the Constitution of France , French has been the official language of the Republic since 1992, although the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts made it mandatory for legal documents in 1539. France mandates
20300-506: Was launched by Belgium, the Armée Nationale Congolaise (ANC), and a plethora of foreign mercenaries under Colonel Mike Hoare to free the hostages. Following Mobutu Sese Seko 's ascension to power, on 3 May 1966, Stanleyville was renamed Kisangani as part of his authenticité policies, decreeing it the headquarters of the third economic center of Zaire , after Kinshasa and Lubumbashi . Between 1966 and 1967, Kisangani
20445-531: Was not decisively eliminated until 1893. On 15 July 1898, the Governor General decreed that the Stanley Falls District would henceforth be called the Eastern Province ( Province Orientale ), with Stanleyville designated as its capital. The city evolved into a significant terminus for steamer navigation on the Congo River, transforming from a modest trading post into a burgeoning urban center and serving as
20590-628: Was reputed to have more Rolls-Royces per capita than any other city in the world. In early 1964, the Simba Rebellion ("Simba Revolution") occurred, mushrooming into outright rebellion by May and June. By August rebels had overrun Stanleyville from their bases in Wanie Rukula. They closed the airport and barred civilians from leaving, including at least one foreign consular staff. A number of American and European nationals were taken captive, and, following intense negotiations, Operation Dragon Rouge
20735-575: Was shaped by its coexistence for over half a millennium beside the native Celtic Gaulish language , which did not go extinct until the late sixth century, long after the fall of the Western Roman Empire . The population remained 90% indigenous in origin; the Romanizing class were the local native elite (not Roman settlers), whose children learned Latin in Roman schools. At the time of the collapse of
20880-437: Was the language they use the most at home rose from 67% at the 2007 census to 74% at the 2017 census. In Wallis and Futuna, the percentage of the population who reported that French was the language they use the most at home rose from 10% at the 2008 census to 13% at the 2018 census. According to a demographic projection led by the Université Laval and the Réseau Démographie de l'Agence universitaire de la Francophonie ,
21025-445: Was the site of the Stanleyville mutinies , which resulted in widespread looting. As Mobutu's authenticité -driven state ideology persisted throughout the 1970s, Stanley Falls was officially renamed Boyoma Falls . On 27 October 1977, the communes were renamed as follows: Belgian I (Mangobo and Tshopo), Belgian II (Lubunga), Brussels ( Kabondo ), and Stanley (Makiso). By 1984, the city had a population of 317,581. In 2010, as part of
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