The History of Congo

(Hardback)

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Description

This book begins with a survey of Congo's early history, when diverse peoples such as the Luba, the Kuba, and the Nilotic inhabited the area, and continues by tracing the country's history through the Belgian period of colonization and the dictatorships of Mobutu and Kabila. Biographical portraits present important figures in Congo's storied history. An annotated bibliography and chronology help make this the most current and accessible introduction to this fascinating, complex, and long-suffering nation. The Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly Zaire, is located at the center of Africa. The country encompasses the entire Congo River Basin, the potential source of 13% of the world's hydroelectric power. The Congo River Basin also contains one-third of Africa's rainforests, countless species of trees, and more then 10,000 species of flowering plants. Congo contains extremely valuable deposits of diamonds and coltan, a metal used in high-tech machinery. Because of this abundance of natural resources, Congo has unfortunately been the site of colonial domination, repressive dictatorships, and internecine violence between rebel groups and neighboring countries.

Reviews

"Gondola's broad, wide-ranging, and well-documented volume, written clearly and from the perspective of the Congolese people, includes many useful features: current and former names of places, a time line of historical events, biographical notes on Congo's most notable leaders, and a chapter-by-chapter annotated bibliography....[a]n ideal introduction to the study of Congo and an extremely valuable research instrument for anyone interested in the tragic history of this country."-African Studies Review
[a] useful and accessible resource for laymen and libraries.-Journal of African Historical Studies
An accessible and up to date history of the Congo from earliest times through to colonialism, independence, and dictatorship.-African Book Centre Book Review
Drawing on the work of well-established scholars, Gondola surveys the story of the Congo from earliest prehistoric times until the very recent past. No other book offers such a comprehensive summary.-The Historian
Gondola's broad, wide-ranging, and well-documented volume, written clearly and from the perspective of the Congolese people, includes many useful features: current and former names of places, a time line of historical events, biographical notes on Congo's most notable leaders, and a chapter-by-chapter annotated bibliography....[a]n ideal introduction to the study of Congo and an extremely valuable research instrument for anyone interested in the tragic history of this country.-African Studies Review
"a useful and accessible resource for laymen and libraries."-Journal of African Historical Studies
"[a] useful and accessible resource for laymen and libraries."-Journal of African Historical Studies
"An accessible and up to date history of the Congo from earliest times through to colonialism, independence, and dictatorship."-African Book Centre Book Review
"Drawing on the work of well-established scholars, Gondola surveys the story of the Congo from earliest prehistoric times until the very recent past. No other book offers such a comprehensive summary."-The Historian

Author Bio

CH. DIDIER GONDOLA is Assistant Professor of African History at Indiana University (Indianapolis)./e