Matt a Ellsworth

Biographical Gazetteer of the Belgian Congo Matt a Ellsworth

This book is a reference to aid the Congolese people. It contains more than 250,000 Congolese names given in 1950 and earlier, together with the year and place of birth. The year 1950 was chosen for several reasons as the most modern limit of names. First, it predates much of the exodus from the villages to the big cities, meaning that very few of the names are recorded as originating in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kisangani, etc., thus retaining their true regional origins to a large extent. Second, it respects the privacy of most of the persons named and is an added security measure. The average life expectancy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of 2015 was just under 60 years. The work to prepare this book was begun in 2015. By choosing 1950, a full 65 years were left between birth and inclusion on the lists and in this work. The districts represented in this work are: Bandundu Ville, Basankusu, Bolobo, Bulungu, Dekese, Gbadolite Ville, Gungu, Idiofa, Idjwi, Ilebo, Ingende, Kabalo, Kabeya-Kamwanga, Kailo, Kalemie, Kapanga, Kasongo, Kibombo, Kimvula, Kipushi, Lubutu, Luebo, Luozi, Mbanza-Ngungu, Mitwaba, Moanda, Mutshatsha, Nyunzu, Pangi, Punia, Sandoa, and Seke-Banza.