Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, is a special political unit equivalent to a Congolese region. Formerly known as Leopoldville, it was founded and named by Henry Morton Stanley in honor of King Leopold II of Belgium, who controlled the Congo Free State. The area actually began to grow as the financial and manufacturing center for the Congo when a rail line was built to link it to the coastal port of Matadi. In accordance with his “Africanization” policy, Mobutu Sese Seko renamed the city “Kinshasa” after the former village of Kinchassa. Although Kinshasa was also famous for corruption and violence during Mobutu’s reign, it managed to become a major promoter of national cultural life and arts and the main intellectual center of Central Africa, hosting flourishing communities of musicians and artists: the Academy of Fine Arts in Kinshasa offers training programs in painting, sculpture, carving, architecture, and ceramics, while the National Institute of the Arts offers training in classical and traditional music.
Central Africa
Kinshasa
Art
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Mentioned in this article
Suggested artist in Kinshasa
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Ambroise Ngayimoko
Artist -
Kinshasa
Chéri Samba
Artist -
Kinshasa
Gosette Lubondo
Photographer -
Kinshasa
Steve Bandoma
Artist -
Kinshasa
Lema Kusa
Artist -
Kinshasa
Aicha Muteba
Artist -
Kinshasa
Pathy Tshindele
Artist -
Kinshasa
Dolet Malalu
Artist -
Kinshasa
Houston Maludi
Artist -
Rigobert Nimi
Artist -
Kinshasa
Steve Bandoma
Artist -
Kinshasa
Eunice Kamanda
Artist
