I remember Brazzaville from a layover when I was around 12 years old when at the time the Pan African company Air Afrique often stopped in this city. I also remember learning about this city in class when we studied the history of the Central African region and the Congo River by which the city was built. Two decades later, I returned to Brazzaville for work and had the opportunity to discover the city and its bustling streets.
Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza was a French-Italian explorer who arrived in Central Africa in the late 1880s on missions commissioned by the French government to establish colonies. Upon his arrival, he met the local population who were living by the banks of the rivers and making a living through agriculture and trade. This explorer was instrumental in the establishment of the colony which would later be renamed Brazzaville. Today in the city centre, a life-size monument can be found in front of the mausoleum where his remains can be found. In 1910, a colony named the French Equatorial Africa (AEF in French) was established and was composed of Chad, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, and Gabon. The administrative base was in Brazzaville where the principal governor of these colonies lived. In the immediate decade post-independence, the city was also a hub for higher education welcoming students from all over the continent. Today there are many prominent Africans in politics and society who have completed their studies in Brazzaville.
The Republic of Congo, like other countries in the region, gained independence in 1960 from France. The historical status of the capital of a region lingers to this day. Congo Brazzaville is the birthplace of various international relations agreements; amongst others, the Brazzaville Protocol signed in 1988 for the liberation of Southwestern Africa which is modern-day Namibia.
From the arrival by air from the May Maya airport, one meets a green tropical city with a mixture of colonial and modern architecture. The city center has many stylish buildings homes public offices, hotels, restaurants, and shipping outlets. Other parts of Brazzaville are bustling and vibrant, full of people giving the impression that all of the population lives in the city.
Brazzaville is a city of Ambiance, a French word which denotes having a good time through company, food, music, and fashion. The streets are lined with bars, and eateries serving local food and drinks. One can be tempted to break into a dance in the street as the sounds are blasted from all corners. The river provides fresh fish, a staple ingredient in various Congolese dishes such as Maboke. This dish features pieces of freshwater fish seasoned with local spices and steamed in banana or other types of leaves. It is eaten with Manioc, which is cassava flour made into a paste and steamed in leaves. This dish is an introduction to Congolese cuisine and history. It embodies traditional methods of cooking and conserving ingredients found in the population’s local surroundings.
Total and Poto Poto are two large markets, amongst others, where you can find all types of local and international products. Open all days of the week, it is a panoramic visual of the business-centric city. Any type of supplies needed can be found in one of these markets will provide them. It is also a good place to have a view of multitudes of people from all walks of life giving a short glimpse of the Congolese way of living.
A main attraction worth mentioning is the main city bridge located on a major highway. The bridge, built in 2016, is named the 15th of August 1960 after the independence date of the country. It leads to a long embankment stretch by the river where people take strolls, take pictures, and jog. From the bridge and the stretch, there is a clear view of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the other side of the river; A spectacular scene of two sister capitals divided by a body of water.
Whether is food, fun, markets, history lessons, or nature, Brazzaville has options to cater to all types of interests. It is a capital that kept its standing as a political and social hub to this day and beyond being a tourist destination, the city is a representation of the Central African region’s history.
Deborah Melom Ndjerareou
We Write Afrika 