Brazzaville

Introducing Brazzaville

Founded in 1880 by the Malebo Pool area of the Congo River, Brazzaville was named after Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, a Franco-Italian explorer who charmed the local natives into placing their kingdom under the protection of the French flag. Ever the lesser partner in the close geographic relationship with Kinshasa across the river, Brazzaville’s moment in history came in 1944 when it hosted a conference of Free French forces that set out to redefine the way that France handled its African colonies post 1945.

Low-key, somnolent and unassuming, with its back turned to the mighty Congo River, Brazzaville retains a palpable French air with its tree-lined boulevards and streetside cafés serving fresh croissants. Frenetic Kinshasa this is not; though the city gained a certain amount of notoriety in 1997 when militia men descended on the capital en masse and drove most of the inhabitants into the surrounding forest.

With relative political stability now restored, Brazzaville’s era of bloodshed seems to be behind it. Indeed, these days hassle from overzealous street salesmen is likely to be your primary preoccupation, and with a little caution and some friendly African entreaties, you can venture out into the rowdy suburbs of an evening to sample Brazzaville’s pumping nightlife.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009