Zaire: A Nation of Jewels

A Small African Village 

April 13, 2017

    Kikwit is the largest city and capital of Kwilu province.  The city lies along the bank of the Kwilu River in the southern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it occupies a respectable place among few other countries in Equatorial Africa. The Democratic Republic of Congo alone is bordered by nine African countries, including Angola, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The geographic coordinates, according to information from the CIA FACTS BOOK, says, for example, that Kikwit has an absolution location of; 000 N, 2500 E. with a population of over 70 million people, and resources ranging from rare minerals, including some of the world’s leading precious stones; such as diamond, gold, Uranium, coal and timber.

    A November 15, 1991 article in The New York Times; “Kikwit Journal; Once a Colonial Jewel, a City Hurtles Backward”—written by Kenneth B. Noble, from which my entire summary is based, -- highlights what happened when a group of European moved into Zaire, and settled in Kikwit, then a small village, before the “Relocation diffusion,” had been a quiet, and thriving little settlement. According to Mr. Kenneth B Noble’s report; people of Kikwit enjoyed the rich, natural environment of their village before the Belgians came. In other words, the villagers managed their land- based natural resources wisely, and from this they derived a strong sense of self- reliance and security.  

    When the Belgians came in touch with this relatively obscured village, for a while the people of kikwit saw big change in their livelihood. Electric wires were soon installed; pave roads, were soon built, telephone lines and running water became available for nearly everyone. But with the new development, came also a pretty big cost. Natural resources and minerals were now being exploited and exported at a faster rate than the environment could bear. In other words; the level of exploitation puts too much strain on their natural resources. Meanwhile, the people enjoyed, for a while the benefits of commerce.

Today, in Mr. Noble’s own words, “– the legacy of Kikwit’s Colonial past is swiftly disappearing.” What this means is that; the people of Kikwit are fighting for their survival after those Colonial bosses left the country. The once prospering community is now in a state of gradual decline, and with very little resources to fall back on, things are worsening. Electricity and the running water, including telephone lines, these amenities are no longer available. They disappeared with the departure of the Europeans. The pave roads have all crumbled.

    Still, with my rather paltry understanding of Geography, I know it to be a major Science. I know also, that it gives information about our relationship with the environment we occupy, and about the result of our interactions upon it.  This article points out what can happen when people don’t take care of the environment that they inhabit. The New York Times article reveals that the impact can be troublesome, sometimes deadly like in the case of the ancient Norwegians. Mr. Noble article cleverly share light on another front here. For example, the article shows how influence from the Europeans-- though there were some good things about that influence—left the people unable to re- appreciate their own culture after the European left. The people have gotten used to all the benefits of electricity, running water and other utilities. Again, the story falls right in line with the article on the group of ancient Norwegians who settled in Iceland, and that due to the same unwise choices, exploited their little natural resource to the finish—including because of their refusal to eat fish, which—by the way-- would had helped save their lives, — led to their annihilation. Of course, this included the entire settlement, their farm animals and their pets, which vanished because of starvation. Today, Kikwit village faces this same fit, like the ancient Norwegians.