Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo blends Kongo and forest cultures, with rumba, sapeur dress and river craft.

Music & dance Textile & dress Crafts Food & cooking Language & oral

Knowledge in this place

Congolese rumba

Congolese rumba

Rumba couples guitar lines and dance, an urban genre shared across both Congos.

La Sape dress culture

La Sape dress culture

Sapeurs cultivate an art of refined, colourful dress and public elegance.

Textile & dress

Raffia weaving

Raffia weaving

Weavers turn raffia palm fibre into mats, baskets and patterned cloth.

Saka-saka cassava leaf

Saka-saka cassava leaf

Pounded cassava leaves simmer with palm oil and fish into a common dish.

Lingala language

Lingala language

Lingala is a Bantu river language widely spoken in trade, song and daily life.

Language & oral