Congo: A Story in 26 Words

Congo. One name. One mighty river. Two countries. A combined surface area greater than that of the whole of Western Europe. 250 languages. Infinite complexity.

In the 2011 edition of the Human Development Index, the Republic of Congo was listed in 137th place. Its neighbour and near namesake, the Democratic Republic of Congo, was last of all: 187th, behind such bywords for chaos and conflict as Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen.

What is it like to live in these countries? How to make sense of their complex history, language, society and culture? This book attempts to do just that through the eyes of an English couple who were living in Congo at that time, using 26 words taken from the languages spoken there to examine the realities of life in places that rarely impinge on Western consciousness.

Memoir, sociological study, travelogue, meditation, paean of praise to the resilience and resourcefulness of the Congolese on both sides of the river. A Story of Congo in 26 Words is all those things and more: a detailed examination of themes as diverse as climate, colonialism, cuisine, culture, education, economy, ethnic makeup, family, fashion, infrastructure, music, natural resources, politics and racism.

A unique blend of anecdote and analysis, personal experience and lexicographical research, A Story of Congo in 26 Words is an indispensable guide to the two countries that take their name from one of the mightiest rivers on Earth.