Quick answerKananga is a city in Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 1,524,000 people inside the city limits in 2021. It is best known for the Lulua River, the Cathedral of Saint Andrew and the Kananga Museum. Its official language is French, and its currency is the Congolese franc.
Kananga is a city in the south-central Democratic Republic of the Congo, with about 1.5 million people in the urban area (2021). It is the capital of Kasaï-Central Province and the fourth-largest urban area in the country.
Key facts
| Country | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
|---|---|
| Population (city) | 1,524,000 (2021) |
| Elevation | 608 m above sea level |
| Time zone | Africa/Lubumbashi |
| Language | French |
| Currency | Congolese franc (CDF, FC) |
| Coordinates | 5.89222° S, 22.40278° E |
Overview
Kananga is the capital of Kasaï-Central Province in the south-central Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the Lulua River, a tributary of the Kasai River. The urban area had an estimated 1,524,000 people in 2021, while the city itself had 1,271,704 people in 2015, making it the fourth-largest urban area in the country. The city sits 608 metres above sea level, on the Ilebo-Lubumbashi railway.
The city was founded in 1884 as Luluabourg, after the Lulua railway station, and in 1960 it was briefly chosen as the future capital of the newly independent Congo, because of its central position, before the plan was abandoned. The first Congolese-written constitution was drafted here in 1964. In 1966 the city was renamed Kananga, from a Tshiluba word meaning a place for peace or love.
Today Kananga is an important commercial and administrative centre for the Kasai region, home to a museum and to Kananga Airport. Its landmarks include the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, the largest Eastern Orthodox church in Africa, which was the subject of a 2018 documentary film. Tshiluba is the national language spoken in the city, alongside French.
What Kananga is known for
- Lulua River
- Cathedral of Saint Andrew
- Kananga Museum
- Commercial centre of Kasai
- 1964 constitution
Landmarks
- Cathedral of Saint Andrew
- Kananga Museum
- Lulua River
- Kananga Airport
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kananga?
About 1.5 million people live in the Kananga urban area (1,524,000 estimated in 2021). The city itself had 1,271,704 people in 2015. That makes Kananga the fourth-largest urban area in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after Kinshasa, Mbuji-Mayi and Lubumbashi.
What is Kananga famous for?
Kananga is famous as the capital of Kasaï-Central Province and the commercial centre of the Kasai region. It is known for the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, the largest Eastern Orthodox church in Africa, and for its history: the first Congolese-written constitution was drafted here in 1964, when the city was still called Luluabourg.
Where is Kananga located?
Kananga is in the south-central Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the Lulua River, a tributary of the Kasai River. It is the capital of Kasaï-Central Province and lies on the Ilebo-Lubumbashi railway, between the two larger Kasai cities. Its coordinates are 5.89° S, 22.40° E.
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Keep exploring
- Democratic Republic of the Congo — the country Kananga is in
- Kinshasa — another city in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Mbuji-Mayi — another city in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Lubumbashi — another city in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- All cities in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- All countries — the full list
Sources & last updated
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.