So-called “vernacular” architecture in the Kongo Central province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo): Characteristics and dynamics of architectural production in the Boko and Langa villages in Mbanza-Ngungu
Mylène KOKO ZOLA
Abstract. The architectural production in the province of Kongo Central had already been noticed and reported in Europe by Duarte Lopez and Filippo Pigafetta in 1591 as well as Olfert Dapper in 1687, who subsequently fueled several other stories and missions in the Congo until the 18th century. The information reported by these authors is scant but allows us to get a more or less idea of the construction methods, the materials used, and the shape of the houses. This demonstrates that architecture remains little known in this region, it is there, but we do not see it because there are very few updated studies on so-called “vernacular” architecture in DR Congo and Kongo Central in particular. Our objective is to observe the existing situation with the inhabitants and their ongoing or current construction practices. Study this constructive reality carefully, to better understand it to be able to document the spatial organizations and details of this architecture; and to characterize Kongo constructive practices. Our period of study extends from the first half of the 20th century, with the creation of the first cement factory in Lukala (CILU) in Kongo Central in 1921, until the middle of the 21st century to highlight the relationships between these different constructive cultures. So, to get there, we will start by mainly presenting the architecture in the Kongo Kingdom, as described in the stories of missionaries and travelers, based on the literature consulted. Then, we will report our observations and analyses on the ground today. Without locking ourselves into a more or less forgotten past of this “traditional vernacular architecture”, we will study certain elements which remain permanent over time at the moment of the break about colonization but also to tradition.
Keywords
Vernacular Architecture, Characteristics, Dynamics, Architectural Production, Villages
Published online 1/10/2025, 7 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Mylène KOKO ZOLA, So-called “vernacular” architecture in the Kongo Central province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo): Characteristics and dynamics of architectural production in the Boko and Langa villages in Mbanza-Ngungu, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 47, pp 117-123, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903391-13
The article was published as article 13 of the book Vernacular Architecture
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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