Kinshasa

Kin·sha·sa  (kn-shäs) Formerly Le·o·pold·ville (l-pld-vl, l-)

The capital and largest city of Congo (formerly Zaire), in the western part of the country on the Congo River. Founded in 1881 by the explorer Henry M. Stanley, who named it after his patron, Leopold II of Belgium, it became capital of the Belgian Congo in 1926 and was the scene of the revolt (June 1960) that led to Congo's independence. In 1966 its name was changed to Kinshasa, after the name of an early village that occupied the site. Population: 7,270,000.

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Kinshasa [kɪnˈʃɑːzə -ˈʃɑːsə]

n

(Placename) the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), on the River Congo opposite Brazzaville: became capital of the Belgian Congo in 1929 and of Zaïre in 1960; university (1954). Pop.: 4 655 313 (1994 est.) Former name (until 1966) Léopoldville

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Kinshasa - the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the Congo river opposite Brazzaville Leopoldville Belgian Congo, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zaire - a republic in central Africa; achieved independence from Belgium in 1960