kinshasa
kinshasa Lexical Profile
• noun
The capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, situated on the southern bank of the Congo River in central Africa, serving as a major cultural, economic, and political hub.
"Many international organizations have established their regional headquarters in Kinshasa to coordinate aid and development programs throughout central Africa."
Word Nuance & Usage
Kinshasa is often discussed in relation to Brazzaville, the capital of the neighboring Republic of the Congo, which sits directly across the Congo River; together they form the world's closest pair of capital cities.
• Rhymes for kinshasa
Word Origin & Etymology
Renamed in 1966 after a village called Kinchassa that once stood near the site. Prior to its renaming by President Mobutu Sese Seko, the city was known as Léopoldville, after King Leopold II of Belgium.