Why does the drc speak french

Tools Why we need to collect data on the languages of crisis-affected people PDF. Language data allows humanitarian organizations to better understand the languages people speak and understand, leading to better programming and accountability.

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Normal courtesies should be observed when visiting people's homes. Gifts are acceptable as a token of thanks, especially if invited for a meal.

Dress should be casual, and informal wear is acceptable in most places. Mini-skirts and shorts should not be worn in most public places. Artistic carving, both traditional and modern dance, as well as folk songs, play an important part in Congolese culture, which is strongly based on tradition.

Do not smoke or drink alcohol in public places during Ramadan. Photography: It is forbidden to photograph public buildings. The official language is French. Other major languages are Lingala, Munukutuba and Kikongo. The official language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is French, though there are over languages spoken there. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is commonly referred to only as the Congo or sometimes just Congo is located in central Africa.

However, many indigenous languages were already spoken there and continue to be spoken today. The Congo gained independence from Belgium in and has been engaged in civil war for much of the time since then, at least in part due to foreign powers trying to exert influence on the country.

Foreign influence in the Congo is heavily reflected in the languages that are spoken there. Though French is today the official language of the Congo, Lingala, Kituba also known as Kikongo , Tshiluba, and Swahili are recognized as national languages.

The four national languages were initially identified by the Belgian government as national languages of the Congo, which enabled them to be taught in schools across the country. As a result, the Congo was one of the only colonized countries in Africa that taught literacy in indigenous languages.

Today, at least languages are spoken throughout the Congo, most of them local, regional languages. Even within major urban centers, such as the capital of Kinshasa, many different language groups are represented. The languages that are spoken in the Congo are primarily from the Bantu language group of the Niger -Congo language family.

In the capital city of Kinshasa, two-thirds of the population speaks French.