Language Information

Kongo, more correctly called Kikongo, is spoken principally in western Zaire. It is the native tongue of about 5 million people there and the second language of some 5 million more. There are also about one million speakers each in Congo and nothern Angola. Kongo is another of the Bantu languages.

Angola, Congo (Zaire), Congo Republic.

Family: Niger-Congo
Subgroup: Benue-Congo
Branch: Bantu

Writing Sample

Translation

Once upon a time the Creator said to the animals, "For a long time I've been thinking about who shall rule among you, and at last I've decided that it should be the dog. He is, after all, man's best friend. I invite each of you to a feast at which the dog will be crowned king."
But the hare could not stand the idea of being ruled by a dog. He lay awake all night thinking bow to thwart the Creator's plan. The following day at the feast he sat next to the dog. Suddenly he threw down a bone, whereupon the dog leaped from the table to grab it. All the animals were shocked. Then the hare stood up and said, "How can the dog pretend to govern us if he is ignorant of the basic elements of good manners?" The crowning of the dog was, of course, canceled, and it is said that the Creator is still seeking a king for the animals.