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Kikwit
Kikwit Location in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Coordinates: 5°02′S 18°49′E / 5.033°S 18.817°E / -5.033; 18.817
Country	Democratic Republic of the Congo
Province	Kwilu Province

Kikwit is the largest city of Kwilu Province, lying on the Kwilu River in the southwestern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kikwit is also known in the region under the nickname "The Mother". The population is approximately 294,210 (2004). An important

The Munganji dancer is central to Pende dance ceremonies. The full-body suit is woven from raffia thread.

commercial and administrative centre, it is home to a stadium and is known for its traditional dances, in particular the Bapende dancers whose geographic origin centers around the village of Gungu in present-day Kwilu Province. Bapende dancers often wear traditional costumes comprising colorful masks and attire made from raffia. Kikwit is also home to an airport and is connected to the capital Kinshasa by a new road and river transport.

In 1995 the city saw one of the few outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus.

See also

• Dr. Matthew Lukwiya (1957-2000)
• Epidemiology

Thirty-six (36) months after the promulgation of the new Congolese Constitution, it has become the capital of the new Kwilu province on 18 February 2009.

Links

• An article about Kikwit in Britannica Online Encyclopedia

Capitals of the Provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( 2005 Constitution) Sankuru • Bas-Uele • Kongo Central • Kwango • Kwilu • Mai-Ndombe • Kinshasa • Kasaï • Lulua • Kasaï oriental • Lomami • Maniema • Sud-Kivu • Nord-Kivu • Ituri • Haut-Uele • Tshopo • Nord-Ubangi • Mongala • Sud-Ubangi • Équateur • Tshuapa • Tanganyika • Haut-Lomami • Lualaba • Haut-Katanga

Coordinates: 5°02′S 18°49′E / 5.033°S 18.817°E / -5.033; 18.817