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10 Most Famous People from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country in Central Africa. By area, it is the second-largest country in Africa and the 11th-largest in the world.

With a population of around 108 million, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the most populous officially Francophone country in the world.  Kinshasa is the capital and largest city which is also the nation’s economic center.

Congo is rich in natural resources. It boasts vast deposits of industrial diamonds, cobalt, and copper; one of the largest forest reserves in Africa; and about half of the hydroelectric potential of the continent.

Oddly it is also one of its poorest. Nearly three in four people live on less than $1.90 per day, representing one of the largest populations in the world living in extreme poverty.

1. Mobutu Sese Seko- Politician

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Mobutu Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu Wa Za Banga was a Congolese politician and military officer. He also served as the President of Zaire from 1965 to 1997.

He led a coup and ended up being president. He changed Congo’s name to Za茂re in 1971. He changed his name to Mobutu Sese Seko in 1972.

He was famous for leading the most enduring dictatorships in Africa. During his reign, he amassed a personal fortune by exploiting the nation’s natural resources while the people were living in poverty.

Mobutu remained the head of state promising elections within the next two years that never took place. During the First Congo War, he lost his power and Laurent-D茅sir茅 Kabila took power and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He died of prostate cancer on September 7, 1997, in Rabat, Morocco while in exile.

2. Dikembe Mutombo- Basketball Center

w: Dikembe Mutombo playing with the w: Houston Rockets. Image by Keith Allison-

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo alias Deke, was born on June 25, 1966, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is a Congolese-American basketball player who was one of the best defenders in National Basketball Association (NBA) history and was also noted for his philanthropic efforts.

The 7 ft. 2, 260-pound center is commonly referred to as one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players of all time, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times.

He established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in 1997, which focused on building hospitals and providing health care in central Africa.

 In 2009 he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for the remainder of the postseason. Soon after the injury, he announced he had played his last game in the NBA.

3. Claude Mak茅l茅l茅-Soccer

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Claude Mak茅l茅l茅 Sinda was born on 18 February 1973 in Kinshasa, DRC. He is a French football manager and former professional player who played as a defensive midfielder.

He is best known for picking up 71 international caps for France and playing in the World Cup final in 2006.

He was a great defensive midfielder responsible for breaking up plays and destroying opposition attacks. In homage to Mak茅l茅l茅, many fans have dubbed the defensive midfield position the “Mak茅l茅l茅 Role.”

He has since retired and is currently a youth coach and technical mentor at Chelsea, having formerly been the head coach of Belgian First Division A club Eupen.

4. Jos茅 Bosingwa-Soccer

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Jos茅 Bosingwa da Silva is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a right back.  He was born on 24 August 1982 in Mbandaka, DRC.

He played for Trabzonspor in Turkey, as a right back. As an attacking fullback, his pace, and his ability to get up and down the flanks created problems for the opposition.

He spent most of his professional career with Porto and Chelsea, winning 15 major titles for both clubs combined, including the 2012 Champions League. A Portuguese international in the 2000s, he represented the nation at Euro 2008.

5. Anthony Vanden Borre-Soccer Midfielder

Anthony Henri Vanden Borre is a Belgian former footballer who played as a defender. He was born on 24 October 1987 in Likasi, DRC. He moved to Belgium at an early age.

He was capped over 20 times for the Belgium national team and is capable of playing as both a right back and a right winger.

He previously played for clubs in Belgium, Italy, England, and France. He won 28 caps for the Belgium national team.

6. Koffi Olomid茅-Singer

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Antoine Christophe Agbepa Mumba, also known as Koffi Olomide, is a DR Congolese soukous singer, dancer, producer, and composer. He was born on 13 July 1956.

With several gold records in his career, Koffi Olomide is a superstar of fast soukous ndombolo music.

He has succeeded in filling the biggest mega-venues in France that many French artists themselves have not managed to pack.

Koffi is also known by a variety of self-proclaimed nicknames such as 鈥淢opar Mokonzi鈥� (translating as 鈥渢he chief鈥�), 鈥渓e Maximum,鈥� and 鈥淟ettre A,鈥� referring to the first letter of the alphabet.

7.Joseph Kabila-Politician

Joseph Kabila Kabange is a Congolese politician. He was born on June 4, 1971. He has served as President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January 2001.

He took office ten days after the assassination of his father, President Laurent-D茅sir茅 Kabila. He was elected as President in 2006. In 2011, he was re-elected for a second term.

Since stepping down after the 2018 election, Kabila, as a former president, serves as a senator for life.

8. Fabrice Muamba-Soccer

Fabrice Ndala Muamba is an English former professional footballer who played for Arsenal, Birmingham City, and Bolton Wanderers as a central midfielder. He was born on 6 April 1988 in Zaire, DRC.

However, he moved to England at the age of 11 and subsequently played for England up to the under-21 level. He led a successful car in the profession.

In March 2012, he suffered a cardiac arrest during a televised FA Cup match between Bolton and Tottenham Hotspur.  He recovered despite his heart having stopped for more than an hour. Following medical advice, he announced his retirement from professional football in August 2012.

9. Lomana LuaLua-Soccer

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Tr茅sor Lomana LuaLua is a Congolese footballer who plays for Karab眉kspor and the Congo DR national team. He was born on 28 December 1980 in Kinshasa, DRC. However, he moved to England at a young age.

After impressing in a college football match, he signed for Colchester United. He later played for Newcastle United, Portsmouth, and Greek club Olympiacos.

He is also known for setting up the LuaLua Foundation, which provides care for orphans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for being a patron for the Haslar Visitors Group.

During the 2006 African Cup of Nations, LuaLua’s son died of pneumonia and he considered retiring from football after receiving abuse over the internet. However, he continued playing.

10. Fally Ipupa

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Fally Ipupa N’simba known by his stage name Fally Ipupa is a Congolese singer-songwriter, dancer, philanthropist, guitarist, and producer. He was born on  December 14, 1977.

From 1999 until 2006, he was a member of Quartier Latin International, the music band formed in 1986 by Koffi Olomid茅. Desiring to separate himself from his mentor, Ipupa decided to launch his solo career, mixing the local soukous ndombolo with R&B beats.

He is currently the most popular artist in DR Congo. He won several awards including the Kora Awards for Best Artist or Group from Central Africa (2007), MTV Africa Music Awards 2010 for Best Video for “Sexy Dance” and Best Francophone Artist, and the urban awards for Best African Artist.

He was also nominated in the Best Live Act category at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2014.