Basankusu

History

The name Basankusu is said to have been misunderstood by its European explorers and colonisers, who lacked knowledge of the local language. The Mongo group that founded Basankusu were the Okutsu; their descendants were called the Basaa Okutsu, meaning the "children of the Okutsu". This name was contracted slightly into the name Basaa'kutsu. Another account of the etymology of Basankusu is that it comes from basa ba nkoso, meaning "quarrelling parrots", or possibly Baasa bankoso, "small parrots". ABIR would sell a kilogram of rubber in Europe for up to 10 francs (fr), which cost them only 1.35 fr to collect and transport. However, this came at a cost to the human rights of those who could not pay the tax, with imprisonment, flogging, and other corporal punishments recorded. The reforms that followed the Casement Report, including those that concerned ABIR at Basankusu, set the foundation for the colonial Belgian state of Congo.

Geography

Basankusu is situated on the Lulonga River, a tributary of the Congo, at the confluence of the Lopori and Maringa Rivers. This location facilitates the transport of local goods to and from the cities of Mbandaka and Kinshasa. Because Basankusu is the last port of substance on the river of the Lopori Basin, conservation efforts for the bonobo, use the town as a base. Being slightly more than 1° north of the Equator, Basankusu has a tropical rainforest climate. There is no real dry season, with monthly rainfall in the town ranging between averages of 69 mm and 213 mm, with most months at the higher end of that range. Average high temperatures over a year are between 30 °C and 33 °C, although throughout the day a high of 37 °C is not uncommon. Evening lows average around 20 °C. Being close to a major river and enduring frequent, heavy tropical rainfall, Basankusu is prone to the damaging effects of water. In July, 2010, the town was affected by flooding, with 1,400 people made homeless. Roads, which are all non-metalled, and bridges were also affected. Such frequent harsh weather conditions have an effect on the quality of life for local people. Waterborne diseases can become more prevalent, and the transport of goods, such as food, medicine, and trade goods, becomes more difficult.

Most-observed species

• African Weaver Ant

  Oecophylla longinoda (Latreille, 1802) · Insecta
  5
• Greshoff's Wax Frog

  Cryptothylax greshoffii (Schilthuis, 1889) · Amphibia
  3
• African Lined Mantis

  Sphodromantis lineola Burmeister, 1838 · Insecta
  2
• Large emerald pearl

  Stemorrhages sericea Drury, 1773 · Insecta
  2
• Christmas Butterfly

  Papilio demodocus Esper, 1798 · Insecta
  2
• Huntsman Spider

  Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus, 1767) · Arachnida
  2
• African linsang

  Poiana richardsonii (Thomson, 1842) · Mammalia
  2
• forest hingeback tortoise

  Kinixys erosa (Schweigger, 1812) · Testudines
  2