Congo

Did you know?

• 🏞Also known as Congo-Brazzaville (after its capital city). A Central African country on the western bank of the Congo River, formerly a colony of France.
• 🏳️Adopted in 1959, this is the only Pan-African flag to feature a diagonal design layout. The green triangle at the top represents the country's rich tropical forests, agriculture and natural abundance. The yellow diagonal stripe symbolizes the friendship, nobility and warm-heartedness of the Congolese people. The red triangle at the bottom stands for the blood shed by patriots during the struggle for independence and national freedom.
• 💎☭ A Marxist-Leninist past — from 1970 to 1991 the country was officially named the People's Republic of Congo and was Africa's first Marxist state. During this era it flew a solid red flag featuring a gold star, hammer and hoe, inspired by the Soviet flag.
• 👔The Society of Elegant People (La Sape) — Brazzaville is the birthplace of the unique subculture of SAPE. Local gentlemen known as Sapeurs might live in impoverished neighborhoods, yet they spend thousands of dollars on authentic designer suits by Gucci, Prada and Versace to stage colorful fashion walks on dirt streets.
• 🌳The lungs of the planet — about 60% of the land is covered by dense, pristine rainforests. The Congo Basin is widely regarded as the 'second lungs of the Earth' after the Amazon.