Diosso

{{Infobox settlement

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|pushpin_map = Republic of the Congo

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|pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Republic of the Congo

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|subdivision_name1 = Kouilou

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|subdivision_name2 = Loango

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Diosso is a town in the Republic of Congo, lying about 25 kilometres north of Pointe-Noire in the Kouilou Department along National Highway 5.{{cite book|last=Ham|first=Anthony|title=Lonely Planet Africa|url=https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetafri00anth|url-access=registration|access-date=13 March 2011|date=30 July 2010|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-988-6|page=[https://archive.org/details/lonelyplanetafri00anth/page/n572 571]}} It was the capital of the Loango Kingdom and is home to its rulers' mausoleum.{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Adam|title=German Sources for West African History, 1599-1669|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4hlzAAAAMAAJ|access-date=14 March 2011|year=1983|publisher=Steiner|isbn=978-3-515-03728-0|page=49}} Roman Catholic missionaries were active in Diosso, which had a royal palace.{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Phyllis |title=Catholic Women of Congo-Brazzaville: Mothers and Sisters in Troubled Times |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=4DWqkajkbmUC&pg=PA31 |access-date=13 March 2011 |year=2009 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-22055-4 |page=31}}

Landmarks

=Diosso Gorge=

File:Gorges Diosso 1983.jpg|Diosso Gorge, 1983.

File:Gorges de Diosso 1983a.jpg|Les gorges de Diosso.

Erosion in the area has created the nearby Diosso Gorge, known as the "Grand Canyon of the Congo". It has also been called the Diosso Amphitheater.{{Cite book|title=Natural Wonders of the World|publisher=Reader's Digest Association, Inc|year=1980|isbn=0-89577-087-3|editor-last=Scheffel|editor-first=Richard L.|location=United States of America|pages=125|editor-last2=Wernet|editor-first2=Susan J.}} Within the gorge's rainforest, there are rock ridges{{cite book|title=The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bG7Rrb-HdQAC&pg=PA95|access-date=14 March 2011|date=1 October 2010|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74179-211-9|pages=95–}} and distinctive red rock cliffs, which can reach up to {{convert|165|ft}} in height.{{cite book|title=Guide to Places of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQ9dAAAAMAAJ|access-date=13 March 2011|date=April 1987|publisher=Reader's Digest Association}} The New York Times described Diosso Gorge as "a stunning gorge of plunging, pink cliffs draped with green Central African jungle."{{cite book |last1=Agarwal |first1=Anil |last2=Narain |first2=Sunita |author3=Centre for Science and Environment (New Delhi, India) |title=Towards a Green World: Should Global Environmental Management be Built on Legal Conventions or Human Rights? |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cC0SAQAAIAAJ |access-date=13 March 2011 |year=1992 |publisher=Centre for Science and Environment |page=16}} According to reports, Gamissamy Issanga, the director of environment at the Congo's research ministry, once approved the dumping of 1 million tonnes of oil, acids and solvents in the gorge.{{cite book |title=New Scientist |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=c62TkhIZd8wC&pg=PA31 |access-date=13 March 2011 |date=23 June 1988 |publisher=Reed Business Information |page=31 |issn=0262-4079}} The gorge is said to be inhabited by the female spirit of Mboma, who takes the form of a snake.{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Phyllis |title=Catholic Women of Congo-Brazzaville |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=4DWqkajkbmUC&pg=PA37 37-] |year=2009}}

=Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center=

The Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center (formerly the Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Sanctuary), established in 1992 to protect orphaned chimpanzees, is nearby.{{cite web|url=http://www.pasaprimates.org/tchimpounga-chimpanzee-rehabilitation-center/|title=Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Rehabilitation Center|publisher=Pan Africa Sanctuary Alliance|access-date=13 March 2011}}

Built by the Conoco petroleum company for JGI, Tchimpounga is reputedly the largest chimpanzee sanctuary on the African continent, treating some 125 apes.

=Mâ-Loango Regional Museum=

File:Ma-Loango Regional Museum (19541380803).jpg

File:Ma-Loango Regional Museum Exhibits (20177273131).jpg

Founded in 1982, the ethnography and history of the Loango Kingdom is displayed in the Mâ-Loango Regional Museum, located in Diosso. The museum is a public institution and, as a regional branch, was founded with the aim of protecting cultural heritage.{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:9yJDFOqSCGgJ:www.chin.gc.ca/Applications_URL/icom/disaster_preparedness_book/country/makambila.pdf+musee+diosso&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESjkhsDLXIshsBcfONtLNDt-3Mvwuj1s0MtsETiMLi_MWfKMpYt--srsWk8PeYNwTi0sgSvPXVMkwIkm754dKjQYW0vWvq_Ktp_PhV-AfJDN8i7rv0sRKcZaR5hRcjyqLoTBVJqW&sig=AHIEtbRCZYblWXMLZ6ToSgLwWIe5e454CA|title=Community Responsibility and Involvement in Emergency Preparedness and Response: the Case of Congo-Brazzaville|last=Makambila|first=Pascal |work=chin.gc.ca|pages=2|access-date=14 March 2011}} It collects and exhibits objects that are of historical, archaeological, ethnographic and artistic significance, and is situated in a palace that was inhabited by Ma Moe Loango Poaty III, king (1931-1975) of the kingdom of Loango. The museum is {{convert|20|m}} long by {{convert|11|m}} wide and contains rooms, hallways, bedrooms, and the king's bathroom. All these rooms have either been transformed into exhibition rooms or are in reserve.{{cite web|url=http://www.congopage.com/Le-Musee-regional-Ma-Loango-de|title=Le Musée régional Mâ Loango de Diosso revalorise et préserve l’héritage culturel du Congo|last=Loubouer|first=Quentin |date=16 June 2004|language=fr|access-date=14 March 2011}}

There are over 300 exhibits and documents, as well as a dozen different collections, illustrating historical events and documents that show the evolution of Congolese society. Objects of great artistic value are displayed alongside simpler objects relating to everyday life that are considered important in the study of ancient Congolese people. Traditional work tools include hoes, axes, knives, wooden bellows, gourds, and adzes. Jewelry and traditional clothing include loincloths, headdresses, and the Tchikumbi costume. Domestic items are characterized by a rush mat, as well as straw and kitchen utensils. Weapons and traps include spears, knives, crossbows, hunting wooden bells, hunting wicker traps, and nets. Traditional objects of worship include stone statuettes, Punu mask, the Kidumu mask, as well as the Kebe Kebe and Mboumba figurines. Traditional musical instruments are the Yombe and Dondo.

Sport

The town's golf club overlooks the coast.{{cite book|last=Rorison|first=Sean|title=Bradt Congo: Democratic Republic · Republic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cXJyOKBqJZwC&pg=PA268|access-date=14 March 2011|date=22 May 2008|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-233-0|pages=268–}}

https://web.archive.org/web/20160410060229/https://sites.google.com/site/diossogolfclub/

References