Lotoko, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Lotoko is a community on the Busira River in the Province of Équateur in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the colonial period it held a trading post.

Location
Lotoko is on the south shore of the Busira River in the Province of Équateur about 2 km downstream from the point where the Salonga River joins the Busira from the left. It is in Ingende Territory. It is at an elevation of about 325 m.

Colonial era
Lotoko was a post of the Société anonyme belge pour le commerce du Haut-Congo (SAB) in the Mbala–Londji territory, near the villages of the Lingoy chiefdom. "Lotoko" is the name of a group of Mongo people. The trading posts and missions were often given the same name as the local people.

The Belgians were brutal in collecting rubber. An account by a local person of SAB activities in collecting rubber (caoutchouc or CTC) says, "After the White of the State, Bafutamingi, arrived in Lotoko, he again imposed the CTC. Each village was to bring six baskets. He imprisoned those who did not give satisfaction, but he did not kill. Bafutamingi was replaced on his departure by Njete Mabe who continued with the CTC. Njete Mabe left. The White Isweswe arrived for the CTC levy. If the harvest decreases, he arrests you. Sometimes he kills without any form of process. He left and the White Moto arrived. He asks for the CTC in the huts, each his own, as a tax. Who does not have goes to jail. During this period he also sent riflemen to kill people. Then Moto left. It is the end of the CTC. The end of fighting. The beginning of joy. The return of games and the tax."