Matonge originated in the late fifties with Maisaf (La Maison Africaine aka 'African House'), a student residence. It developed in the sixties and seventies following Congo’s independence from Belgium and the flow of migrants that followed.

A melting pot par excellence, Hispanics, Indians, Pakistanis, Europeans and more than forty Africannationalities 'live civilly' in the eccentric neighbourhood. Colours and noises of all kind bombard the senses, the smell of dried fish - and at regular intervals that of marijuana - gets into your nostrils, impossible to avoid.