Kinshasa is the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo — the large country in the middle of Africa, not the smaller Republic of the Congo next door. The city sits on the River Congo. It is the country's main city: government, business, and a great many people's lives are centred there. It used to be called Leopoldville, after a Belgian king, in the colonial years; the name was later changed to Kinshasa. Though actually, a second capital sits just across the water: Brazzaville, which belongs to the other Congo. Two capital cities face each other on one river, which surprises students. The name comes from Kongo and is said to mean 'the salt market'.