SAKANIA, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — It is situated in the extreme southern corner of the Belgian Congo and is entrusted to the Salesians, who arrived there in 1911.
The territory, which has an area of 36,575 sq. km., was erected into an apostolic prefecture on 12 May 1925 under the name of Upper Luapula, detached from the apostolic prefecture of Katanga (now an apostolic vicariate), and was elevated to an apostolic vicariate, under the name of S., on 14 November 1939.
The indigenous population, which numbers fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, is composed of several tribes: Baushi, Balamba, Babisa, Balaba, Baseba. There are about 13,000 Catholics with nearly 8,000 catechumens, and about 19,000 pagans. There are few Europeans, Greeks, Jews, and Asians. Foreign priests: 38; 20 brothers; and 20 sisters; 32 catechists; 130 teachers; 27 minor seminarians; 9 main mission stations; 94 secondary ones; 9 churches and 94 chapels; 112 schools. Dispensaries: 1 hospital; 1 leper asylum; 9 orphanages. Among the schools, those of a professional nature are especially notable. The most important centre of missionary activity is Kafubu, which is now a suburb of Elisabethville.