Foreword

Communication is one of the essential elements for human life. Thus, mankind must learn different languages ​​such as: Kiswahili, Lingala, French, English,… to communicate better. This language learning contributes to the development of society.

The importance of this manual is to help speakers and non-speakers to learn and understand the Lika language called "Liliko". The two languages, Lika and French, are always represented in the same order. In French, the names are represented with the article indicating the gender and the number. If the gender is not clear with the presence of the article, it is recorded for the masculine by the letter "m. "And for the feminine" f. ".
In this dictionary you will find pictures with Lika-French words which are organized in semantic fields which show some aspects of Congolese life. This is why this dictionary is called an "Illustrated Dictionary." It does not contain all the words of the Lika language. However, with its richness- short stories, proverbs and biblical verses- which are linked to the field in which they are found, it will illuminate the reader for potential research.

As to the origin of the Lika, we referred only to this brief message of Moeller knowing that there are many details that are not presented here. Moeller (1936) wrote that the Balika Toriko speak "a language approximately to that of an Ababua or a pre-Ababua". And he also explained that the Balika "separated themselves from Babua in the Bambili region. From then on, they rushed further east heading towards the Poko region where they left their homes (Bakango brothers). They continued the journey east and south to acquire their present location." [Cited by Edema 1979]

This present location is located in the territory of Wamba on the right bank of the Nepoko River, in the Haut-Uélé District, Orientale Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Lika live in the rural areas and therefore are farmers. They also deal with artisanal gold and diamond mining.