[7] Established in 1955, Bandalungwa initially served as a planned residential area for civil servants and teachers during the terminal phase of the Belgian colonial administration.

[17][18]: 103–105  Lingwala had been allocated land near the present-day sites of CHANIMetal and UTEXAFRICA but later relocated north to what is now Bandalungwa, while Selembao resettled farther south.

[23] Challenges like sediment build-up in this watershed illustrate the interaction between urban growth and environmental care, with erosion endangering water ecosystems and usability.

[24] These include departments responsible for civil status, population management, housing, environmental regulation, social affairs, and small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as branches of the Agence Nationale de Renseignements (ANR) and the general migration directorate.

[25] Historically, the area was a lake that evolved into a sandy plateau inhabited by the Bateke and Bahumbu peoples, who established a kingdom encompassing Bandalungwa and also the present-day communes of Selembao, Kasa-Vubu, Ngiri-Ngiri, Kintambo, and Lingwala.

[26] After independence in 1960, Bandalungwa experienced rapid urbanization fueled by significant rural-to-urban migration, which transformed the commune into a densely populated, working-class area with modest incomes.

[27] In 2011, a significant urban development project was announced to construct 1,000 social housing units on the former Bandalungwa nursery site at the intersection of Kasa-Vubu and Libération (formerly 24 Novembre) avenues.

[14] Led by the Chinese company Société Zhen Gwei Technique Congo (STZC), the project was intended to span three years and cost nearly $160 million.

[15] The project aimed to establish a residential area called "Joseph Kabila Kin-oasis City", featuring diverse housing options, including apartments, villas, and public amenities like markets, hotels, and cultural spaces.

[31][32] Residential structures in the commune feature a range of urban forms, including adjoining houses, semi-detached dwellings, and blocks of six to ten residences.

[31] In response to demographic pressures, new modern self-construction have emerged, including high-end developments such as the "Kin Oasis" residential area in the southern part of the Kokolo military camp.

[31] Two key fairs, Jardin d'Eden and Solution, held during the dry season, significantly boost the economy, attract crowds, and stimulate business interactions.

[35] It has hosted renowned artists such as Marshall Dixon and Poison Mobutu and facilitated the early careers of celebrated musicians like JB Mpiana, Werrason, and Fally Ipupa.

[33] Notable names include Wenge Musica, JB Mpiana, Werrason, Fally Ipupa, Ferré Gola, Céléo Scram, Jossart N'Yoka Longo, Blaise Bula, Didier Masela, JDT Mulopwe, Bill Clinton Kalonji, Saak Saakul, and King Kester Emeneya.