|
||
|
|
|
|
Promoting The French Congo In The Early 20th Century
This vintage poster, titled "Congo Francais Office Colonial Scolaire Afrique" or "French Congo Africa Colonial Scholar Office," was printed in the early 1900s by Imprimeries Courmont Freres, located at 30 Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris. The poster is embellished with a map and watercolor illustrations by Charles Fouqueray and offers a vivid representation of life and landscapes in the French Congo.
The artwork showcases an array of scenes: a lush forest beside the Ogouque River, a manufacturing facility, a paddle steamer navigating rapids, elephants being domesticated, and the arrival of ivory carriers at a factory. Additional depictions include a witch doctor, a Pahouin village, a camp of paddlers, coastal scenery around Libreville, and a caravan of porters. It also features a flotilla of canoes on the Oubanghi River.
Complementing these larger scenes are smaller illustrations of native flora and fauna, including cotton plants, manioc, corn, elephants, hippos, antelope, gorillas, boas, and servals.
At the poster's center, a detailed map marks significant locations within the French Congo, such as the capital, Brazzaville, along with other key cities like Leopoldville, Loango, Franceville, Ouesso, Bangui, Carnot, and Libreville. Accompanying short articles provide insights into the region's soil, hydrography, climate, culture, colonization efforts, economic situation, and history.
At the top left of the map, a note about Lake Tchad (Chad) translates as follows:
Lake Chad is a vast marshy expanse equivalent to 8 or 10 French departments.
- For 3 months of the year, Niger communicates with Lake Chad (Bénoué-Logone).
- One of Savorgnan de Brazza's lieutenants, P. Crampel inaugurated the race in Chad (1891) this attempt was to cost him his life as well as many of his followers.
- In 1897, M Gentil reached Lake Chad, thus uniting the Congo Basin with the Chad Basin.
- In 1900, 3 French missions, the Foureau-Lamy mission, part of southern Algeria, the Joalland Meynier mission part of Senegal and the Gentil mission part of the Congo joined together on the banks of Lake Chad, putting an end to the slave conquests of Sultan Rabah , and ensured the effective union of our African possessions in the north, west and south.
- Conventions concluded with England, Germany and the State of the Congo established the definitive limits of the French Congo.
An inset box includes at note about the Congo Free State (Etat independant du Congo), noting that it was founded "by the agreement of the Powers who, in 1885, recognized the King of the Belgians as sovereign of this state." It is the State itself which colonizes and exploits, directly or indirectly: it is truly a powerful Belgian commercial company whose main agent of prosperity is the railway from Léopoldville to Matadi (400 km.)
This piece serves as a historical artifact, capturing the multifaceted aspects of life and colonial presence in the French Congo during the early 20th century.