An "emperor" in Congo, 1961

[Pecole]

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In 1961, I was sent as a consulting expert to the ex-Belgian Congo, an independent state for less than one year. One of the "provinces", the South-Kasaï, had made secession and was ruled by a "mulopwe" (emperor) called Albert Kalonji. The capital city of this short-lived "empire", Bakwanga - now Mbuji-Mai - was the seat of a big Belgian mining company, the MIBA or Minière de Bakwanga which extracted there diamonds.

I worked a few months in Bakwanga and, since I was the only one there to own a good camera (guess what make..) and fresh rolls of Kodak Plus-X, I was politely asked to take "official" photos of the ruling sovereign and his court.

I recently re-discovered and digitized some of these 50-plus years old rolls, fortunately relatively well preserved. As far as I can remember, I used a M3 with Summicrons 35, 50 and 90 at that time. I deliver here some of the images, not for their intrinsic or artistic qualities, but for their historic interest.

The three first photos show the mulopwe Kalonji in various situations. The fourth one illustrates the mulopwe followed by his First Minister Ferdinand Kazadi (the big boy) and Senate's President Kankonde. The fifth one shows how Kalonji was sometimes chaired through the crowd. On the sixth image, "emperor" Kalonji is defiling in his official car, escorted by horse-mounted guards. And finally, the group of six personal body guards of the "mulopwe".

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[pauledell]

Interesting historic photos and a fascinating narrative.

 

Paul

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[jaapv]

Not only are the photos of real historical interest, the quality is impeccable # 2 is mirrored I think

[pop]

These are indeed very fascinating. #6 and #7 also seem to be mirrored.

[stuny]

A lovely set.

[Pecole]

Thanks to all, and especially to Jaapv ans pop . you are perfectly right, the negatives have been mirrored at the digitizing...and I didn't even mention it. Shame to me !

[Pecole]

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...and I just realize I forgot to add something above : another "historic" and funny (or sad?) point I couldn't add in my initial telling, because space allowed for script is limited.

When the "emperor" Kalonji decided he wanted a "mounted guard", the MIBA company decided to offer (like all the rest...) half o dozen good horses. The problem was double : it is quite hot in Bakwanga, and the local people are of the Muluba race, the tallest and heaviest of Congo. Result : all six horses were dead of exhaustion after two months...