Photos from Congo
ca. 1925-1936

At a flea market I bought an old photo book
It once belonged to an unknown Belgian man
He probably worked for the Belgian administration
And stayed in Congo in the years around 1925-1936
Who was he?

Go to the photos

Photos from Congo
ca. 1925-1936

At a flea market I bought an old photo book
It once belonged to an unknown Belgian man
He probably worked for the Belgian administration
And stayed in Congo in the years around 1925-1936
Who was he?

Go to the photos

Photos from Congo
ca. 1925-1936

At a flea market I bought an old photo book
It once belonged to an unknown Belgian man
He probably worked for the Belgian administration
And stayed in Congo in the years around 1925-1936
Who was he?

Go to the photos

Congo
1925-1936

At a flea market I bought an old photo book that once belonged to an unknown Belgian man.
He probably worked for the Belgian administration and stayed in Congo around 1925-1936.
Who was he?

River view (Congo river?)

PhotoID: 001.A

During the colonial period, many Belgians travelled to Congo by boat. Government personnel reported to the appropriate authorities immediately upon arrival, in many cases in the port of Boma. Perhaps this river view, being the first photo in the album, was photographed from Boma?

UNATRA freighter "Louis Goffin"

PhotoID: 001.B

The government-controlled Union Nationale des Transports Fluviaux (UNATRA) provided river transport services between 1925 and 1936. The company operated scheduled services on the Congo and Kasai rivers [1]. UNATRA ships were recognizable by the letter U on the funnel. In this photo we probably see the freighter Louis Goffin (see next photo).

UNATRA freighter "Louis Goffin"

PhotoID: 001.C

This photo shows the freighter Louis Goffin. It was one of the oldest and slowest boats of UNATRA. The journey from Kinshasa to Kisangani (1734 km) took almost 4 weeks, while the faster steamers of UNATRA only needed about 10 days [2]. Judging by the silhouette of the man standing atop the wooden crates on the lower deck, this appears to be the first photo showing "our man." We'll see him more often and in greater detail in subsequent photos.

River view from a boat

PhotoID: 001.D

In this photo we see a view over a wide river, probably the Congo or the Kasai. Like many others, our man made the journey in Congo by boat. Such inland journeys could take several days.

Grand Hotel, Léopoldville

PhotoID: 002.A

This photo shows the Grand Hotel in Kinshasa (renamed Léopoldville by the Belgian colonizers). Perhaps our man stayed here for some time before travelling further inland?

Four people posing

PhotoID: 002.B

On his photo we see four men pose for the camera. Based on the previous and next photo, they are most likely somewhere in Léopoldville. Our man is the second from the left.

Ste. Anne Cathedrale, Léopoldville

PhotoID: 002.C

Ste. Anne cathedral was built in Léopoldville in 1913. This picture dates from the late 1920s, but the building still exists: nowadays it is a church, located near Kinshasa East railway station.

Travelling by boat

PhotoID: 002.D

Here we see four man posing for the camera. They are standing on the deck of a boat. Our man is the person to the right. In several photos we can see him smoking a pipe.

UNATRA paddle steamer

PhotoID: 003.A

In this picture we see another UNATRA vessel, namely a fast paddle steamer. Unfortunately the name of the ship is not recognizable in the picture.

UNATRA freighter "Louis Goffin"

PhotoID: 003.B

In this photo we see again the UNATRA freighter Louis Goffin.

Disembarking at Pangu

PhotoID: 003.C

In this harbour, photographed from the deck of a ship, there is a sign indicating Pangu-Pilo. Pilo may be the beginning of a second word, because the sign is cut off at the edge of the photo. Pangu is the name of a place on the Kasai River (visible on a large wall map in the Africa Museum in Tervuren, Belgium). Nowadays Pangu is a district in the town of Kambangi, located on the bank of the Kasai.

Disembarking at Pangu

PhotoID: 003.D

This photo shows another view of the disembarkation in Pangu harbour.

Three people posing

PhotoID: 004.A

Three unknown people pose in front of a building in an unknown village, presumably somewhere in the Kasai district.

Six people posing

PhotoID: 004.B

On this photo we see six unknown men posing in front of a building in an unknown village. Our man is the figure most to the right; his clothing and footwear differ from the other men in this photo. Was he perhaps an assistant to the regional administrator and were the others his superiors? Or was it the other way around?

Unknown man posing

PhotoID: 004.C

Another unknown man posing in front of a building in an unknown village.

Group of people posing

PhotoID: 004.D

This photo shows a group of people, mostly children, posing in front of a building in an unknown village. What kind of device does the big man on the right have in front of him?

Travelling by sedan chair

PhotoID: 005.A

Colonial Belgian officials were required to inspect their work area regularly. Helpers accompanied them during their travels. For example, luggage was transported by porters. The officials often had themselves transported in a sedan chair, as our man in this photo does [3].

Posing in front of a lodging house

PhotoID: 005.B

The state provided lodging facilities during the expeditions of its employees through a system of lodging houses. The simplest form was the gîte d’étappe: a mud hut with a roof covering of dry grass [3]. In this photo our man poses in front of -presumably- such a lodging house. What are the small heaps with the little flags in front of the house?

Two men and a dog posing

PhotoID: 005.C

Our man (left) is accompanied in this photo by another (unknown) man and a dog. We will encounter the dog more often.

Two men taking a break

PhotoID: 005.D

Here we see two men taking a break in the rainforest. Our man is the one on the right.

Unknown man posing

PhotoID: 006.A

An unknown man poses for the camera on this photo.

Scene in the forest

PhotoID: 006.B

In this photo we see our man standing on a small bridge over a stream in the rainforest.

Unknown woman posing

PhotoID: 006.C

An unknown woman sitting on a chair poses for the camera.

Dance ceremony

PhotoID: 006.D

Here we see a group of people performing a dance at an unknown location, presumably in the Kasai region.

Group posing in front of a machine

PhotoID: 007.A

Five adults and two children pose in front of a machine. Our man is the one on the left. It was not unusual for wives and children of Belgian officials to travel to Congo. They usually spent their time with other families in colonial settlements [3].

Woman holding a parrot

PhotoID: 007.B

An unknown woman is holding a parrot in this photo. She may have kept the parrot as a pet.

Six people posing

PhotoID: 007.C

Six unknown people pose in a settlement. The woman in the black dress is holding her parrot.

Seven people posing

PhotoID: 007.D

On this photo five adults and two children pose for the camera. The man on the right probably is a photographer.

Two men taking a brake

PhotoID: 008.A

This photo shows two unknown men who are drinking tea, accompanied by their dogs. On the table is a box of PAREIN biscuits from Antwerp.

Posing in front of a lodging house

PhotoID: 008.B

Our man (right) is accompanied in this photo by another, unknown, man. The dog we saw earlier, is right behind our man.

Posing in front of a lodging house

PhotoID: 008.C

The unknown photographer took a close-up of our man smoking a pipe. He is standing in what is presumably a lodging house.

Posing in front of a lodging house

PhotoID: 008.D

Our man is posing in front of his lodging house on this photo. The dog has found a spot in she shade left of the building.

Group of people posing

PhotoID: 009.A

A group of people are posing in a settlement. We can find our man on the right in the front row. Next to him and his dog is a lady, dressed in white.

Preparing for the journey

PhotoID: 009.B

The white-dressed lady of the previous photo and a man prepare to be transported in sedan chairs. This way of travelling was common for officials of the colonial regime [3].

Posing in front of a lodging house

PhotoID: 009.C

Here we see our man (right), accompanied by another, unknown, man. The dog is present too.

Administrative work

PhotoID: 009.D

Colonial officials were overwhelmed with all kinds of bureaucratic work. Countless messages had to be distributed within the colonial administration [3]. Reports were written and received. In this photo we can see our man working on a typewriter (?). Unlike his master, the dog has calmed down and is relaxing on a carpet.

Dance ceremony

PhotoID: 010.A

A group of people perform a dance at an unknown location on this photo.

Dance ceremony

PhotoID: 010.B

This photo shows the same group of people performing a dance at an unknown location.

Dance ceremony

PhotoID: 010.C

Another photo of a group of people performing a dance at an unknown location. The men in the center of the circle are playing drums.

Group photo

PhotoID: 010.D

This group photo shows several unknown people. The men on either side of the group are wearing striking costumes. The two boys in the foreground are holding drums.

Five men posing

PhotoID: 011.A

Five unknown men pose in front of a building in an unknown village on this photo.

Four women posing

PhotoID: 011.B

Here we see four unknown women posing for the camera in an unknown village.

Five women posing

PhotoID: 011.C

This photo shows five unknown women posing for the camera in an unknown village.

Two men posing

PhotoID: 011.D

Two unknown men pose in front of a building in an unknown village on this photo.

Hunting trophies

PhotoID: 012.A

Here we see two hunting trophies being securely tied: a leopard and a bushbuck.

Captured leopard

PhotoID: 012.B

This photo shows a close-up of the leopard that has been captured and tied up.

Hunting trophy

PhotoID: 012.C

Another photo of a hunting treasure. An unknown man poses with a red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus).

Hunter with a bushbuck

PhotoID: 012.D

Here we see an unknown man posing with another hunting trophy: a bushbuck. Bushbucks are antelopes with geometrically shaped white stripes or spots on the most parts of their bodies. Male bushbucks have horns, so the specimen on this photo is a female.

Congolese village

PhotoID: 013.A

This is a photo of an unknown Congolese village, presumably located in the Kasai region.

Finding diamonds?

PhotoID: 013.B

In the Kasai region, diamonds were mined in several places. In river beds, the stony soil was collected and put into a large sieve. Running water separated the different types of rock, leaving the diamonds. Perhaps the device in this photo was used to mine diamonds?

Four people posing

PhotoID: 013.C

Four unknown people pose for the camera in an unknown village on this photo.

Finding diamonds?

PhotoID: 013.D

The Kasai catchment area produced diamonds. Perhaps this photo shows a part of the process. Here we see soil material being put into sieves in order to separate the diamonds from other stones and minerals.

Gathering at a tent

PhotoID: 014.A

Several unknown men are gathered near a tent. This photo shows our man sitting on a stool while he holds a cat in his arms.

Gathering at the tent by night

PhotoID: 014.B

Here we see the same tent at night. Four unknown men are gathered here.

Posing with the dog

PhotoID: 014.C

This photo shows an unknown girl posing for the camera while the dog keeps her company.

UNATRA vessel "Mai Munene"

PhotoID: 014.D

Here we see another UNATRA vessel. The name of this ship is Mai Munene, named after a city in Congo. This boat operated a service between Léopoldville (now Kinshasa) and Charlesville (now Djokupunda).

Le marché du samedi

PhotoID: 014.verso

On the back of this photo our man wrote an explanation:

Le marché du samedi
Dans les paniers se trouve les farine de manioc. Près de moi se trouvent les chefs de village et mes tipoyeurs. Les caisses au premier plan sont destinées à recevoir la farine achetée. Le type avec la manteau d’officier allemand est ma sentinelle de lupangu. Dans le fond, silhouette de ma maison hangar.

The Saturday market
In the baskets are cassava flour. Near me are the village chiefs and my tipoyeurs. The crates in the foreground are intended to hold the purchased flour. The man in the German officer's coat is my Lupangu sentry. In the background, the silhouette of my shed.

Two men posing in fancy clothes

PhotoID: 015.A

This photo shows two unknown men posing for the camera in rather fancy clothes.

A dead leopard

PhotoID: 015.B

The leopard in this photo is dead. Its head is held up by a rock under its chin. This is possibly the same leopard that was shown in earlier photos as a living hunting trophy.

Xylophone music

PhotoID: 015.C

In this (double) photo two unknown boys are playing a xylophone. In the collection of the Africa Museum in Tervuren holds a similar example [4]. Gourds are used to amplify the sounds. Our man stands in the middle behind the musicians, with two unknown men on either side of him.

Five men in the forest

PhotoID: 015.D

In this photo we see five unknown men standing in the woods with an unknown tool.

Unknown woman posing

PhotoID: 015.verso

In this photo we see a unknown woman laying on a mattress, posing for the camera. An inscription on the back of this photo suggests that the lady might have been a prostitute. However, evidence for this claim is lacking. Prostitution is a relatively unknown aspect of the colonial period.

Five people in front of a building

PhotoID: 016.A

Here we see five unknown people, including children, sitting in front of a building.

Group photo to say goodbye?

PhotoID: 016.B

This photo shows a large group of people. Perhaps these are all of the villagers? Since this is one of the last photos in the album, it may have been taken to commemorate our man's farewell.

Five persons near a hut

PhotoID: 016.C

This photo could be a farewell moment as well. Five unknown people stand next to a hut in an unknown village, while the shadow of our man is on the foreground. Is he leaving the area here? This photo is one of the last ones in the album.

In the restaurant

PhotoID: 016.D

Our man appears to be sitting in a restaurant on this photo. In his hand he has a little monkey. He was probably on his way home when this photo was taken.

Scene in the forest

PhotoID: 016.verso

This photo was probably added to the album at a later time, because it is on the back of a page. We see our man looking straight into the lens, as he sits at a table in the woods.

This is the story of the photos


All photos on this website come from a photo album that I bought at a flea market on April 16, 2022. The seller was a gentleman who had bought a box with the inscription "Congo" in Ghent and was now selling its contents separately. Based on the photos, I have tried to reconstruct who the original owner of the photo album was and what he was doing in Congo. This story is based on assumptions and is certainly not "finished" yet. It changes constantly based on new information and insights.

The album also contains photos that I have not published on this website for privacy reasons. These are personal photos, such as holiday snaps and passport photos. Based on these photos, I estimate that “our man” stayed in Congo between 1925 and 1936. This period is supported by the various photos of UNATRA ships (photos 001.B, 001.C, 003.A and 003.B). UNATRA was active in Congo between 1925 and 1936. The ships continued to sail after this period, but often changed names. It seems logical to me that the UNATRA logo would have disappeared from the funnels at the same time the names of the ships were changed after 1936.

I assume that our man travelled to the Kasai region. After all, he took a photo of the ship “Mai Munene”, which sailed according to a timetable on the Kasai river between Léopoldville and Charlesville (photo 014.D). Because I interpret the photos as a travel report, I think it is justified to assume that our man got off in the village of Pangu (now Kambangi) (photos 003.C and 003.D). At the time, Pangu was already a town of some significance, with a hospital [5]. Even if our man travelled much further than Pangu, he probably stayed within the borders of the Kasai region.

An important photo is 014.verso; especially the inscription on the back of this photo. The inscription speaks of buying cassava flour, but this could well be an understatement for a mandatory payment by the village chiefs. If that was the case, our man probably would have had a formal role in the Belgian colonial organization and was collecting taxes. That would explain why the photo shows village chiefs and it also explains why our man needed tipoyeurs (oil men) and a security guard (in a German officer's jacket). The fact that the transfer of products took place directly in front of our man's barn also points to a certain role he would have had as a Belgian official in Congolese society.

Further supporting “evidence” of our man’s formal function is that he moved around on a sedan chair (photo 005.A) and had servants who are not sitting on chairs or at tables in any of the photos, unlike our man himself (photos 005.D, 008.A, 014.A, 016.A and 016.verso).

It is striking that our man does not appear to have a wife or children in Congo. If there are children in the photos, they are always accompanied by other adults (photos 007.A and 007.D). Although our man did not have a family in Congo, he did have a little dog that appears remarkably often in several photos (005.C, 008.D, 009.A, 009.C, 009.D, 012.D and 014.C).

Personal photos in the album could indicate that our man went to live in (the vicinity of) Liège after returning to Belgium. He seems to have had a wife and children there and may have moved to Ghent during the 1950s. Holiday photos are from Bruges, Ostend, Ypres and Walcheren (NL).

The search for our mysterious man is not over yet. If you have any ideas about the identity and activities of our man after seeing these photos, please send a message via the contact form. All photos have been purchased by myself. If you believe you have any rights regarding these photos, please do get in touch as well.

Contact me
with info

If you have any idea, based on these photos, who the owner of this photo book was, please send me a message. Also, if you have information about the things visible on the photos or recognize persons or locations, let me know.

References

  1. https://wikimili.com/en/Unatra
  2. Anonymus (1970): 'Congo Waterways', in: Neptunus, Tweemaandelijks maritiem tijdschrift No. 1, pp 44-47.
  3. Verbruggen, Barbara (2007): Een prosopografische studie van gewestbeheerders in Belgisch-Congo van 1925 tot en met 1932, Universiteit Gent, Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte, p. 75-78 and 98-99.
  4. https://www.europeana.eu/nl/item/09102/_RMCA_BE_TEN00_MO_0_0_36285
  5. https://antislavery.ac.uk/items/show/981

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