Belgian Congo: 50 Years of Colonial Memories

Fifty years ago, the colonial era in Belgian Congo came to an end. The new, independent state began a turbulent history full of economic and social problems. However, the colonial legacy still lives on: numerous infrastructure works, the education system, health care, administrative organization, etc. still largely date from the colonial era.
In over 120 photos, this book looks back on the colonial living environment of 50 years ago. Propaganda photos for the colonial system that show off the achievements of the colony, but also photos by an unknown photographer who captured the colonial reality. The images are accompanied by extracts from original letters from Belgian colonials that describe colonial life at the time. The images and voices in this book evoke the atmosphere of the Belgian colonial past and confront us with an often forgotten reality. For those who experienced that time themselves, this photo book also offers a treasure trove of memories.