Katanga Inchi Yetu/Katanga Notre Patrie [Katanga Our Homeland]
- Title:
- Katanga Inchi Yetu/Katanga Notre Patrie [Katanga Our Homeland]
- Alternate Title:
- Katanga Our Homeland
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Amisi, Francois (1935-)
- Other Creators:
- Le Service de l'Information du Katanga
- Date:
- 1960
- Posted Date:
- 2017-04-14
- ID Number:
- 2087.01
- File Name:
- PJM_2087_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1960 - Present
- Subject:
- Imperialism
Other War & Peace
Pictorial
Unusual Graphics/Text
Politics & Government - Measurement:
- 72 x 53 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- This poster celebrates the mineral-rich, newly-declared independent state of Katanga, formerly (and soon to be again) a province of The Republic of Congo.
Congo gained its independence from Belgium on June 30, 1960, and Patrice Lumumba became prime minister of the new state. Eleven days later, Moise Tshombe, leader of Katanga, declared the succession of the province from Congo. Citing Lumumba's acceptance of military help from the Soviet Union, Tshombe, supported by mining interests and Belgium, declared that Katanga was "seceding from chaos." Whether or not there had been chaos before, there certainly was thereafter, as Chief of Staff Joseph-Desire Mobutu seized power in the Congo and deposed Lumumba (who was subsequently assassinated in Katanga). UN troops fought to restore the peace and gained control of Katanga in January 1963, ending the succession.
This poster by the Congolese artist Francois Amisi features a map of the new state of Katanga showing the location of its principal cities. A flag of the new nation is planted on the capital, Elisabethville. The title, "Katanga Our Homeland," appears in Swahili and French. The "Katanga Free State" website gives two explanations of the flag's symbolism, http://www.africafederation.net/Katanga.htm, accessed August 18, 2016:
(1) "The red colour symbolises the bravery of the people and the blood which it shed to defend its homeland, the green the hope and the silver the purity; the small copper crosses (called 'monetary crosslets of Katanga') were the emblems of King (Mwami) Siri who governed this Katanga (the Realm of Garengaze) and symbolise the copper mining wealth of Katanga Free State."
(2) "Rouge pour le sol, vert pour la végétation, les 3 croisettes de cuivre, son principal mineral."
The exact date of the poster is estimated; this is the only known copy.
For a Soviet poster map celebrating that country's intervention in the war, see ID #2321.
For further information on the Collector’s Notes and a Feedback/Contact Link, see https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/about-collection-personal-statement and https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/feedback-and-contact - Repository:
- Private Collection of PJ Mode
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.