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Évolué

March 17, 2024

Évolué (French: [evɔlɥe], lit. "evolved one" or "developed one") is a French label used during the colonial era to refer to an African who had "evolved" by becoming Europeanised through education or assimilation and had accepted European values and patterns of behavior. It is most commonly used to refer to individuals within the Belgian and French colonial empires. Évolués spoke French, followed European (rather than customary) laws, usually held white-collar jobs (although rarely higher than clerks), and lived primarily in urban areas of the colony.

Évolués in the Belgian Congo studying medicine in Medical School of Yakusu Hospital, near Kisangani.

Belgian colonies edit

The term was also used to describe the growing native middle class in the Belgian Congo (the modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) between the latter part of World War II and the independence of the colony in 1960. Most évolués emerged from the Congolese who filled skilled positions (such as clerks and nurses) made available by the economic boom in the country following the war.[1] Colonial administrators defined an évolué as "a man having broken social ties with his group, [and] having entered another system of motivations, another system of values."[2] While there were no universal criteria for determining évolué status, it was generally accepted that one would have "a good knowledge of French, adhere to Christianity, and have some form of post-primary education."[1]

Early on in their history, most évolués sought to use their unique status to earn special privileges in the Congo.[3] They asked that the colonial administration recognize their role as mediators between the Belgians and the native "savages."[4] On 12 July 1948 the Governor-General of the Belgian Congo issued an ordinance creating the carte de mérite civique (civic merit card),[5] which could be granted to any Congolese who had no criminal record, did not practice polygamy, abandoned traditional religion, and had some degree of education.[6]

Literacy was required except for those persons who had served 20 years as a customary chief or who had provided "good and faithful service" for 25 years in the administration.[5] Cardholders were given an improved legal status and were exempt from certain restrictions on travel into European districts. Of the thousands of évolués in the Congo, only a small proportion of them earned a carte. In 1957 there were 1,557 cardholders.[6]

There was discontent about the limited nature of the privileges attached to the carte de mérite civique, so in 1952 the colonial administration introduced the carte d'immatriculation, which granted to those who obtained it full legal equality with Europeans. The latter card was much more difficult to obtain.[6] One who sought to obtain it had to have a letter of recommendation from his employer and pass an evaluation. The evaluation was administered by an investigative commission, which would visit a candidate in his home, examine his household items such as linen and silverware, and ascertain if he ate with his wife at the table and communicated with his children in French.[7] After this, a candidate and his wife had to appear before the head magistrate of the provincial court to answer a series of questions.[8] By 1958 only 217 Congolese had been awarded a carte d'immatriculation.[6] Most évolués found immatriculation irritating and by the mid-1950s the project was thoroughly discredited.[9]

 
A social club in the Belgian Congo, c. 1943.

Since opportunities for upward mobility through the colonial structure were limited, the évolué class institutionally manifested itself through clubs and associations. Through these groups they could enjoy trivial privileges that made them feel distinct from the Congolese "masses".[4] In 1947, there were 110 social clubs consisting of 5,609 members throughout the Congo's cities. From 1952 to 1956, the number of clubs rose from 131 to 317, with their membership increasing from 7,661 to 15,345.[10]

Most of these associations were rather small, but some eventually grew in size to encompass entire regions and ethnic groups, such as the Alliance des Bakongo.[11] Évolués organised most of the educational opportunities for women in the Belgian Congo, since the colonial government put little effort into such ventures.[12]

By 1958, colonial officials estimated that there were 175,000 people who could be classed as évolués in the colony.[2] In the final years leading up to independence, évolués played a major role in colonial propaganda as they were felt to exemplify the success of the Belgian civilizing mission begun under King Leopold II. In particular, it was felt that after independence, the assimilation of European values by the évolués meant that Belgian civilian inhabitants of the Congo could continue to live in the Congo as part of a culturally European multiracial state.[2]

Over time many évolués grew disillusioned with their attempts to assimilate with European culture, as it did not lead to full equality and the elimination of discrimination they sought. As this occurred, many became politically active and began pushing for Congolese independence from Belgium.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Gibbs 1991, p. 70.
  2. ^ a b c Gillet & Cornet 2010, p. 19.
  3. ^ Willame 1972, p. 24.
  4. ^ a b Willame 1972, p. 25.
  5. ^ a b Young 1965, p. 78.
  6. ^ a b c d Geenen 2019, p. 114.
  7. ^ Nzongola-Ntalaja 2002, p. 41.
  8. ^ Young 1965, p. 86.
  9. ^ Young 1965, p. 87.
  10. ^ Willame 1972, p. 26.
  11. ^ Gibbs 1991, p. 71.
  12. ^ Ceuppens, Bambi. "The urban photography of Joseph Makula". Royal Museum for Central Africa. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  13. ^ Nzongola-Ntalaja 2002, p. 80.

Sources edit

  • DeLancey, Mark W., and DeLancey, Mark Dike (2000): Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon (3rd ed.). Lanham, Maryland: The Scarecrow Press.
  • Geenen, Kristien (2019). "Categorizing colonial patients: Segregated medical care, space and decolonization in a Congolese city, 1931–62". The Journal of the International African Institute. 89 (1): 100–124. doi:10.1017/S0001972018000724. ISSN 1750-0184. S2CID 151174421.
  • Gibbs, David N. (1991). The Political Economy of Third World Intervention: Mines, Money, and U.S. Policy in the Congo Crisis. American Politics and Political Economy. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226290713.
  • Gillet, Florence; Cornet, Anne (2010). Congo-Belgique 1955-1965: Entre Propagande et Réalité. Brussels: Renaissance du livre. ISBN 9782507003302.
  • Nzongola-Ntalaja, Georges (2002). The Congo: From Leopold to Kabila: A People's History (illustrated, reprint ed.). London: Zed Books. ISBN 9781842770535.
  • Willame, Jean-Claude (1972). Patrimonialism and Political Change in the Congo. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804707930.
  • Young, Crawford (1965). Politics in the Congo: Decolonization and Independence. Princeton: Princeton University Press. OCLC 307971.

March 17, 2024
Évolué, french, evɔlɥe, evolved, developed, french, label, used, during, colonial, refer, african, evolved, becoming, europeanised, through, education, assimilation, accepted, european, values, patterns, behavior, most, commonly, used, refer, individuals, with. Evolue French evɔlɥe lit evolved one or developed one is a French label used during the colonial era to refer to an African who had evolved by becoming Europeanised through education or assimilation and had accepted European values and patterns of behavior It is most commonly used to refer to individuals within the Belgian and French colonial empires Evolues spoke French followed European rather than customary laws usually held white collar jobs although rarely higher than clerks and lived primarily in urban areas of the colony Evolues in the Belgian Congo studying medicine in Medical School of Yakusu Hospital near Kisangani Contents 1 Belgian colonies 2 See also 3 References 3 1 SourcesBelgian colonies editThe term was also used to describe the growing native middle class in the Belgian Congo the modern day Democratic Republic of the Congo between the latter part of World War II and the independence of the colony in 1960 Most evolues emerged from the Congolese who filled skilled positions such as clerks and nurses made available by the economic boom in the country following the war 1 Colonial administrators defined an evolue as a man having broken social ties with his group and having entered another system of motivations another system of values 2 While there were no universal criteria for determining evolue status it was generally accepted that one would have a good knowledge of French adhere to Christianity and have some form of post primary education 1 Early on in their history most evolues sought to use their unique status to earn special privileges in the Congo 3 They asked that the colonial administration recognize their role as mediators between the Belgians and the native savages 4 On 12 July 1948 the Governor General of the Belgian Congo issued an ordinance creating the carte de merite civique civic merit card 5 which could be granted to any Congolese who had no criminal record did not practice polygamy abandoned traditional religion and had some degree of education 6 Literacy was required except for those persons who had served 20 years as a customary chief or who had provided good and faithful service for 25 years in the administration 5 Cardholders were given an improved legal status and were exempt from certain restrictions on travel into European districts Of the thousands of evolues in the Congo only a small proportion of them earned a carte In 1957 there were 1 557 cardholders 6 There was discontent about the limited nature of the privileges attached to the carte de merite civique so in 1952 the colonial administration introduced the carte d immatriculation which granted to those who obtained it full legal equality with Europeans The latter card was much more difficult to obtain 6 One who sought to obtain it had to have a letter of recommendation from his employer and pass an evaluation The evaluation was administered by an investigative commission which would visit a candidate in his home examine his household items such as linen and silverware and ascertain if he ate with his wife at the table and communicated with his children in French 7 After this a candidate and his wife had to appear before the head magistrate of the provincial court to answer a series of questions 8 By 1958 only 217 Congolese had been awarded a carte d immatriculation 6 Most evolues found immatriculation irritating and by the mid 1950s the project was thoroughly discredited 9 nbsp A social club in the Belgian Congo c 1943 Since opportunities for upward mobility through the colonial structure were limited the evolue class institutionally manifested itself through clubs and associations Through these groups they could enjoy trivial privileges that made them feel distinct from the Congolese masses 4 In 1947 there were 110 social clubs consisting of 5 609 members throughout the Congo s cities From 1952 to 1956 the number of clubs rose from 131 to 317 with their membership increasing from 7 661 to 15 345 10 Most of these associations were rather small but some eventually grew in size to encompass entire regions and ethnic groups such as the Alliance des Bakongo 11 Evolues organised most of the educational opportunities for women in the Belgian Congo since the colonial government put little effort into such ventures 12 By 1958 colonial officials estimated that there were 175 000 people who could be classed as evolues in the colony 2 In the final years leading up to independence evolues played a major role in colonial propaganda as they were felt to exemplify the success of the Belgian civilizing mission begun under King Leopold II In particular it was felt that after independence the assimilation of European values by the evolues meant that Belgian civilian inhabitants of the Congo could continue to live in the Congo as part of a culturally European multiracial state 2 Over time many evolues grew disillusioned with their attempts to assimilate with European culture as it did not lead to full equality and the elimination of discrimination they sought As this occurred many became politically active and began pushing for Congolese independence from Belgium 13 See also edit nbsp History portal nbsp Democratic Republic of the Congo portalColon statue Assimilados Ilustrados Ladino people Affranchis Emancipados Model minority Authenticite Zaire References edit a b Gibbs 1991 p 70 a b c Gillet amp Cornet 2010 p 19 Willame 1972 p 24 a b Willame 1972 p 25 a b Young 1965 p 78 a b c d Geenen 2019 p 114 Nzongola Ntalaja 2002 p 41 Young 1965 p 86 Young 1965 p 87 Willame 1972 p 26 Gibbs 1991 p 71 Ceuppens Bambi The urban photography of Joseph Makula Royal Museum for Central Africa Retrieved 30 March 2020 Nzongola Ntalaja 2002 p 80 Sources edit DeLancey Mark W and DeLancey Mark Dike 2000 Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Cameroon 3rd ed Lanham Maryland The Scarecrow Press Geenen Kristien 2019 Categorizing colonial patients Segregated medical care space and decolonization in a Congolese city 1931 62 The Journal of the International African Institute 89 1 100 124 doi 10 1017 S0001972018000724 ISSN 1750 0184 S2CID 151174421 Gibbs David N 1991 The Political Economy of Third World Intervention Mines Money and U S Policy in the Congo Crisis American Politics and Political Economy University of Chicago Press ISBN 9780226290713 Gillet Florence Cornet Anne 2010 Congo Belgique 1955 1965 Entre Propagande et Realite Brussels Renaissance du livre ISBN 9782507003302 Nzongola Ntalaja Georges 2002 The Congo From Leopold to Kabila A People s History illustrated reprint ed London Zed Books ISBN 9781842770535 Willame Jean Claude 1972 Patrimonialism and Political Change in the Congo Stanford University Press ISBN 9780804707930 Young Crawford 1965 Politics in the Congo Decolonization and Independence Princeton Princeton University Press OCLC 307971 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Evolue amp oldid 1206976464, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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