Congo-Kasaï was one of the four large provinces of the Belgian Congo defined in 1914. It was formally established in 1919, and in 1933 was divided into the new provinces of Léopoldville and Lusambo.
Belgian Congo districts in 1914, before the grouping into provincesBelgian Congo provinces in 1920
Congo-Kasaï was named after the Kasai River, a major left tributary of the Congo River that provides access to the region. By 1910 a factory of the Kasai Company had been established near Misumba, which had about two thousand inhabitants.[1] The company had made successful trial rubber plantations.[2] The company also bought rubber and ivory from the local people, some of whom used it to buy liquor from the Portuguese territory (Angola).[3]
Congo-Kasaï had five districts: the urban district of Léopoldville, capital of the colony, and the districts (from west to east) of Bas-Congo, Kwango, Kasaï and Sankuru.[4] The Huileries du Congo Belge company had two zones (or circles) of exploitation in the province based on Brabanta and Leverville, of which Leverville was the most important.[4]
Historyedit
In the early days of the Belgian Congo the colony was divided into 22 vaguely-defined districts. As the colonial system became established the rulers felt the need to assign the ethnic groups to defined territories, where before they had often been mobile.[5] An arrêté royal of 28 July 1914 grouped the districts into the provinces of Congo-Kasaï, Équateur, Orientale Province and Katanga, with the objective of improving responsiveness through decentralization.[6] The consolidation had in fact started in Katanga in 1912 and Orientale in 1913, but Congo-Kasai did not formally become a vice-government until 1919.[7] Each province was made up of several of the existing districts, which were in turn divided into territories. The territories were divided into sectors. A great many chiefdoms were recognized. Several of the smallest might be combined into one sector, while the largest chiefdoms were split across sectors.[5]
As diamond mining activity increased, followed by copper, gold and tin mining in different parts of the colony, it became increasingly hard to recruit workers. Often laborers were obtained from the village chiefs through a combination of commissions and sanctions, and were then taken long distances from their homes to the mines.[8] Death rates were high among the laborers due to poor diet, hard work and greater exposure to diseases, while birth rates were lower.[9] The Commission for the Protection of the Natives in the Congo reported on the problems in 1919. The government and businesses both saw the value of keeping the workforce healthy and productive. The Kasai Company was given a 185,000 acres (75,000 ha) concession for plantations to provide more food to their mine workers. The governor of Congo-Kasaï published regulations that detailed the minimum quantity and quality of rations.[10]
The original four provinces had considerable autonomy, but in 1933 they were reorganized into six provinces, named after their capitals, and the central government assumed more control. Congo-Kasai was divided into the new provinces of Léopoldville and Lusambo. In 1947 Lusambo was renamed to Kasaï.[11] In 1965 Kasaï was split into Kasaï-Occidental and Kasaï-Oriental.[12]
Bruneau, Jean-Claude (30 June 2009), "Les nouvelles provinces de la République Démocratique du Congo : construction territoriale et ethnicités", L'Espace Politique, 7 (2009–1), doi:10.4000/espacepolitique.1296, retrieved 2020-08-08
Derksen, Richard (1983), "Forminiere in the Kasai, 1906 - 1939", African Economic History (12, Business Empires in Equatorial Africa), University of Wisconsin Press: 49–65, doi:10.2307/3601316, JSTOR 3601316 – via JSTOR
Lemarchand, René (1964), Political Awakening in the Belgian Congo, University of California Press, GGKEY:TQ2J84FWCXN, retrieved 19 August 2020
Torday, E. (July 1910), "Land and Peoples of the Kasai Basin", The Geographical Journal, 36 (1), The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers): 26–53, doi:10.2307/1777651, JSTOR 1777651, retrieved 2020-08-08 – via JSTOR
Vanderlinden, Jacques (2007), Main-d'œuvre, Eglise, Capital et Administration dans le Congo des années trente(PDF), Fontes Historiæ Africanæ (in French), vol. I, Academie Royale Des Sciences D’outre-mer, retrieved 2020-08-18
Further readingedit
Belgium. Ministère de la défense nationale (1925), Liste des localités de la province du Congo-Kasaï (in French), Impr. du Ministère de la défense nationale, retrieved 8 August 2020
Mwamba Mputu, Baudouin (1 October 2011), Le Congo-Kasaï (1865-1950): De l'exploration allemande à la consécration de Luluabourg (in French), Editions L'Harmattan, ISBN978-2-296-47015-6, retrieved 8 August 2020
January 01, 1970
congo, kasaï, four, large, provinces, belgian, congo, defined, 1914, formally, established, 1919, 1933, divided, into, provinces, léopoldville, lusambo, belgian, congo, districts, 1914, before, grouping, into, provinces, belgian, congo, provinces, 1920, conten. Congo Kasai was one of the four large provinces of the Belgian Congo defined in 1914 It was formally established in 1919 and in 1933 was divided into the new provinces of Leopoldville and Lusambo Belgian Congo districts in 1914 before the grouping into provinces Belgian Congo provinces in 1920 Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Sources 6 Further readingLocation editCongo Kasai was named after the Kasai River a major left tributary of the Congo River that provides access to the region By 1910 a factory of the Kasai Company had been established near Misumba which had about two thousand inhabitants 1 The company had made successful trial rubber plantations 2 The company also bought rubber and ivory from the local people some of whom used it to buy liquor from the Portuguese territory Angola 3 Congo Kasai had five districts the urban district of Leopoldville capital of the colony and the districts from west to east of Bas Congo Kwango Kasai and Sankuru 4 The Huileries du Congo Belge company had two zones or circles of exploitation in the province based on Brabanta and Leverville of which Leverville was the most important 4 History editIn the early days of the Belgian Congo the colony was divided into 22 vaguely defined districts As the colonial system became established the rulers felt the need to assign the ethnic groups to defined territories where before they had often been mobile 5 An arrete royal of 28 July 1914 grouped the districts into the provinces of Congo Kasai Equateur Orientale Province and Katanga with the objective of improving responsiveness through decentralization 6 The consolidation had in fact started in Katanga in 1912 and Orientale in 1913 but Congo Kasai did not formally become a vice government until 1919 7 Each province was made up of several of the existing districts which were in turn divided into territories The territories were divided into sectors A great many chiefdoms were recognized Several of the smallest might be combined into one sector while the largest chiefdoms were split across sectors 5 As diamond mining activity increased followed by copper gold and tin mining in different parts of the colony it became increasingly hard to recruit workers Often laborers were obtained from the village chiefs through a combination of commissions and sanctions and were then taken long distances from their homes to the mines 8 Death rates were high among the laborers due to poor diet hard work and greater exposure to diseases while birth rates were lower 9 The Commission for the Protection of the Natives in the Congo reported on the problems in 1919 The government and businesses both saw the value of keeping the workforce healthy and productive The Kasai Company was given a 185 000 acres 75 000 ha concession for plantations to provide more food to their mine workers The governor of Congo Kasai published regulations that detailed the minimum quantity and quality of rations 10 The original four provinces had considerable autonomy but in 1933 they were reorganized into six provinces named after their capitals and the central government assumed more control Congo Kasai was divided into the new provinces of Leopoldville and Lusambo In 1947 Lusambo was renamed to Kasai 11 In 1965 Kasai was split into Kasai Occidental and Kasai Oriental 12 See also editList of governors of Kasai former province Notes edit Torday 1910 p 33 Torday 1910 p 45 Torday 1910 p 51 a b Vanderlinden 2007 p 2 a b Bruneau 2009 p 7 Lemarchand 1964 p 63 Lemarchand 1964 p 64 Derksen 1983 p 55 Derksen 1983 pp 55 56 Derksen 1983 p 56 Bruneau 2009 p 8 Bruneau 2009 p 10 Sources editBruneau Jean Claude 30 June 2009 Les nouvelles provinces de la Republique Democratique du Congo construction territoriale et ethnicites L Espace Politique 7 2009 1 doi 10 4000 espacepolitique 1296 retrieved 2020 08 08 Derksen Richard 1983 Forminiere in the Kasai 1906 1939 African Economic History 12 Business Empires in Equatorial Africa University of Wisconsin Press 49 65 doi 10 2307 3601316 JSTOR 3601316 via JSTOR Lemarchand Rene 1964 Political Awakening in the Belgian Congo University of California Press GGKEY TQ2J84FWCXN retrieved 19 August 2020 Torday E July 1910 Land and Peoples of the Kasai Basin The Geographical Journal 36 1 The Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers 26 53 doi 10 2307 1777651 JSTOR 1777651 retrieved 2020 08 08 via JSTOR Vanderlinden Jacques 2007 Main d œuvre Eglise Capital et Administration dans le Congo des annees trente PDF Fontes Historiae Africanae in French vol I Academie Royale Des Sciences D outre mer retrieved 2020 08 18Further reading editBelgium Ministere de la defense nationale 1925 Liste des localites de la province du Congo Kasai in French Impr du Ministere de la defense nationale retrieved 8 August 2020 Mwamba Mputu Baudouin 1 October 2011 Le Congo Kasai 1865 1950 De l exploration allemande a la consecration de Luluabourg in French Editions L Harmattan ISBN 978 2 296 47015 6 retrieved 8 August 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Congo Kasai amp oldid 1190806418, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
