Author: aliciafiuza

Summary

The construction of mining camps in late colonial Central Africa, specifically in Lunda (Angola) and the Copperbelt (encompassing parts of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo), presents a complex narrative that questions the multifaceted roles of laborers within these colonial enterprises. This paper examines the conditions, contributions, and agency of workers engaged in the construction of housing and infrastructure under the rule of the Belgian Union Minière du Haut- Katanga (UMHK) and the Portuguese Companhia de Diamantes de Angola (Diamang), between the 1920s and 1970s, revealing a critical dimension of colonial exploitation, social dynamics, and resistance from the building site.

Workers and families in Lunda and the Copperbelt were pivotal to the construction of mining camps, yet their contributions are frequently overshadowed by the broader narrative of colonial expertise and development. Despite challenging conditions, laborers demonstrated significant skill in their construction efforts. Traditional artisans, with expertise in masonry, carpentry, and other crafts, played a crucial role alongside large groups of still “invisible” men and women. They were often tasked with building their own housing, using a combination of traditional construction techniques and new methods introduced through colonial influence. This self-construction not only mitigated the inadequate housing provided by the companies but also reflected – to some extent – the laborers’ adaptation to new materials such as brick, corrugated iron sheets, and imported cement. The use of local materials like mud, straw, and wood, along with the incorporation of European architectural elements, led to the emergence of hybrid forms of housing that were both practical and culturally significant.

Against this common corporate backdrop – shaped by strong cross-border and inter-imperial relations between UMHK and Diamang –, this paper questions the similarities and differences between mining camps, laborers, and building sites in Elizabethville (now Lubumbashi) and those in Lunda. These sites had different conditions and environments influenced by varying colonial administrations, mining company policies, and local contexts. While Elizabethville developed into a significant urban center, with diverse socio-cultural influences and a mix of populations from various regions, the Lunda region was arguably shaped by more dispersed and rural mining settlements. How were housing, construction methods, and technologies affected by these circumstances? What did the building site (un)cover about authorship and knowledge transfer? Were the construction yards places for the formation of cosmopolitan communities?

Summary

The Benguela Railway represents one of the most significant mobility
infrastructures developed during the Portuguese colonial period in Angola. The railroad was constructed between 1883 and 1931. The primary objective of the project was to establish a transportation network connecting the Lobito Port in Angola to the mineral- rich region of Katanga in the southern region of the former Belgian Congo. The construction was overseen by a private English company, yet it consistently received substantial support from the colonial state, particularly in terms of recruiting labor.

A substantial body of research has been conducted on the political, economic, social, and territorial impacts of the Benguela Railway. The project’s promotion facilitated significant inter-imperial connections, the establishment of new settlements along the route, and the creation of an important transportation corridor that would serve a large area extending over 1,800 kilometers. However, the role and building skills of the thousands of African workers who participated in the construction of this line and associated buildings remain to be evaluated.

This presentation aims to examine the impact of African workers on the building sites, mobile yards, and tasks along the construction of the Benguela Railway. The diversity of political, economic, and technological factors in this case study will be employed to examine the nature and evolution of the concept of “skill”. In particular, the paper will focus on the types of skills developed by the workers and the changes in discourse surrounding those skills over time and across diverse geographical locations. What insights can be gained from a more nuanced perspective that extends beyond the dichotomy of skill versus unskilled? The research will identify and compare information from different sources, including reports produced by the company and colonial inspectors, drawings, and photographs.

Related Case Studies

Benguela Railway, Angola

Summary

During early 20th century European colonialism in Africa, mining companies were set up as key vehicles for the exploitation and extraction of the interior regions. The colonial powers granted large concessions to these enterprises, giving them control over resources and trade in exchange for investment in infrastructure. Within the scope of these operations, railways played a pivotal role in facilitating the transport of trade and people, as well as establishing territorial connections. The expansion of these lines served the economic interests of both the colonial powers and the companies, while having a major weight on the landscape through the physical presence of the rails and the creation of new dynamics of mobility.

This presentation focused on the mining networks between Angola and the Belgian Congo, established under the auspices of the Societè Generále de Belgique, to question the wider and long-lasting socio-spatial implications of the construction of railway lines, considering the multiple agents and agendas involved. It explored the roles played by Union Minière du Haut Katanga, Forminière and Diamang in planning, building, and using railways between the two territories. These were complex and multifaceted connections, involving the railway routes’ layout – from the decauville lines for local transport to the trans imperial connections provided by the Benguela Railway between Katanga and Lobito –, the displacement and mobility of workers in the production of these infrastructures and through their use, the employment of new technologies and construction materials and the adaptation by local populations living near the lines.

Related Case Studies

Benguela Railway, Angola