Colonial Reign

The French Congo was the original French colony. In 1879 and 1880, French explorer Pierre de Savorgnan de Brazza established control north of the Congo River. Consequently, France claimed the region as a colony in 1891.

France's African colonies. (Source)

French colonial rule included exploitation of raw materials such as ivory, rubber, palm oil, cotton and timber, as well as exploitation of the Congolese people through forced labour. Between 1892 ad 1896, the Congolese led many revolts against the French in reaction to French policy of maltreating the local population. However, the French enacted the Code de L'indigenat Act to further control their colony. It introduced forced labour and prohibited the airing of grievances by the local population. French rule was cruel and resulted in many deaths. Between 1921 and 1934, a railway was constructed between Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, and it is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 died.

French General Charles de Gaulle. (Source)

During World War II, French General de Gaulle played a significant role with regards to the involvement of France's African colonies. In August of 1940, he led troops that secured various areas of Africa including Chad, Cameroon and Middle Congo. Consequently, in October of 1940, de Gaulle set up a Conseil de Defense de l'Empire of which he was the ruler.

Between 1944 and 1946, de Gaulle served as the President of the Provisional Government of the French Republic. However, his influence on the administration of the colonies continued after his resignation. In 1947, de Gaulle ordered housing to be put in place for the generals involved in the colonization of Congo. Jean Prouve was commissioned to design and manufacture prototypes of the Maison Tropicales to be shipped to Africa.

Prouvé worked in metals and had affiliation with Aluminum Francais (AF), an aluminum manufacturing company based in France. Prouve allied with AF because of its ties to the French government and to have access to markets. However, this alliance was not always mutually beneficial. The design and manufacture of the Maison Tropicale, as well as other prefabricated housing projects, was altered to appease AF requirements.

France was committed to the assimilation of its colonies into the French culture, and this assimilation extended out to assimilating architecture and building techniques. Public buildings and white neighbourhoods openly displayed modern architecture and convenience in order to contrast existing indigenous architecture. Prefabricated housing was to be a visual example for the superiority of urban life and the French culture. For the capital development of colonial Africa to succeed and benefit the French, it was essential that colonists and Africans no longer used local and free building materials. In fact, planning bylaws instituted by the French government required that all building components used in their African colonies be of European manufacture. Despite Prouvé's intentions of merely building a house for the masses that was both climate responsive and portable, once erected, the Maison Tropicale supported the political agenda of the French government.

In 1960, the Republic of Congo became an independent state. Despite this autonomy, the Republic of Congo has had many civil wars and is continually in political turmoil.

-Stephanie Koltun

Information Citations:

Cahoon, Ben. "Congo" (2000).

http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Congo-Kinshasa.html

(accessed Janury 7 2010).

Guiler, Derek. "Democratic Republic of the Congo" (2002).

http://www.essortment.com/all/democraticrepub_raob.htm

(accessed January 7 2010).

"History of the Congo" (2009). Available from: Friends of the Congo.

http://www.friendsofthecongo.org/historyofcongo/index.php

(accessed January 7 2010).

Jezer, Marty. "A Brief History of Colonialism in Congo" (2001).

http://www.peace.ca/afcolonialismcongo.htm

(accessed January 7 2010).

"The Dark Continent: European Colonization of Africa" (2009).

http://njisworld.wordpress.com/mr-duells-articles/the-dark-continent-european-colonization-in-africa/

(accessed January 7 2010).

Image Sources:

"French Equatorial Africa" (image). Available from: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:French_Equatorial_Africa.PNG

(accessed January 2010).

"General Charles Andre Joseph Marie de Gaulle" (image). Available from: Maritime Quest.

http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/france/aircraft_carriers/charles_de_gaulle_r91/fs_charles_de_gaulle_general_de_gaulle.htm

(accessed January 2010).