Compilation of Pictures that Illustrate the Colonization of The Congo

This picture taken before 1905, illustrates the horrible consequences of colonialism. This collection of photos are specific to the Belgian colonization of Congo. The background in each photo is very simple, and the people in the various photos are all dressed simply. This embodies the thoughts of colonizers on various countries, which they colonized. They thought of the people as barbaric, and in need of western culture.(Congo Free State) They were thought of as lesser humans and therefore allowed to be abused. All of these people in the various photos have lost hands. They have all experienced unimaginable forms of torture, and there was nothing they could do to prevent the atrocities that were committed against them. Women and young children have lost their hands. It is clear that the wellbeing of these people did not concern settlers. This was the result of colonization in Congo. The original people of Congo lost their hands, for not completing their daily task of collecting rubber. They suffered from a very barbaric penalty.(Hochshcild, 10-11)


The colonization of Congo occurred under the rule of King Leopold. He wanted to exploit the economic opportunities in the Congo. King Leopold began to hire his own cabinet of Belgians who were completely loyal, and did his bidding without question. First they were encouraged to take land from the Congolese people. However later Rubber became very profitable, and it was readily available. Leopold began to use the Congolese people as workers. They were told to collect unrealistic amounts of rubber, and when they did not acquire enough they would lose a hand. This was disastrous because the hands were stored in nearby villages. People who had not collected enough rubber would raid the villages for hands. If they were caught they would be killed and there head would be put on a stick in the village. The effort by the west to civilize these countries is rather ironic, as they acted more crudely and violently than the countries they sought to westernize.(Hochschild, p. 115-140)

Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold's Ghost: a Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998. Print.

"Congo Free State." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Apr. 2011. .