Etat du Katanga - Congo 1960

This original 1960 poster by Louis Dressen, titled État du Katanga, is a rare and powerful visual document from one of the most turbulent moments in post-colonial African history. Published during the short-lived secession of Katanga from the newly independent Republic of the Congo, the poster serves both as an administrative map and a piece of political propaganda.

Featuring a meticulously detailed layout, the composition is divided into multiple panels. At the center is a large map of Katanga’s territory, highlighting provincial borders, communication lines, rivers, and topographical features. Around it, inset diagrams emphasize the region’s mineral wealth, industrial infrastructure, public education system, and ethnic composition—suggesting a vision of modernity and self-sufficiency.

The poster’s visual language is rooted in colonial and early post-colonial design, blending idealized imagery with statistical information. The Swahili slogan “Inchi yetu” (“Our country”) and the motto “Travail – Bonheur – Prospérité” (“Work – Happiness – Prosperity”) underscore Katanga’s claim to legitimacy as an independent state.

Printed in vivid tones and structured like an educational chart, this piece was likely intended for use in schools or public buildings to promote national identity and state pride. Today, it stands as a compelling artifact of Cold War-era African politics—when competing visions of sovereignty, nationalism, and resource control were playing out on a global stage.

This poster is not only an important collectible for those interested in African history or vintage cartography, but also a striking piece of visual culture that captures a fleeting yet significant episode in the story of post-independence Africa.

Map - Africa - Tourism - Congo

The land of happiness. Inchi Yetou

Good condition, tears on the edges, dirt