Beating Rubber / Congo
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Mary Evans Picture Library
Beating Rubber / Congo
The rubber industry in the Belgian Congo - thumping rubber to remove particles of wood and fibre
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 615878
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10099601
Beating Belgian Congo Fibre Particles Remove Rubber
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the backbreaking labor involved in the rubber production process in the Belgian Congo during the early 20th century. Taken in 1909, the image shows a Congolese worker meticulously thumping a pile of freshly harvested rubber sheets to remove particles of wood and fibre. The wood and fibre were necessary impurities that needed to be eliminated before the rubber could be processed further. The Belgian Congo, a vast territory in Central Africa, was a major source of natural rubber for the global market during this period. The rubber industry was a significant economic driver for the Belgian colonial power, which ruled the region from 1885 until 1960. The labor force for the rubber industry was primarily made up of Congolese people, who were forced to work under brutal conditions. They were subjected to harsh punishments for not meeting their quotas, and many died from exhaustion, malnutrition, and disease. The image of the rubber worker, with his determined expression and weary body, serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the rubber industry in the Belgian Congo. The photograph also highlights the rudimentary nature of the rubber production process during this time. The workers used simple tools, such as wooden mallets and their bare hands, to remove the impurities from the rubber sheets. The absence of modern machinery and technology made the process labor-intensive and time-consuming. Despite the challenges, the rubber industry in the Belgian Congo continued to thrive, fueled by the insatiable demand for natural rubber in Europe and beyond. The image of the rubber worker, with his tireless determination and resilience, stands as a testament to the human spirit and the enduring legacy of the rubber industry in the region.
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