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Arab Merchant - Congo, Africa
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Arab Merchant - Congo, Africa
Arab Merchant in Stanleyville, Congo - (still the Belgian Congo at this point) Date: circa 1910s
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Media ID 7211595
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10418353
Arab Belge Belgian Congo Congolese Merchant Muslim Stamp Trader
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the image of an Arab merchant, with a distinctively trimmed beard and a traditional white cap, engaging in trade in the heart of Stanleyville, Congo during the 1910s. At the time, the Congo was still under Belgian rule, and the Arab merchants played a significant role in the region's commercial landscape. The merchant is shown in the foreground of the image, seated on a low stool, surrounded by an array of goods spread out before him. The items, including textiles, beads, and various trinkets, are carefully arranged, suggesting the importance of the trade taking place. In the background, the bustling market scene unfolds, with Congolese locals haggling over prices and exchanging goods. Despite the Belgian presence, the Arab merchants maintained their cultural identity, often practicing Islam and maintaining strong trade connections with the Middle East. The merchant in the photograph wears traditional Muslim attire, including a long, flowing robe and a headscarf, signaling his religious and cultural background. The photograph also provides a glimpse into the complexities of colonial trade networks, with goods from various regions and continents coming together in this bustling marketplace. The merchant's use of a Belgian stamp on the parcel next to him underscores the intricacies of the colonial trade system, where goods were often transported across vast distances and exchanged through various intermediaries. This photograph is a poignant reminder of the rich cultural and commercial exchanges that took place in the Congo during the colonial era, and the resilience of the Arab merchants in maintaining their cultural identity amidst the larger colonial context.
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