Object Details
- Description
- In this oil on canvas, men and women fall to the ground, victims of the gunfire of colonial-era soldiers whose actions appear to be sanctioned by a white colonial official and a white priest. The inscription, Gouveneur Marron dans Martyrs de l'U.M.H.K., Lubumbashi le 9 Décembre 1941, identifies victims as martyrs of the Union Minière de Haut Katanga (UMHK), which was established in 1906. Historical accounts document that on December 9, 1941, mine workers who had been striking for better wages, were summoned to the mining company's stadium in Elizabethville (later called Lubumbashi) to appear before Katanga governor Maron (spelled Marron by the artist) in a meeting that had the support of the church. When the employees refused to return to work, the governor ordered the Force Publique, the colonial army, to fire on the striking workers assembled there. According to the artist's account, this action was sanctioned by Monsignor Jean de Hemptinne, who is likely depicted alongside the governor at the right. The painting is signed in the lower right corner by the artist.
- Provenance
- Ambassador Edward Marks, Washington, collected from the artist in Lubumbashi, Shaba province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1974-1976 to 2007
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Tshibumba Kanda-Matulu, 1947-ca. 1981, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Date
- ca. 1974-1976
- Credit Line
- Ambassador and Mrs. Edward Marks
- Medium
- Paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- H x W: 45 x 54 cm (17 11/16 x 21 1/4 in.)
- Type
- Painting
