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Centre Æquatoria

Centre de Recherches Culturelles Africanistes
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All volumes of Æquatoria in full text (1937-1962)

Æquatoria (1937-1962)

Æquatoria was an important journal in the Belgian colonial context, if only for its link with everyday life in the colony, its viewpoints in relation to colonial practice and the rights of the African populations. It was published in Coquilhatville (now, Mbandaka), the Belgian Congo, from 1937 to 1962. Several libraries across the world already possess a microfilm copy of the entire collection, or of part of it. As we feel this availability on microfilm offers only limited access, we have now decided to publish the entire collection, in full text, on the website of the Centre Æquatoria. We also include a text on polygamy which was prepared for publication in Æquatoria in 1945, whose definitive publication was ultimately proscribed by the Papal Nuncio G. Dellepiane.

The historical context

The history of the periodical Æquatoria has been described in the article by H. Vinck, 'Le Centre Æquatoria de Bamanya, cinquante ans de recherches africanistes', Zaire-Afrique 212 (1987), 79-102.  In a nutshell: In 1937, E. Boelaert launched a series of pamphlets under the title Æquatoria. G. Hulstaert expanded the idea and the full-fledged africanist journal Æquatoria was born. After a few years, it found a stable rhythm and appeared four times per year. It functioned as a major and indispensable landmark for all the emerging africanist departments around the world. In 1962, the journal ceased publication for practical reasons.

Æquatoria (1937-1962)

The entire Æquatoria collection consists of 25 volumes. It first appeared once a month, then every two months and finally every trimester. The volume of the publication year 1937-38 consisted of brochures on an A5-format. For our present purposes, they were written out again, while the later volumes were scanned. The text on these scans is not always clear, but we believe it remains readable throughout. We also include the printed number on polygamy of 1944, which was proscribed by the Papal Nuncio, G. Dellepiane.

Availability

The printed version of Æquatoria can be consulted in several libraries across the world. We have located complete or almost complete collections in the following libraries: in The Netherlands: Leiden (Afrikainstituut and Department of Languages and Cultures of Africa); Germany: Mainz, Frankfurt, Hamburg (Afrika und Übersee); France: Musée de l'Homme; Maison des Sciences Humaines; Italy: Università Pontificia Urbaniana; USA: Memorial Library, Madison, University of Wisconsin; Library of the Indiana State University at Bloomington; M.-J. Herskovits Library, Evanston, Northwestern University; Belgium: Tervuren: RMCA; Universités de Gent, de Louvain la Neuve, de Leuven; United Kingdom: London, Soas, Museum of Mankind. Often the volumes of the war years (1941-1944) are missing. One can find these volumes at the house of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) in Borgerhout, Belgium, in Tervuren, Belgium, and in Bamanya (D.R. Congo.)

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