Between Movement and Containment

Forminière, Biopolitics and Labor in Kasaï, Belgian Congo (1910-1940)

Abstract

This article explores the operations of Forminière, a major mining company in the Tshikapa region of the Belgian Congo during the early twentieth century, and its influence on labor dynamics, biopolitics, and colonial governance. The article argues that mining companies like Forminière were fundamentally in search of an equilibrium between movement – since migration was essential to maintaining a steady labor force in the mines – and containment, as the company implemented a comprehensive paternalistic system to bind workers to its operations. The authors revisit and nuance earlier characterizations of Forminière as a casual labor system, revealing the intricate and often coercive methods employed to secure a stable workforce. The article draws on primary sources, including archival reports and medical publications, to examine how the company collaborated with the colonial state and the Catholic Church to shape the socio-economic landscape of Tshikapa. While this collaboration was mostly smooth, conflict could emerge, especially in relation to population displacement and public health initiatives.