French Equatorial Africa Research Articles

African Societies in Transition

The doctoral theses of Georges Balandier, professor at the Ecole des Hautes-Etudes—Sociologie actuelle de l'Afrique noire (“Current Sociology of Negro Africa”) and Sociologie des Brazzavilles noires (“Sociology of the Negro Brazzavilles”)—are the culmination of studies undertaken in French Equatorial Africa while he was working in the Office de la Recherche scientifique Outre-Mer (French Bureau of Scientific Research Overseas). They are equally far removed from metaphysical sociology and from a static ethnography which seeks pure states and original traditions. They treat a moving present, ethnic groups already formed, African societies concerned about European intervention and about their own deveoping future. “Sociology,” Louis Wirth used to say, “is the science and the art of human relations.” Humanity is indeed the object of sociology, but sociology should be as well a tool for humanity. Balandier's work is a precious tool for understanding present-day Africa beyond what appears on the surface, and perhaps even for helping to construct the new Africa.

Petroleum Developments in Africa in 1955

Petroleum production in Africa declined to 13,944,529 barrels in 1955 as compared with 15,241,582 barrels in 1954. All three producing countries (Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco) showed individual declines. Exploration activity in Africa continued to increase in 1955. Important oil or gas discoveries were made in Algeria, Angola, French Cameroun, Egypt, French Equatorial Africa, Morocco, and Nigeria. A total of 790,781 feet of drilling was carried out during the year and 52 drilling rigs were in operation at the end of the year. Ninety exploratory wells were completed with a success percentage of 13 per cent; 41 development wells were completed with a success percentage of 63 per cent. Geological-geophysical exploratory work in Africa in 1955 was distributed by party-months of various types of exploration as follows: surface geology 464, seismograph 424, gravity 154, ground magnetometer 39, airborne magnetometer 11, telluric 13, and structure drill 32. Active petroleum exploration was carried out in Algeria, Angola, Belgian Congo, French Cameroun, Egypt, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa, French West Africa, Gambia, Gold Coast, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Morocco, Spanish Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, British Somaliland, Sudan, Tanganyika, Tunisia, Union of South Africa, and Zanzibar.

Sur un bilobite nouveau du Gothlandien de l'Ennedi (Tchad, A.E.F.), Cruziana ancora

Abstract Describes a new bifurcate bilobite form, Cruziana ancora, from the Gotlandian (Silurian) of the Ennedi massif, French Equatorial Africa, which is interpreted as an internal mold of the beginning of a tunnel excavated by a trilobite.

Facies et nature de la sedimentation dans les bassins de la Loukouni et du Djoue (region du Niari, A.E.F.)

Abstract The numerous and varied facies in the "Schisto-calcaire" and the "Schisto-greseux" series in the Loukouni and Djoue river basins in the Niari region, French Equatorial Africa, are analyzed and the broad regional stages established. The Schisto-calcaire (mainly more or less magnesian limestones and marls) is divided into six stages representing transition from deposition in an epineritic shelf environment toward calcareous sedimentation in shallow water. Correlations can be drawn with similar beds in the Belgian Congo. The Schisto- greseux (mainly arkosic sandstone) is divided into the M'Pioka and Inkisi series. The series are characterized by relatively uniform facies which indicate deposition in a transitional (fluvial-lagoonal-littoral) environment within an intracratonic basin.

United Nations Work in Africa

tN recent years the United Nations and the specialised agencies connected 1 with it have devoted a great deal of effort to raising the standards of living in Africa. Through this effort3 new techniques in agriculture, industry and health have been spread and hundreds of technical experts and students have been exchanged. Yet, there is still the growing feeling about the dispanty of levels of economic development between Africa and other parts of the world; a disparity which causes the expectation of life in most parts of Africa to be much below that in North AmeIica and Western Europe. The Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the World Health Organisation and other international bodies with a wide range of technical competence are fully co-ordinated through the Technical Assistance Board and, as a result of the expanded programme of technical assistance to underdeveloped areas, progress appears to be more rapid and results less doubtful than before. The expanded programme of technical assistance enables the international organisations to provide expert advice, assistance and training facilities in a very wide field, its object being directed towards helping governments to help themselves, for without the initiative of recipient governments no assistance can be rerldered, since assistance is only given in response to requests of governments Countries at present being assisted in Africa include: Bechuanaland, the Belgian Congo, Cameroons, Kenya, I iberia, Mauritius, Morocco, Nigena, Ruanda-Urundi, Tanganyika, Togoland, Tunisia, Uganda, French West Africa and French Equatorial Africa. The requests for assistance for most of these are made through the Commission on Co-operation in Technical Matters in Africa south of the Sahara and through the co-operation of the peoples of the world for the abolition of poverty and hurlger, for the elimination of clisease and for the banishment of ignorance and illiteracy, these specialised agencies carry the fight into the heart of Africa In the case of U.N.I.C.E.F.) its aid in Afnca is for mass health campaigns (malaria} yaws, eprosy and trachoma), the treatment and prevention of acute nutritional leficiencies in children (kwashiorkor) and a whooping cough vaccinatio rogramme (in Mauritius).

The Zande Scheme in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

(1955). The Zande Scheme in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Economic Geography: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 149-156.

Petroleum Developments in Africa in 1954

Petroleum production in Africa declined to 15,241,492 barrels for 1954 as compared with 17,970,916 barrels in 1953. This decrease is largely due to the decline of the Asl field in Egypt. Production in French Morocco increased slightly, but production in Algeria declined. Gas production is recorded in 1954 from Tunisia and French Morocco. Exploration activity in Africa continued to increase in 1954. Important oil or gas discoveries were made in Algeria, Egypt, French Morocco, and Nigeria. A total of 786,473 feet of exploratory and development drilling was carried out during the year, exceeding all previous years, and 48 drilling rigs were in operation at the end of the year. Eighty-six exploratory wells and 69 development wells were drilled in Africa during the year. Exploratory drilling was 5.6 per cent successful and development drilling was 58 per cent successful. Exploratory work in party-months in Africa in 1954 was essentially as follows: surface geology 491, seismograph 317, gravity 126, magnetometer 23, electrical and telluric 11, and structure drilling 72. Active petroleum exploration was carried out in Algeria, Angola, Belgian Congo, Cameroun Egypt, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa, French West Africa, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, French Morocco, Spanish Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, British Somaliland, Sudan, Tanganyika, Tunisia, Union of South Africa, and Zanzibar.

Medicine in the jungle.

When I decided to go to Africa as a physician I was told by Alsatian missionaries active in the region of the Ogowe River in French Equatorial Africa that there was an urgent need for a physician at Lambarene. They also told me that that was a very good location for a hospital, because patients could be brought there by way of the Ogowe River and its tributaries. In the jungle forests of Equatorial Africa rivers constitute the best and frequently the only channel of transportation. I took passage for Lambarene in the spring of 1913, together with Mrs. Schweitzer, who is a trained nurse. On arrival, I established myself at the station of the Protestant Missionary Society of Paris. I shall always be indebted to this society for having permitted me to live as a guest in one of their houses and for the help they gave me in

Petroleum Developments in Africa in 1953

Africa reached new highs both in petroleum production and in petroleum exploration activity in 1953. Production for the year was 18,031,047 barrels, an increase of a half million barrels over the previous record attained last year. Particularly noteworthy was the increase in Algeria to a total of 643,000 barrels, nearly double last year's production. Egypt, French Morocco, and Algeria continued to be the only producing countries although Tunisia has closed-in gas production awaiting pipeline facilities, and development drilling for gas production was under way in French Cameroun. Principal wildcat discoveries of the year are oil and gas in the Akata well in Nigeria, gas in the Bomono area in Cameroun (French Mandate), shows of light oil in the Cacoba well in Angola, and the discovery of the Bled Khatara field in French Morocco. A total of 634,000 feet of exploratory and development drilling was carried out during the year, exceeding all previous years, and 34 rigs were in operation at year's end. Ninety-four exploratory and 70 development wells were drilled in Africa during the year. Exploratory drilling was 4% successful and development drilling was 68% successful. Active petroleum exploration was carried on in the following countries: Algeria, Angola, Belgian Congo, Cameroun, Egypt, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa, French West Africa, Libya, Madagascar, French Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, British Somaliland, Sudan, Tanganyika, Tunisia, Union of South Africa, and Zanzibar. Marked increases were shown over last year in almost all lines of geological and geophysical exploration. Work in party-months was essentially as follows: surface geology, 519; seismograph, 227; gravity, 112; magnetometer, 31; structure drill, 56; electrical prospecting, 5½.

Remarques sur la systematique et la valeur stratigraphique de quelques stromatolithes du Moyen-Congo

Abstract Stromatolites and calcareous structures found in the slate-limestone series (Precambrian? or lower Paleozoic?) of the Niari area in the central Congo region, French Equatorial Africa, are without chronological value, inasmuch as they are facies fossils. Nevertheless they are often valuable stratigraphically; several beds in which they are abundant can be used as horizon markers, particularly locally. The origin and classification of stromatolites are reviewed briefly.

Petroleum Developments in Africa in 1952

Petroleum production in Africa continued to increase in 1952 reaching an all-time high of 17,535,401 barrels. Both Algeria and French Morocco showed particularly marked increases in production. Drilling was carried on during the year in Algeria, Angola, Cameroun, Egypt, Ethiopia French Equatorial Africa, Madagascar, French Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tunisia, and totalled 575,000 feet. Thirty-three rigs were in operation at year's end. Exploratory drilling was only about 1 per cent successful while development drilling was about 75 per cent successful. Geological and geophysical exploratory activity also showed an increase over previous years with active exploration going on in Algeria, Angola, Cameroun, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa French West Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, French Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanganyika, Tunisia and the Union of South Africa. Work in party-months was approximately as follows: surface geology, 186+; seismograph, 181+; gravity, 70; telluric, 25; magnetometer, 3.5. Highlights of the year were the increased production of the Oued Gueterini field in Algeria; the attention given to the petroleum prospects of the Sahara region in Algeria; the starting of drilling in Angola; the continued extensive exploration program of the French Government companies in Cameroun, Equatorial Africa, West Africa, and Madagascar; the almost complete cessation of exploratory operation in Egypt: the concession interest and exploratory activity on the East African coast from Somaliland to Mozambique; concession interest in Libya; new discoveries in French Morocco, and the active exploration programs carried on in Tunisia and in Nigeria.

TRENDS

IT APPEARS timely to call attention again to the work and objectives of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. Particularly noteworthy is the trend to use this fund more and more in efforts to help other nations help themselves. Thus the mass attack on tuberculosis, yaws and malaria are, it is hoped, bringing those diseases into proportions where their continued control can be more effectively managed. Similarly, increasing attention is being given to the training of professional and technical personnel. The plans and long-range purpose of the UNICEF have recently been described by Maurice Pate, Executive Director of the fund: "Five years ago, in May 1947, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund received its first pledge of support, a contribution of $15,000,000 from the United States Government. A number of other pledges and contributions soon followed, and procurement of supplies was begun. By the middle of 1948, those supplies were reaching several million children. "Those early beginnings were in the minds of many of us at the recent meeting of the Fund's 26-nation Executive Board (April 22-24), for on that occasion UNICEF's aid was extended to the only remaining area of need in which it had not been operating— Africa, south of the Sahara. "In the Belgian Congo, French Equatorial Africa, Liberia, Togoland, the Cameroons and West Africa, UNICEF, side by side with the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization, will soon be working with the governments and people on a number of child-health projects. The largest of these is to be an attack on kwashiokor, a dietary deficiency disease that affects thousands of young children in these regions.

Petroleum Developments in Africa in 1951

Petroleum production in Africa in 1951 again reached a new all-time high of 16,915,259 barrels. Egypt, the principal producer, actually showed a small decline but this was more than compensated by increases in French Morocco and Algeria. Drilling was carried on during the year in Algeria Egypt French Equatorial Africa, Madagascar, French Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Uganda. Total footage drilled during the year was 547,241 feet. More than half of this was in Morocco. Next in order came Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia. Exploratory drilling was only about 1 per cent successful. On the other hand, development drilling was 76 per cent successful. Twenty-two drilling rigs were operating at the close of the year. Geological and geophysical exploration for petroleum also reached an all-time high in 1951 with active work in progress in Algeria, Angola, Cameroun, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, French Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanganyika, Tunisia, and Uganda. Work in party months was approximately as follows: surface geology--161+; seismograph--147; gravity--96+; telluric--35; structure drill--14; magnetometer--11+. The most extensive operations were in Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria, French Morocco, French Equatorial Africa, and Ethiopia. Highlights in the year's exploration history are the recovery of 32° API oil from a drill-stem test in French Equatorial Africa, the spudding of the first deep wells in Nigeria and Madagascar, the discovery of additional productive Paleozoic areas in Morocco, and the extensive exploratory campaigns in Tunisia and Algeria.

Stratigraphie du Precambrien de l'Oubangui-Chari occidental

Abstract The Precambrian of western Ubangi-Shari, French Equatorial Africa, can be divided into four systems, separated by unconformities--the basement complex, highly folded and metamorphosed; the M'Poko system, deposited in two geosynclines, mainly represented by quartzites and schists; the Lobaye system, quartzitic sandstones of continental origin; and the cherty Zinga series, less well-developed, representing silicified deposits which were originally calcareous or dolomitic.

Sioux and Navajo (Album 1401). Music of the Sioux or Dakotas of Northern U.S. and the Navajo of the south-west, recorded in Indian communities by Professor Willard Rhodes, of Columbia University, with the co-operation of the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. Notes by Dr. Rhodes, with foreword by Dr. W. Beatty and Réné d'Haroncourt, of the U.S.

Sioux and Navajo (Album 1401). Music of the Sioux or Dakotas of Northern U.S. and the Navajo of the south-west, recorded in Indian communities by Professor Willard Rhodes, of Columbia University, with the co-operation of the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. Notes by Dr. Rhodes, with foreword by Dr. W. Beatty and Réné d'Haroncourt, of the U.S. Indian Service. - Equatorial Africa (Album 1402). Recorded in the field by André Didier, of the Ogoue-Congo expedition in French Equatorial Africa. Notes by Gilbert Rouget, of the Musée de l'Homme, with introduction by Harold Courlander. - Drums of Haiti (Album 1403). Recorded in Haiti by Harold Courlander. Notes and introduction by Harold Courlander. - Middle East—Palestine (Album 1408). Recorded in Israel by the Folk Music Department of the Anthropological Institute. Notes by Raphael Patai, with foreword by Henry Cowell. - Peru (Album 1415). Historical notes by Harry Tschopik, Jr., of the American Museum of Natural History. - Volume 3

Petroleum Developments in Africa in 1950

Petroleum production in Africa in 1950 reached a new all-time high of 16,652,000 barrels. About 98 per cent of this production was from Egypt but both of the other producing countries, French Morocco and Algeria, showed very significant increases. Drilling exploration during the year was carried out in Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa, French Morocco, Tunisia, and Uganda. Total footage drilled during the year was by far the greatest in French Morocco (263,000 feet), followed in order by Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, and French Equatorial Africa. Exploratory drilling was 4 per cent successful. Seventeen drilling rigs were in operation at the close of the year. Geological and geophysical exploration for petroleum was in progress during 1950 in Algeria, Angola, Cameroons, Egypt, Ethiopia, French Equatorial Africa, French Morocco, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Spanish Sahara, Tunisia, and Uganda. This work in party months was approximately as follows: surface geology--160; seismograph--77; gravity--83+; telluric prospecting--38½; structure drill--16; ground magnetometer--10½; airborne magnetometer--3. Maximum geological and geophysical exploration activity was in Tunisia.

Sur une perthite-syenite de Baibokoum et sur une perthite-granulite de Passi (territoire du Tchad)

Abstract Describes the Baiebokoum perthite syenite and the Passi perthite granulite of the southern Chad region, French Equatorial Africa, which resemble certain perthitic rocks from the Fennoscandian shield. The feldspar is potassic, impregnated with perthite; plagioclase is lacking. Small amounts of augite, hornblende, biotite, and hypersthene occur in the syenite, and a few augite crystals in the granulite. As far as can be deduced from their mineralogy, the two rocks were formed under the same conditions of temperature and pressure. More detailed field work will no doubt establish whether they are independent intrusions or part of a series of magmatic differentiates like their Scandinavian counterparts. A chemical analysis of the syenite is given, and compared with a Norwegian hypersthene syenite and a Swedish perthite syenite. A review of opinions on the origin of perthite is included.

Sur une pegmatite a amazonite du Tibesti

Abstract An amazonite-bearing pegmatite mapped in the Dohona massif in the northeastern Tibesti mountains, French Equatorial Africa, is composed essentially of quartz with both amazonite and pink microcline, the latter perthitic, and accessory muscovite, topaz, and fluorite. To explain the presence of the two forms of microcline (which show identical composition upon spectral analysis), it is suggested that two phases are represented, one following closely upon the other. In the one, not all the equilibrium conditions for formation of pure microcline were present; the perthitic pink variety formed as a result of the tendency of soda (albite) and iron to exsolve. In the other, more stable phase the homogeneous amazonite crystallized. The sequence of the phases has not been determined.

Sur les series quartzo-schisteuses de l'Afrique equatoriale francaise

Abstract Distinguishes three series within the Precambrian complex of French Equatorial Africa, and discusses their correlation with the Precambrian of other African regions. Special attention is given to the two subdivisions distinguished in the quartzite-schist series which overlies the lower Precambrian granite-gneiss complex.

French Equatorial Africa Diamond Fields Get U.S. Aid

French Equatorial Africa Diamond Fields Get U.S. Aid