Sephardic Presence in the Belgian Congo, 1900-1960

This book traces the largely overlooked history of the Sephardic Jewish pioneers who settled in the Belgian Congo during the first half of the twentieth century.

Drawing on archival records, period biographical notices, family testimonies, photographs, and genealogical research, it brings together some 220 meticulously documented biographies of merchants, traders, industrialists, and entrepreneurs from Sephardic families, primarily originating from the island of Rhodes. Their stories recount the development of businesses and commercial networks throughout the Belgian Congo while highlighting their significant contribution to the colony’s economic and social development.

Richly illustrated with portraits, photographs, advertisements, commercial documents, maps, and archival sources, this book stands at the crossroads of history, documentary research, genealogy, and memory. It sheds light on a little-known chapter of Jewish and African history while preserving the memory of the men and women who helped shape the economic, social, and communal landscape of the Belgian Congo.