Photography as A Governance Tool in Africa: The Case of Democratic Republic Of Congo

This study is an assessment of photography as a tool of governance in post-colonial Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study affirms that colonialists, specifically the Belgians in Congo, developed photography standards and interpretation guidelines as a tool to control the colonies and serve their interests. This enabled them to extend their domination through pictorial representation of the occupied territories. However, this never opened up opportunity for inclusivity of Africans’ views or interpretation to enable them rewrite the colonial history and enhance governance after independence. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of photography in the governance of DRC. The study utilized qualitative research methodology to collect and analyze data. The sources of data included the national library in DRC, Photograph Association of Congo, the Ministry of Education, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage in Congo and media houses in DRC. The data was selectively gathered and interpreted as per the research objectives. The findings indicated that photography was one of the most successful strategies of governance during the colonial period and has continued to be used by the independent governments in DRC. Because of its relevance, photography was prioritized through the development of scientific archiving method, coding procedures, and mapping within several government institutions in DRC. Despite the influential role of photography, the independent government in DRC has not exploited this potential to its advantage. The study, therefore, recommends the strengthening of photography in all government institutions as a strategy of improving governance, raising DRC’s international profile and countering colonial narratives.