Diamond | Diamond mining in Zaïre 1988
Around the city of Mbuji-Mayi in Kasaï-Oriëntal province thousands are slaving away the soil in artisanal exploited diamond mines. Diamond winning is taking place either under open skies or deep down under the surface of the earth. The diamonds are sold to diamond cutters in Surat, India and sold in Antwerp, Belgium.
Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Ladies with vessles to transport digged-up mud from the mine pit down to the river for washing.
Mbuyi-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Miners excavating an open diamond mine.
Mbuyi-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Open diamond mine pit.
Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Workers digging the pits of an open diamond mine.
Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Open diamond mine, transport of mud
Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Panning the excavated mud with shifting trays in the water in the Mbuji-Mayi river.
Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Locals using the heavily polluted Mbuji-Mayi river for drinking water and washing.
Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Girls in a local hospital.
Mbuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Traders buying diamonds.
Mabuji-Mayi, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Prostitutes looking for cliënts.
Tshilenge, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Diamond miners pulling out soil from a subsurface diamond mine.
Tshilenge, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Diamond miners going subsurafce
Tshilenge, Kasaï-Oriëntal
Scene of subsurface diamond mining.