Prestations made annual forced labor a legal obligation for all Africans over fifteen

Evidence

Local administrators regularly forced Africans to work as porters and to help build the railroads and roads in their circles. This said, there were two exceptions to the prewar disinterest in labor regulation. The first were prestations, legalized in 1912 under Panty, which were annual labor requisitions every African over the age of fifteen owed the administration; they were not to exceed twelve days per year. French citizens, the evolwis, and Europeans in general were automatically exempt. The labor made available was to be used exclusively in the circle and devoted to small-scale public works of immediate interest to the community-roads, bridges, and the upkeep of local buildings. The administration was to make sure that fulfillment of an African’s prestations never interfered with planting and harvesting. Those who could afford it could buy out of their prestations, thus furnishing the administration with a supplementary source of income. — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 751

Categorization

• SHARE: Friend studying colonial labor law would appreciate the specific mechanics of prestations and who was exempt.