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Fantastic vintage poster advertising the services of East African Airways in the Great Lakes Region of the continent.
Illustrated by Peter Jay in the 1950s, this represents both one of the earlier posters made by the company and also one of the most decorative. With simple, geometric shapes, it shows a DC-3 flying above Uganda, Kenya, and Tanganyika (Tanzania). The region is represented in a generally impressionistic style. Surrounding the map are images of African wildlife.
East African Airways was a prominent airline founded in 1946, serving as the flag carrier for the East African Community, which comprised Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Established post-World War II, it was formed to provide a joint airline service for these territories, streamlining resources and offering routes mainly within East Africa, but later expanding to international destinations in Europe, Asia, and other parts of Africa. Initially operated with a fleet consisting of de Havilland aircraft, the airline steadily modernized, introducing jet service in the 1960s with the Comet, followed by the Boeing 707 and 720.
However, the 1970s proved challenging for EAA. Economic difficulties, political tensions between the member states, and increased competition began to strain the airline's operations. Differences in visions for the airline's future and economic priorities led to disagreements among the partner nations. By 1977, the East African Community had dissolved, and so did East African Airways. In its wake, each country established its own national airline: Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, and Uganda Airlines.
The map can be dated by the model of the aircraft shown and the name given to Tanzania. Tanzania is named Tanganyika, definitively dating the map to before 1961. The aircraft shown is a DC-3, which the airline first acquired in 1949.
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