Air Afrique Unit L'Afrique par JET DC8 Circa 1960

This striking circa 1960 poster by Auriac was created to promote Air Afrique, the multinational airline founded in 1961 by a consortium of newly independent African states, with strong French technical support. The slogan “Unit l’Afrique” (“Unites Africa”) and the reference to the DC-8 jet place this work squarely in the optimistic dawn of the jet age and the era of African decolonization.

The composition is boldly modern. Against a deep black background, the African continent is rendered as a vibrant abstract mosaic of thick, expressive color blocks—yellows, reds, blues, greens, and violets—suggesting both geographic unity and cultural diversity. Above it, a sleek DC-8 crosses the sky like a symbol of technological progress, connection, and speed. The aircraft is small but precise, contrasting with the painterly, almost emotional energy of the continent below.

Rather than illustrating specific destinations, Auriac chose a conceptual approach: Africa becomes an emblem, not a map. The dripping, gestural paint evokes vitality, transformation, and creative force. This modernist aesthetic reflects the visual language of the late 1950s and early 1960s, when airlines increasingly embraced abstraction to convey innovation and internationalism.

Air Afrique was conceived as a powerful symbol of post-colonial cooperation, linking West and Central African nations through a shared airline. The introduction of the Douglas DC-8 jet marked a dramatic leap in speed and international reach, allowing direct long-haul flights between Africa and Europe. Posters like this one were designed not only to sell airline tickets, but to project a new political and cultural identity: modern, united, and globally connected.

With its expressive abstraction and strong ideological message, this poster stands as a vivid example of early post-independence African aviation promotion and of the way graphic design was used to visualize continental unity and technological progress.

Original Poster

Airline - Tourism - Africa

Printed by De la Vasselais in Paris

Good condition