Télé Zaïre

Background
Télé Zaire was the only television broadcaster in the Republic of Zaire from 1972. After 1981, the channel was known as OZRT, standing for Office Zaïrois de Radio Télévision. During the 1970s, each broadcast from the channel started with an image of Mobutu Sese Seko, the dictator of Zaire, descending from the clouds. In 1997, a coup that ended Mobutu's regime also brought reformations to national broadcasting and OZRT ceased operations and was succeeded by the RTNC.

1st Logo (1980s)


Visuals: On a white background, a map of Zaire in green with copies of the map is shown as a white line with 3 circle outlines at the center (also having copies of it) is shown going to the map. Once the line is done, the text

OFFICE

ZAIRIOS

in white fades next to the line. Then it fades to a river in Zaire with a strange-looking shape in orange and yellow (including the line with the circle outlines from before) as the text "DE RADIODIFFUSION" slides to the orange shape. The background fades to a load of newspapers scattered all over the place. Then the text "ET DE TELEVISION" slides to the shape. Then everything fades to a dark yellow background with the Zaire map in pink. Then the text "ozrt" zooms out to reveal the text in pink and the map in green. Then it fades to a black background with the "Justice Paix Travail" seal at the center. Then it fades to the Zaire flag waving on a black background. The text

élé

 tz aïre

in yellow wipes in as the flag waves.

Technique: 2D animation, presumably done in Scanimate, and live action for the footage.

Audio: A trumpet theme, specifically the anthem of Zaire known as La Zaïroise.

2nd Logo (1993)
Visuals: The text "Télé Zaire" in white forms letter by letter over a green background. The screen quickly fades and footage of Mobutu, a factory, a forest and animals is seen.

Technique: 2D animation and live action footage.

Audio: A short brass fanfare.

Availability: Sourced from a TV DX recording from 1993.

3rd Logo (early/mid 1990s-1997)


Visuals: On a purple space background, the Zaire circle in its flag zooms out as 3 spheres get to the center. Then the text "ozrt" gets in front of the spheres, leaving chrome trail. It goes static for 16 seconds before fading.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: A quiet flute theme, specifically the anthem of Zaire known as La Zaïroise.