Viva la Republique Banania 10 September 2007, Cervera de los Montes A4 (29,7 x 21,0 cm) Water color, acrylic color, pencil, color pencil, ball-point pen, felt-tip pen and stickers on paper i The image is from Banania, a popular French chocolate drink. The image have been labeled racist and colonialist by some who argue that it reinforces the old cliché of a friendly yet stupid African. Viva la republique (French) = Long live the republic. Banana republic is a pejorative term for a small country that is politically unstable, dependent on limited agriculture, and ruled by a small, self-elected, wealthy and corrupt clique. Diamants de sang (French) = Blood diamonds. A blood diamond is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, invading army's war efforts, or supporting a warlord's activity. Le bon petit colonialisme équilibre (French) = The good, little well-balanced colonialism. Artist Pension Trust, London. Tags: France, republic, colonialism, diamonds, chocolate, Banania, fez, banana 551 / 779