In the spring of 1976 I returned from almost three months of research in archives in Lubumbashi, Zaire, the present-day capital of Shaba Region (ex-Katanga). My interest was in any and all records having to do with historical developments affecting Katanga's peoples from the late 19th century through the First World War. As some important changes concerning archival research seem to have taken place since Thomas Reefe's experiences in Shaba in 1972-73 (History in Africa, III, 1976, pp. 187-192) I thought it appropriate to mention some of them and include a few additional thoughts of my own.