COLONIAL CONGO

Scholars of Congolese and Belgian history survey the legacy of colonialism in this nonfiction anthology.

“At first sight,” the editors write in their introduction to this collection of 30 scholarly essays, “European colonialism is definitively a thing of the past.” And while most Europeans hold negative views of this past, a vocal minority, from conservative nationalists to outright white supremacists, continue to emphasize what they call the “positive aspects” of colonialism that spread the values of “Western civilization.” Indeed, as highlighted throughout the book, it was not until the 1990s that most Belgian historians abandoned an “apologetic approach” to their nation’s colonial efforts in the Congo. This anthology is published in partnership with Belgium’s AfricaMuseum, whose archival materials have been brought to life through the editorial efforts of Goddeeris (a professor of colonial history at Belgium’s oldest university, KU Leuven), Lauro (a researcher at the Free University of Brussels), and Vanthemsche (a professor of contemporary history at FUB). The anthology explores the intersection of Congolese and Belgian history through probing questions such as, “Was There a Genocide in the Congo Free State?” and “Did the Belgian Colonizer Create, Destroy or Steal Congolese Art?” Largely written by a panel of more than two dozen historians (who marshal an impressive body of research in their footnote citations), the work focuses on leveraging the scholarly community’s expanding understanding of the past to foster “meaningful solidarity between two communities who share a seventy-five-year history and who are prepared to look this past in the eye together.” While a familiarity with relevant jargon related to colonial theory may help readers with some of the more academically oriented passages, the book is generally accessible, providing readers with useful ancillary materials that include a timeline of Congolese history, a photographic essay, and ample maps.

A well-researched, timely exploration of the legacy and relevance of colonialism to contemporary society.