Congo: The Epic History of a People

Belgian author Van Reybrouck begins this prolonged tale of woe with the first arrival of Europeans in this central African land, whose imperialistic intention toward its inhabitants was to “free them from the wolf trap of prehistoric listlessness.” His ensuing history relates the Congo’s Christianization by Portuguese Jesuits, Italian Capuchins, and eventually Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as the role played by foreign foodstuffs—such as Mexican corn and Brazilian manioc—in everyday Congolese life. Addressing the historical complexities of slavery, Van Reybrouck avers that, to many Congolese, “[s]lavery was not being subjugated, it was being separated, from home.” The narrative also portrays larger-than-life personages, including charismatic prophet Simon Kimbangu and long-reigning dictator Joseph Mobutu. While the Congolese adapted over time to the European lifestyle, many eventually wished “to be civilized Congolese, not ‘Europeans with a black skin.’ ” The prospect of independence from Belgium in June of 1960 held out hope for the nation, but “the breakneck emancipation of Congo was a tragedy that could only end in disaster.” Van Reybrouck’s extensive account reveals the depth and breadth of exploitation, particularly under Belgian colonial rule, and how Congo’s story is one fraught with the toxic cycle of “desire, frustration, revenge.” (Apr.)