Year: 2011
Type: article
Abstract: The monograph Con,go, a history was written on the occasion of the 5oth anniversary of Congolese independence.The author's main point of departure was to search for the local perspective, in an attempt to avoid as far as possible a Eurocentric approach.And indeed, throughout this book we are confronted with the life stories of a great many Congolese citizens.Some of them have met key figures from the national history of Congo, others have contributed fundamentally to certain political or economic developments in Congo, or have travelled to far off countries; whatever their role it is clear that each, in his/her own personal way, has been meaningful to the history of Congo.On the basis of these personal life stories Van Reybrouck has succeeded in giving us insight into the history of an extremely diverse and complex country-diverse and complex on a geographical and biological level, as well as on socio-economic, linguistic and political levels.The first chapter of the book starts with the advent of Stanley in Congo, though in the introduction the author also pays attention to the earlier history-indicating the author's appreciation that Congolese histoxy (with all its evolutions and dynamics) started much earlier than the r87os.The book itselfis composed of fifteen chapters, all focusing on central events or developments in Congolese history.Throughout we are confronted with an incredible amount of historical facts, dates and socioeconomic, political and cultural information about Congo.It is therefore impossible to give a brief overview of the content of this book.Instead, this review develops three particularly striking topics: the fact that Van Reybrouck puts the term tribalism into perspective (a sentiment that was artificially created and that has always been stimulated when a group feels in danger or threatened); the way in which the author describes the rule of Mobutu (with the corruption, repression and economic recession that characterised this dictatorship); and the extraordinary present day links and collaborations between Congo and China.This is indeed a book that touches upon many aspects of Congolese society, mostly from the perspective of the individual Congolese citizens.It shows these citizens as victims of war, corruption and of the struggle for power between east and west.But it also portrays a people who possess an impressive capacity for perseverance, creativity and solidarity.This book is a must for anyone who wants to understand Congo today {with its interpersonal relations, the burdens inherited from the past, and the hope for the future).This is an impressive piece of work, which also helps Belgians to reflect on their own relation with Central-Africa.De monografie Con90 werd geschreven ter gelegenheid van de 5oste verjaardag van de Congolese onafhankelijkheid.Het belangrijkste uitgangspunt van auteur Van Reybrouck was op zoek gaan naar het lokale perspectief, of"de diversiteit van lokale perspectieven" (p.13), in een poging zoveel mogelijk komaf te maken met het onvermijdelijke eurocentrisme.Getrouw aan dit uitgangspunt volgen we doorheen dit boek het levensverhaal van een groot aantal Congolezen, zoals de 126 jaar oude Papa Nkasi in Kinshasa; Disasi Makulo, die als jongetje meegenomen werd door Stanley; de journalist Jamais Kolonga,
Source: AVRUG-bulletin/Afrika Focus
Author: Annelies Verdoolaege
Language: Dutch
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3134437077