The republic of the congo, originally a french colony, is sometimes called congo brazzaville as opposed to the democratic republic of the congo known from 1971 to 1999 as zaire which is often called congo kinshasa, originally a belgian colony. African ceramics from the keith achepohl collection. Books set in the congo 9 books goodreads share book. Originally, it was probably a loose federation of small polities, but. This ambitious history of the congo tells a story of ravishment and dark comedy. This book begins with a survey of congo s early history, when diverse peoples such as the luba, the kuba, and the nilotic inhabited the area, and continues by tracing the countrys history through the belgian period of colonization and the dictatorships of mobutu and kabila. A chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of congo, from. The earliest inhabitants of the region comprising presentday congo were the bambuti people. Van reybroucks carefully researched and elegantly written book takes in the reader with compelling portraits of ordinary people that enrich what. The republic of the congo, originally a french colony, is sometimes called congobrazzaville as opposed to the democratic republic of the congo known from 1971 to 1999 as zaire which is often called congokinshasa, originally a belgian colony. The area now known as the democratic republic of the congo was populated as early as 80,000 years ago, as shown by the 1988 discovery of the semliki harpoon at katanda, one of the oldest barbed harpoons ever found, which is believed to have been used to catch giant river catfish. Van reybrouck eschews a manichaean view and instead paints a nuanced portrait of the successes and dismal failures of the colonial period. He patiently reminds us that congo will always be a.
Watch history of the congo dan snow richard jonesnerzic on dailymotion. Epic in scope yet eminently readable, penetrating and deeply moving, david van reybroucks congo. The international boundary follows the south shore of the pool roughly 30 km in diameter. The greed for resources and christian souls was a lesson in brutal european colonialism in this case belgian king leopold ii. History of congo, experience the modern and ancient historic past events, people and governments of congo lonely planet lonely planet travel guides and travel information hi there, we use cookies to improve your experience on our website. A major critical and popular success in belgium, this sweeping history of congo begins during the precolonial era and brings readers all the way up to the current era of warlords and civil war. After the brief at under 50 pages but comprehensive history of the country up to the beginning of the rwandan genocide in 1994, the remaining chapters of the book focus on the recent history of drc, the great congo wars and the echoes that continue to reverberate across the region from these momentous events. From the beginnings of the slave trade through colonization, the struggle for independence, mobutus brutal three decades of rule, and the civil war that has raged from 1996 to the present day, congo. It borders on angola in the southwest and west, on the atlantic ocean, cabinda an angolan exclave, and the republic of the congo in the west, on the central african republic and south sudan in the north, on uganda, rwanda, burundi. What are the best books about the belgian congo and king. The epic history of a people traces the history of this devastated nation from the beginnings of the slave trade through colonization, to the struggle for independence and mobutus brutal three decades of rule. Patrice lumumba, just released from prison, showing his injured wrists what does it mean to have courage. The best books on democratic republic of the congo. The people of congo are fighting back, risking their lives to resist and alter the deadly status quo.
Congo love song university of north carolina press. A chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of. Jan 10, 2019 a chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of congo, from the 1200s to the present. Three new books on the democratic republic of the congo. Democratic republic of the congo, formerly zaire zi. Democratic republic of congo profile timeline bbc news. The people of the congo, as this book shows, have suffered cruelly throughout the past century from a particularly brutal experience of colonial ru. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Early history the indigenous inhabitants of the region of the congo were probably pygmies, who lived in small numbers in the equatorial forests of the north and northeast. The history of the republic of the congo has been marked by diverse civilisations. The chapters are rather brief on each of the chronological periods of congos history. Before the birth of the moon by valentin y mudimbe. History of ebola virus disease error processing ssi file. The epic history of a people by david van reybrouck harpercollins.
African american culture and the crisis of the colonial state thoroughly and insightfully addresses the often decontextualized links between the congo and us history generally and african american political, religious, literary, and visual cultures specifically from the 1880s through the. Virginia museum of fine arts 111018021819 also of interest. Africa boosters, who argue that the region has finally turned a corner and sits on the cusp of a major economic breakthrough, rarely mention the democratic republic of the congo, whose population remains poorer than it was at independence, in 1960. Apr 06, 2015 patrice lumumba, just released from prison, showing his injured wrists what does it mean to have courage. After the brief at under 50 pages but comprehensive history of the country up to the beginning of the rwandan genocide in 1994, the remaining chapters of the book focus on the recent history of drc, the great congo wars and the echoes that continue to reverberate. A chronology of key events in the history of the democratic republic of congo, from the 1200s to the present. The king is willing to fund the project from his own resources and from concessions to private belgian companies. Van reybroucks bibliography alone is worth the cover price. The epic history of a people traces the fate of one of the worlds most critical, failed nationstates, second only to wartorn somalia. The books best chapters focus on belgian colonialism and the decolonization process. The troubled heart of africa is the only book to give a complete history of the congo, filling in the blanks in the countrys history before the advent of henry stanley, david livingstone, king leopold, and other figures, and carrying us straight into todays headlines. Marc leo felix is director of the congo basin art history research center in brussels.
From left to right, the sangha, likoualaauxherbes, ubangi, and congo rivers are shown in this satellite photo. The portuguese discovered the congo in the fifteenth century and built forts at the mighty rivers mouth. Nov 02, 2008 the greed for resources and christian souls was a lesson in brutal european colonialism in this case belgian king leopold ii. Deep in the african rain forest, near the ruins of the lost city of zinj, a field expedition is brutally killed. Democratic republic of the congo history britannica. Five years with the congo cannibals, herbert ward 1890. Nov 02, 2007 hochschild struggles against the great forgetting of belgiums exploitation of the congo with this corrective history of leopold iis bloody empire. The epic history of a people by david van reybrouck, book. Ira dworkins meticulously researched congo love song. I mean when someone says they are going to tell you the epic history of a people they have already set a daunting standard, but van reybouck found a way to do it.
The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a complex pattern of historical forces. Congo is a 1980 science fiction novel by michael crichton. History of the democratic republic of the congo wikipedia. Echoing what christine wrote above, the peoples republic of the congo is what is boxed, and the description says that this is for books partially or fully set in either the peoples republic of the congo or the democratic republic of the congo.
The country that began as a kings private domain the congo free state, evolved into a colony the belgian congo, became independent in 1960 as the republic of the congo, and later underwent several name changes to the democratic republic of the congo, then to zaire, and back again to the democratic republic of the congo is the product of a. Fiction and nonfiction books set completely or at least partially in either the republic of the congo or the democratic republic of the congo. David van reybrouck ends with the civil war that has raged from 1996 to the present daythe deadliest since world war ii. Another one volume history of congo in english has been published, this one by ch. Lieutenant taunts life gives us a revealing glimpse of the gold rush mood of the early. Dec 12, 20 the best books on democratic republic of the congo. Books on the congo history of zaire and the belgian congo. Peter pham, director, africa center, atlantic council, and editorinchief, journal of the middle east and africathis lively, readable, and carefully researched book fills in an intriguing and littleknown corner of congo history. Because of its geographic isolation, the cuvette region in the northern part of the republic of the congo relies on rivers for transportation.
They were first in the field, and had no cause to fear either economic or political rivalry on the west african coast from their european neighbours for at least a century. Africa congo, democratic republic of the the world. For five centuries right up to the present, americans and europeans have benefited enormously from an astonishing history of exploitation of the people and natural resources of a country in the heart of africa. Kongo, former kingdom in westcentral africa, located south of the congo river presentday angola and democratic republic of the congo. History of ebola outbreaks since its discovery in 1976, the majority of cases and outbreaks of ebola virus disease have occurred in africa. The epic history of a people by david van reybrouck. Didier, 1966publication date 2002 publisher westport, conn. The author says she spent nearly 30 years waiting for the wisdom and maturity to write this book. According to traditional accounts, the kingdom was founded by lukeni lua nimi about 90. When leopold ii of belgium wins international recognition for the congo free state in 1885, it is as his own personal fief rather than a belgian colony. The epic history of a people is an intimidating book both in terms of size and subject matter. Lissouba was pressured by the french into canceling all contracts with occidental petroleum, but suspicions of lissouba remained. On their journey they discover the lost city of zinj and a new species of killer gorillas, which they must overcome to survive. As the french company elf aquitaine which reaped much of its profits from the republic of the congo had only just recently opened a large deepwater oil platform off the coast of pointenoire, mr.
The novel centers on an expedition searching for diamonds and investigating the mysterious deaths of a previous expedition in the dense tropical rainforest of the congo. The congo free state was a corporate state privately controlled by leopold ii of belgium through the association internationale africaine, a nongovernmental organization. Through the dark continent, henry morton stanley 1878. The epic history of a people 01 by van reybrouck, david isbn. Most of us might first think of those who put their lives on the line in defense of an ideal. Mar 05, 2020 kongo, former kingdom in westcentral africa, located south of the congo river presentday angola and democratic republic of the congo. The state included the entire area of the present democratic republic of the congo. This book begins with a survey of congos early history, when diverse peoples such as the luba, the kuba, and the nilotic inhabited the area, and continues by tracing the countrys history through the belgian period of colonization and the dictatorships of mobutu and kabila. Biographical portraits present important figures in congos storied history. From the bestselling author of jurassic park, timeline, and sphere comes a gripping thriller about the shocking demise of eight american geologists in the darkest region of the congo.
The epic history of a people is one of those books that lingers with the reader having a certain dream or memory like quality to it where you know that you have been touched by an experience, which is a rare and wonderful gift. The 20142016 ebola outbreak in west africa began in a rural setting of southeastern guinea, spread to urban areas and across borders within weeks, and became a global epidemic within months. But what distinguishes the book is its clearheadedness. Hochschild struggles against the great forgetting of belgiums exploitation of the congo with this corrective history of leopold iis bloody empire.
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