))
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) enjoys vast deposits of precious minerals and metals. Diamonds are found in the south and center of the country and the land holds 80% of the world’s Coltan, needed in all our mobile phones. It should be one of the richest countries on Earth, but it is not. This Podcast explores why, from the very beginning. A new podcast will be released each Monday every two weeks, the website is https://www.thehistoryofthecongo.com Starting in prehistoric times, ...
…
continue reading
1
Season 3: Episode 4: The end of the First Republic
44:37
44:37
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:37
In this episode we see the final throes of the Independent Katanga and Kasai regions. But Katanga in particular does not go down without a very real fight. It holds the line against the United Nations no less, which increasingly adopts a more aggresive position to enforce a united Repulic of the Congo. But after years of conflict and unrest people'…
…
continue reading
1
Season 3: Episode 3: Lumumba's Final Campaign
28:45
28:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:45
In this episode we see the continuation of the independent Republic of the Congo. The UN, the USSR, the US, Belgium and other continue their operations to push the new country in the direction most aligned to their own ambitions. Amidst this the Congolese populations and regions estalblish themselves as rival power bases in the country. These confl…
…
continue reading
1
Season 3: Episode 2: Katangan Independence and the Cold War
26:08
26:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:08
In this episode we look at the new Republic of the Congo 10 days after independence. We see the Congolese reaction to the years of repression under colonial rule and Belgium's military response. Faced with these troubles President Kasavuba and Prime Minister Lumumba turn to the UN, the US and the USSR for urgent help - unwittingly inviting the Cold…
…
continue reading
Indpendence Day has arrived! WIth the Congolese now free from colonial rule there are celebrations everywhere. With KasaVubu as President and Lumumba as Prime Minister the new government gets to work and for the first time the peoples elected officials start to run the country. But as the celebrations recede not everyone feels included. The campaig…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2 Episode 9: Independence Immediate Part 2
21:50
21:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:50
In part 2 of Independence Immediate we see the Congolese parties final campaigns in the elections which would decide who would be in power once the Belgians had left. There was a mix of great expectations, excitement, local and national interests. It was unknown who would win the elections at the time, but here we detail the run up and the final re…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2 Episode 8: Independence Immediate part 1
35:51
35:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:51
In this Episode we turn to The Congo in the late 1950s. The world is changing and on the African continent independence is coming to many countries as the age of colonialism comes to an end. In this context old identities are rediscovered as pre-colonial empires come to the fore once again. People coalesce around parties in anticipation of local el…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2 Episode 7: The Congo in the 1950s, urbanisation and the rise of political parties
29:46
29:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:46
The 1950s afforded the majority of the Congolese modest increases in living standards. Wealth and opportunities were increasing, and the colonial attitude was starting to shift. But social progress was slow. When news came from Belgium that not everyone considered colonialism permanent, Congolese society prepared to fill the power vacuum that would…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2: Episode 6: World War II, Einstein and Spies
26:36
26:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:36
In this episode we how the rulers if the Belgian Congo adapted to the German conquest of Belgian in World War II. Set against conflicting loyalties of the Belgian King, Parliament and Industry the Belgian Congo emerged as powerful part of the Allied cause. The Congolese achieved the first allied victory in the War, and its resources were fundamenta…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2, Episode 5 The Belgian Congo in the 1920s and 1930s.
25:59
25:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:59
After World War 1 the Belgian Congo's place in the world was settled internationally. The authorities, with private backers, invested in the wealth opportunities presented by copper, diamond and other minerals to increase revenues. Infrastructure projects were completed to connect these mining areas to the Atlantic, and some Congolese were able to …
…
continue reading
1
Season 2, Episode 4 World War One comes to the Belgian Congo
21:17
21:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:17
In 1914 the Nations of Europe went to war. The African colonies of these powers had differing views on the conflict, but the Belgian Congo was drawn into war in the face of German colonial aggression. The peoples of the Congo were once again asked or coerced to support their new leaders. Combined they created a mighty powerhouse of military might a…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2, Episode 3 The Start of the Belgian Congo
21:25
21:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:25
International pressure forced the Belgian government to succeed King Leopold II, and The Belgian Congo was born. The Belgian people were not unanimously behind colonialism, although the colony was supported by the socialist government on the grounds of developmental support. But the companies who were developing were also exploiting, although now u…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2, Episode 2 Reaction to Leopolds Congo - The Congo Reform Association
25:35
25:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:35
In this episode we see how one individual, Edmund Morel, pieces together the true facts of Leopold's Congo State to determine it's true nature. Enraged by the injustice, and willing take on the King himself, we see the development of a humanitarian campaign which was spread Britain and the United States. With support from politicians, churches, cel…
…
continue reading
1
Season 2: Episode 1 - Leopolds Congo Free State
25:09
25:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:09
Here we find the people of the Congo living for the first time under one ruler in todays DRC borders. This man was King Leopold II of Belgium, and he called his territory The Congo Free State. The land people and people were ruthlessly exploited for ivory and rubber with scant regards to their own interests. Under this regime brutality and control …
…
continue reading
In this Episode we find Msiri's migration and capture of the Katangan region. Here he grew rich on power and wealth through the Copper mines and smelting plants that could be found here. But his power was under threat. Ambitious powers looked on jealously. Msiri was clever and cunning but ultimately he didn't have the firepower to stand against the…
…
continue reading
1
12. The Belgian Arab War in the Eastern Congo
21:58
21:58
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:58
Two years after the fall of the Kisangani station to the Arabs Tippu Tips son Sef held control over much of the Eastern part of todays DRC. He lived comfortably but was sandwiched between the Leopolds Congo Free State and Germany's East Africa colony. Ostensibly to quash the slave trade, but to expand his territory and wealth, Leopold retained his …
…
continue reading
1
11. The limits to Belgian expansion to the East
19:25
19:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:25
In this Episode we see Leopolds Congo Free state buffered against the Arab powers in the East. Cultural difference fostered tensions and their allies were dragged into conflict. We see Leopold use the defeat of the British in Khartoum as an opportunity to extend the boundaries of his land North East to the River Nile, with Tippu Tip now an employee…
…
continue reading
In this Episode we see the various facades of King Leopold II's philanthropy as he jostles to claim the central African lands he has just become aware of. He maintains a three prong strategy: escalating aggressiveness in the Congo, appeasement of the European powers and an image of benevolence to the United States. Tensions lead to the 1885 Berlin …
…
continue reading
1
9. Summary of pre-colonial Congo and the rise of foreign interest
23:25
23:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:25
In this episode we revisit the past before looking at the lands of the Kingdom of the Kongo at the end of the 19th Century. Outside of the Congo Stanley's journey, and details of the River Congo basin, spread through the world. Some saw this as an opportunity to do good, as they saw it, but others saw a commercial opportunities... The chiefs of the…
…
continue reading
1
8c. Stanley's Congo River Expedition pt 2
20:23
20:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:23
In the early 1870's the peoples of the Eastern Congo lived in a land dominated by the Arab-Swahili traders. In search of Ivory these traders had traveled hundreds of miles inland from the Indian Ocean. These traders settled in and established settlements where they loved in great comfort. This was in great contrast to the subdued peoples who had in…
…
continue reading
Stanleys life before arriving in the Congo in 1873 gives us insights in the wider world at this time. It gives us a window to the plight of the poor in the 19th century Britain, through the American Civil war and the expansion of the American West and the impact of some of the peoples living there. We also visit Abyssinia and West Africa, where the…
…
continue reading
In the early 1870's the peoples of the Eastern Congo lived in a land dominated by the Arab-Swahili traders. In search of Ivory these traders had traveled hundreds of miles inland from the Indian Ocean. These traders settled in and established settlements where they loved in great comfort. This was in great contrast to the subdued peoples who had in…
…
continue reading
1
7. Arab incursions into the Eastern Congo
20:12
20:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
20:12
In this Episode we see Tippu Tip and the Arab traders, after exhausting the Elephant herds in today's Tanzania, journey West across Lake Tanganyika into the Eastern Congo. Ever in need of more ivory they were drawn all the way to the Lualaba River. They met the the Tabwe, the Lunda, the Warua, the Bemba and perhaps documented the first ever written…
…
continue reading
1
6. The peoples of the Eastern Congo meet travellers and explorers
18:46
18:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:46
In this episode we cover the mid 16th to early 19th century to relay the first meetings between the Arab-Swahili traders and the peoples living in today's Eastern Congo. These traders travelled thousands of kilometres inland from the coast, and the languages and cultures began to fuse. Some trade was conducted but without established norms of relat…
…
continue reading
In this episode we depart from the West and the Kingdom of the Kongo to todays Eastern provinces of the DRC. We see the unique topography here and enjoy a more detailed introduction to two further great African peoples and empires - the Luba and the Lunda. These peoples lived and live in a geologically dynamic land with mountains, lakes and active …
…
continue reading
1
4. The Kingdom of the Kongo - at its best, and at its worst
25:34
25:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:34
In this episode we see how the Kingdom of the Kongo survived in the ebbs of flows of international and domestic conflicts, as well as some of the horrific effects of slavery. We see the Kingdom flex its power on the international stage but ultimately wither as a defeat allows an opportunity for others to take its power and resources. But in this ad…
…
continue reading
1
3. The Kingdom of the Kongo greets the European explorers
19:17
19:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:17
In this episode the Kingdom of the Kongo welcomes the Portuguese Empire, and the nobility embraces a new Religion. But it also meets the Dutch, the Vatican and continues to fight for it's place in Africa, whilst keeping the Kingdom together. Soon the Europeans settle, with an agenda much evolved from spreading Christianity....This results in allian…
…
continue reading
In this Episode we focus on the Western Congo in the 13th Century where we meet one of the most famous precolonial Kingdoms - the Kingdom of the Kongo. We see how the Kingdom formed and take a look at the capital - MBanza Kongo - as well as a look at some of the social structures in place. We wrap up just as new visitors arrive at the Kingdom ...…
…
continue reading
1
1: Introduction to Prehistoric Central Africa, the Congo, the Bantu Migration and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
17:20
17:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:20
In this episode we look at the Democratic Republic of the Congo today, and then go back in time. We start with prehistoric artefacts and the great Bantu migration, which pushed the Pygmies to the South and East of todays country. We are introduced to the topography of the Country, The River Congo, the central navigable plateau, and the Mountains of…
…
continue reading
