Belgium's 1957 Brussels World Fair: The Last Colonial Exhibition

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 1958 Brussels World Fair, known as Expo 58, and its controversial colonial section. They discuss how Belgium used the fair to showcase its 'civilizing mission' in the Congo, featuring a reconstructed Congolese village with 700 Congolese inhabitants brought to Brussels. Lucas delves into the stark contrast between the futuristic Atomium symbol and the paternalistic, racist displays of the Congo section. He highlights the voice of Patrice Lumumba, who visited the fair and criticized it as propaganda. The episode also touches on the fair's broader Cold War context and its role as a turning point in Belgian colonial consciousness, leading to the Congo's independence just two years later. #Expo58 #BrusselsWorldFair #BelgianColonialism #Congo #PatriceLumumba #Atomium #ColonialPropaganda #CivilizingMission #ColdWar #1950s #CongoleseVillage #BelgiumHistory #Decolonization #Léopoldville #AfricanHistory #WorldFair #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo