The 1920s Ngiri-Ngiri Roundabout: Brussels' Colonial Heart and Congo's Lost Memorial

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Ngiri-Ngiri Roundabout in Brussels, a little-known monument to Belgium's colonial past. They discuss how this traffic circle, named after a neighborhood in Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), was built in the 1920s as part of a broader effort to celebrate the 'civilizing mission' in the Congo. Lucas reveals the role of the architect Jules Coomans and the sculptor Arthur Dupagne, who created a controversial statue of a Congolese soldier at the center, later removed. The conversation touches on the contrasting visions of colonial memory: the official narrative of progress versus the erasure of Congolese perspectives. Luna learns about the 1926 International Colonial Exhibition in Brussels, where similar themes were on display. They also discuss how, in the 1950s, the roundabout became a site of protest by Congolese students studying in Belgium, including future independence leader Patrice Lumumba, who lived nearby. The episode closes with a reflection on how urban spaces can hold hidden histories, inviting listeners to think about what other monuments might tell a different story. #Belgium #Congo #Colonialism #NgiriNgiri #Brussels #Monument #Memory #LOpoldville #JulesCoomans #ArthurDupagne #PatriceLumumba #ColonialExhibition #1920s #Kinshasa #Protest #UrbanHistory #History #FexingoHistory #BelgiumHistory #LeopoldII Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo