The 1928 Antwerp Olympic Village and Belgium's Civilizing Mission

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 1928 Antwerp Olympic Games through the lens of Belgium's colonial propaganda. They focus on the so-called 'Civilising Mission' section of the Olympic Village, where the Belgian government displayed Congolese people in a mock village to showcase the supposed benefits of colonial rule. Lucas explains how this spectacle, organized by the Ministry of Colonies, featured Congolese athletes and artisans performing for European audiences, reinforcing racial hierarchies. The conversation delves into the role of the Force Publique in selecting participants, the controversial presence of Congo's first Olympic team, and the backlash from Congolese intellectuals like Paul Panda Farnana. The episode also touches on the broader context of Belgium's use of international events to legitimize its colonial project, drawing parallels to the 1897 Tervuren Exhibition and the 1958 World's Fair. #1928Olympics #Antwerp #BelgianCongo #CivilisingMission #ColonialPropaganda #HumanZoo #CongoleseAthletes #ForcePublique #PaulPandaFarnana #OlympicVillage #LeopoldII #MinistryOfColonies #Evolue #ColonialExhibition #BelgianHistory #CongoHistory #History #FexingoHistory #BelgiumHistory #CongoFreeState Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo