The Belgian Congo episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 30, 2025 · 45 MIN

The Belgian Congo

from A Popular History of Unpopular Things · host Kelli Beard

Join Kelli as she goes over the Congo Free State, owned not by Belgium, but by its King - Leopold II.During the 19th century in Africa, seven European countries - Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, met to divide up Africa; they had already encroached on about 10% of it, mostly the coasts, but now they wanted more. In this episode we discuss why, and what happened to the Congolese men, women, and children who were suddenly under the control of King Leopold.Intro and Outro music credit: @nedricmusicFind him on all streaming services and YouTube!http://www.nedricmusic.com SourcesBooksAdam Hochschild, King Leopold’s Ghost. https://www.amazon.com/King-Leopolds-Ghost-Heroism-Colonial/dp/0618001905David Van Reybrouck, Congo: The Epic History of a People. Articles/WebsitesGermany officially recognises colonial-era Namibia genocide - BBC, 2021 | https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57279008Rudyard Kipling, “The White Man’s Burden” 1899 | https://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poem/poems_burden.htmGeorge Washington Williams, “An Open Letter to His Serene Majesty Leopold II, King of the Belgians and Sovereign of the Independent State of Congo By Colonel, The Honorable Geo. W. Williams, of the United States of America” as found on BlackPast | https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/primary-documents-global-african-history/george-washington-williams-open-letter-king-leopold-congo-1890/Support the showIntro and Outro music credit: Nedric | Yello KakeFollow me on Instagram! @beardhistoryIf you want to support the show, donate to the cause at Buy Me a Coffee

Join Kelli as she goes over the Congo Free State, owned not by Belgium, but by its King - Leopold II. During the 19th century in Africa, seven European countries - Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, met to divide up Africa; they had already encroached on about 10% of it, mostly the coasts, but now they wanted more. In this episode we discuss why, and what happened to the Congolese men, women, and children who were suddenly under the control of King Leopold. Intro ...

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The Belgian Congo

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This episode was published on March 30, 2025.

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Join Kelli as she goes over the Congo Free State, owned not by Belgium, but by its King - Leopold II.During the 19th century in Africa, seven European countries - Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, met to divide up...

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