The Berlin Conference's Forgotten King: Msiri's Katanga Copper Kingdom

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the story of Msiri, the Nyamwezi king who built a powerful copper-trading empire in Katanga (modern-day Democratic Republic of Congo). Msiri's kingdom, founded in the 1850s, controlled vast copper deposits and played a key role in regional trade networks linking East and Central Africa. When the Berlin Conference carved up Africa in 1884–85, Katanga was claimed by King Leopold II of Belgium and Cecil Rhodes's British South Africa Company. Msiri attempted to play European powers against each other, but his refusal to submit led to the Stairs Expedition in 1891. Lucas details the expedition's violent confrontation, Msiri's assassination, the looting of his capital Bunkeya, and the legacy of his resistance. We also discuss the controversial German explorer Paul Reichard and the role of Arab-Swahili traders like Tippu Tip. This episode shines a light on a lesser-known figure who defied the Scramble for Africa, a story often overshadowed by the better-known resistance leaders like Samori Touré. #Msiri #Katanga #CopperKingdom #BerlinConference #ScrambleForAfrica #StairsExpedition #Bunkeya #Nyamwezi #TippuTip #PaulReichard #LeopoldII #CecilRhodes #BritishSouthAfricaCompany #CongoFreeState #KingLeopoldsGhost #AfricanResistance #History #FexingoHistory #Colonialism #KingLeopold Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo