Exploring Congo's Turbulent History Through Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness": A Journey Into the Life of Mr. Kurtz

Alvaro: The central area of the African continent is fascinating for various reasons and Mobutu is one of them. It is vital that these books are written because it takes contemporary Africans into a new dimension of understanding of the continent and the powers at play. Mobutu, although careless with state property and natural resources, was never able to pass large amounts of money without exterior help. However responsibility of actions is placed on the wrong people for the wrong reasons. The Congo is a capable country, not only through its resources but also through its people which are more than capable. It’s brutal past is not an indication of the capacity of such people. Great books and interesting set up, focusing on various actors.

United States on Jul 26, 2022

Lara: It is 2021, and new research has proven that a simplistic M.Kurtz description of Zaire and Mobutu will simply not do. The conflict in DRC has always been and continues to be fuelled by layers of spoilers bent on grabbing the country's resources. Local, regional and international actors, some of the most unscrupulous of which are Rwanda and Uganda, are responsible. The author paints the DRC's neighbours in a saviour light. History has shown she is wrong. The whole story is told through a Conradian lens, except that in this instance, Kurtz is an African. Even in hell, there are multiple layers of sin and evil. This good vs evil snapshot sells books but does not tell the whole story. Look at where we are now that the two puppets Kabila are gone. The mess grows inexorably, like the hyacinths in the Congo river...exogenous and now part of our soul.

Canada on Oct 23, 2021

Karna: The clever juxtaposition of Heart of Darkness with events surrounding the rise ,rule and eventual downfall of Mobutu Sese Seko is clap worthy . As much as it sheds light on the despotic rule of an African tyrant , it is ultimately the story of Congo ( Erstwhile Zaire) and its destiny at the hands of colonisers in its earliest days and under the tyranny of Mobutu .

India on Sep 11, 2021

Eleanor Hamilton: I’m a huge fan but this isn’t her best as the narrative jumps around too much. I’d have liked more on the fascinating tale of how he came to power and less on, say, the fashion conscious night club goers of modern Zaire. Nevertheless still worth a read

United Kingdom on May 01, 2021

Leopold: Michela Wrong has produced an absorbing, lucid and often blackly-humourous account of the sadly hellish history of Africa’s second largest country,the (Belgian) Congo, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A bit of a misnomer- the Congo has been run as personal fiefdoms by dictatorship since 1965.

From being a cash-cow for King Leopold I of Belgium- almost incredibly, this vast country was once his personal possession - through the unhappy colonial rule by Belgium, the murder of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first and to date only elected President, Miss Wrong’s main thrust is about the rise, the years in the sun and the humiliating end of President Mobutu’s thirty-two year dictatorship.

This is political reportage of the very highest order. Miss Wrong has an enviable eye for detail and a fully developed sense of the absurd, as when on a visit to one of the vastly tacky Mobutu palaces she was “ pleasingly relieved to find the bathrooms had gold taps”. Mobutu’s legendary extravagances - an airstrip at his Versailles-in -the -jungle extended to allow for his frequent use of a private Concorde are reported factually rather than dramatically, and the book is...

United Kingdom on Jan 01, 2018

San Patch: Mobutu Sese Seko Ngbendu Kuku Wa Za Banga, Zaire's strongman for thirty years was a larger-than-life autocrat. His name, which means 'the all-powerful warrior who, because of his endurance and inflexible will to win, will go from conquest to conquest leaving fire in his wake', struck fear into the hearts of his enemies. He was charismatic leader, student of Machiavelli, wily politician and kleptocrat per excellence. I have always been fascinated by this dictator who hosted the famous 1974 'Rumble in the Jungle' between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman. I bought 'In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz' as an introduction to Mobutu. Who was he? How did he rise to power? And how did he maintain power for so long? Thankfully, Michela Wrong did not disappoint in answering these questions.

Wrong's account of the times of 'The Leopard' (as Mobutu liked to be addressed) is thoroughly enjoyable. She provides a detailed narrative - based on interviews with Mobutu's allies. The plot of the book is straight forward. She argues that while Mobutu robbed his country blind, it would be amiss to blame only Mobutu for the state of Zaire. Other important dramatis personae in Zaire's saga are Belgium,...

United Kingdom on Dec 16, 2012

Kojo Douglas La Rose: Though I read Hochschild's "King Leopold's Ghost" many years ago, I feel like it would be great to read that dark saga and then move on to this jagged, paranoid collection of stories. One reason to do this would be to simply compare literary styles. I really enjoy Wrong's writing style - portraits of ironic and manipulative kleptocrats residing around a sweating table - but do think it sometimes takes center stage while the narrative of Mobutu and the aching Congo waits patiently for its turn. Another reason would be the more obvious one - the books work together chronologically and Mobutu's Congo makes more sense once you understand King Leopold's Congo. Of the Mobutu books, this one is the best.

One of Wrong's attractions are the green and sweaty flourishes used to describe the International hotel, the crumbling and vivid mines of Lubumbashi, the crippled smuggler on a rusty ferry. These make for some tantalizing scenery. The book is divided into chapters that are basically individual journalistic snapshots of the Congo's economy or of one of Mobutu's phases. They read like news magazine articles that are zongo enough to be squeezed into Rolling Stone. The good stuff and...

United States on Nov 27, 2010

M.P. Arsenault: Throughout history, Africa has claimed the moniker of the Dark Continent, originally due to its mysteriousness, wildness, and danger. However, there is a new darkness that has overtaken modern Africa, a darkness that plagues the content. This darkness is composed of governmental corruption, violent coups, genocide, ethnic cleansing, guerilla warfare and other forms of exploitation and violence.

One of the most blatant examples of this impinging darkness was the rule Zaire's President Mobutu. His insatiable thirst for cruelty brought Zaire, a nation with massive potential for wealth and prosperity, to its knees and subsequently destroyed the will of his own proud people.

Michaela Wrong follows the rise of Mobutu, the once obscure military aide, and chronicles his nearly instinctual political maneuvers which finally consolidated his grip on the throat of Zaire. Wrong also illustrates the effects of Mobutu's "kleptocracy" which essentially bled the nation and its people dry of any wealth, and economic potential.

Apart from bankrupting a nation, perhaps the saddest result of Mobutu's reign was destruction of a nation's will. The people of Zaire not only grew...

United States on Jan 07, 2005