African Testimony in the Movement for Congo Reform - The Burden of Proof

The humanitarian movement against Leopold's violent colonisation of the Congo emerged out of Europe, but it depended at every turn on African input. Individuals and groups from throughout the upper Congo River basin undertook journeys of daring and self-sacrifice to provide evidence of atrocities for the colonial authorities, missionaries, and international investigators.

Combining archive research with attention to recent debates on the relation between imperialism and humanitarianism, on trauma, witnessing and postcolonial studies, and on the recovery of colonial archives, this book examines the conditions in which colonised peoples were able to speak about their subjection, and those in which attempts at testimony were thwarted.

Robert Burroughs makes a major intervention by identifying African agency and input as a key factor in the Congo atrocities debate. This is an important and unique book in African history, imperial and colonial history, and humanitarian history.

List of contents

List of Figures

Acknowledgements

Note on Place Names

Map

Introduction: The Burden of Proof

1. Humanitarianism and Diplomacy: West African Migrants in the Congo Free State (c.1890–1903)

2. Behind the Casement Report (1903–4): Guides, Interpreters, and Interviewees

3. Before the Commission of Inquiry (1904–5): Travellers and Testifiers

4. The Silencing of Witnesses: The Stannard Trial (1906) and the Sheppard Trial (1909)

5. ‘Bringing hands to the English’: Injured Bodies as Evidence

Conclusion: A Humanitarian History from Below

Bibliography

Index

About the author

Robert Burroughs is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities, Leeds Beckett University, UK.

Summary

Combining archive research with attention to recent debates on the relation between imperialism and humanitarianism, this book examines the conditions in which colonised peoples were able to speak about their subjection, and those in which attempts at testimony were thwarted.

Product details

• Authors: Robert Burroughs, Robert (Leeds Metropolitan University Burroughs
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.08.2020
• EAN: 9780367589172
• ISBN: 978-0-367-58917-2
• No. of pages: 186
• Series: Routledge Studies in the Modern History of Africa
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; HISTORY / General, HISTORY / Modern / General, HISTORY / Africa / General, HISTORY / World, HISTORY / Africa / Central, c 1800 to c 1900, Colonialism & imperialism, Comparative Politics, Colonialism and imperialism, Regional / International studies, African History, General and world history, Congo, C 1900 - C 1914, National liberation and independence, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Cultural & Ethnic Studies / African Studies