The Great Forgetting - Brisbane Festival and the Congo
The Democratic Republic of Congo sits in the very heart of Africa , in the cradle of all humanity . It is the size of Western Europe with a population of 75 million. It has an astonishing history. But what do we know about it? Arts festivals are made for illumination. In September this year, Brisbane Festival offers a series of brilliant works from or about the Congo. Why shine a light here? Because the Congo has helped form the history of the world. In more ways than you might think… Congo's Curse The Congo is blessed with more natural resources than almost any other country on the planet. A Congolese legend has it that God , tired after creating the world, stopped at this part of the earth and dropped all his sacks of riches. And these riches have helped make the world as we know it. When the world needed rubber for the tyres of the newly invented motorcar, the Congo was there with half the world’s known supplies. When the world needed copper ...