The history hall resulted form the sensational exhibition Memory of Congo. The colonial era (2005). This hall tells the story of Belgian Congo.

Towards a 'model colony'

The 'exemplary colonial regime' that had to be above all suspicion, created a hierarchic and paternalistic system to govern the colony in an efficient and economically autonomous manner that was monitored by Brussels, where non-administrative tasks (education, infrastructure work and medicine) was parted with as much as possible.
 

The Belgian colonial state set out to provide basic education to a maximum number of Congolese children. Until the 1950s, this educational policy was only based on catholic and protestant missions. On the eve of its independence, the colony was proud of the network of primary schools that covered the whole of Congo.

Indépendance chacha

While Belgium proudly displayed its colonial project at the 1958 World Fair, people in Congo itself were considering independence. A manifesto published in the magazine Conscience africaine in 1956 demanded political, economic and social emancipation for Congo that had to lead to its independence. It was the impetus for the political and social movements that were to enforce independence from Belgium.

The demands for independence are also set to music: the African Jazz and OK Jazz orchestras supported a period of change with songs full of political allusions. The song Indépendance Cha Cha became the hymn of African decolonisation.