RMCA publications

The Congo Panorama, a monumental painting exhibited at the 1913 Ghent World Exhibition, presents an idyllic picture of Belgian colonisation in Congo. In the exhibition at the AfricaMuseum (Tervuren), Congolese voices past and present challenge the panorama, while an international group of artists and scholars reflects on what took place behind the scenes. Was the Congo Panorama fake news avant la lettre?
The Congo Panorama was an instrument of colonial propaganda. It legitimised colonisation by portraying the colonised Congolese population as ‘primitive', to whom the colonisers ‘brought civilization.' Behind these engineered words and images lay a carefully concealed truth: colonisation in Congo was a military affair and revolved around economic profit-seeking.
Historical photographs, archives, audio excerpts, and work by contemporary artists offer a critical counterpoint that undermines the colonial illusion of the Congo Panorama.
Colonisation and propaganda cast a long shadow and their impact is still felt today. The exhibition closes by asking: have we moved beyond prejudices and the mentality of us-versus-them?

This catalogue provides an overview of the exhibition The Congo Panorama 1913: Colonial illusion exposed at the Royal Museum for Central Africa (28 November 2025-27 September 2026). It is curated by Albertine Libert, Patrick Mudekereza, and Maarten Couttenier, along with co-curators Leen Engelen and Victor Flores. Contributions from various authors complement the exhibition texts and broaden the critical reading of the Congo Panorama.