Archives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo — the Key to Understanding Colonial History

The Congolese archives represent an invaluable historical reality and are unique sources about the colonial past of the African peoples. Some of the documents on the history of DR Congo are located in the country itself, some are concentrated in official organizations and private archives in Belgium and other countries. In the Congo, copies of documents are more common than originals, since the colonial administration exported the preserved materials to the metropolis on the eve of independence of the Congo and afterwards. The archives' funds, in particular, cadastral documents, serve not only to restore historical truth, but also to help resolve disputed territorial and ethnic issues. Unfortunately, the archival materials of the DR Congo are not yet systematized enough and are not stored in proper conditions. The purpose of the article is to reveal, using concrete examples, the importance of document preservation, to pay attention to their timely systematization and ensuring optimal storage conditions. Based on practical experience, the author shares his impressions of working at the National Archives of the Congo, as well as at the Royal Museum of Africa in Tervuren, where documents about the colonial period of DR Congo are kept. Attention is drawn to the negotiations between DR Congo and Belgium on the return to their homeland of archival materials that were illegally exported from the country, but rightfully belong to this African country. When writing the article, the method of describing and comparing their own conclusions with the conclusions of domestic and foreign researchers was used. The author comes to the conclusion that archival materials are of great interest both from the point of view of historical research, as they allow for a better understanding of the context of past times, and for understanding modern processes

Colonialism · Democracy · Homeland · National archives · Negotiation · African history and culture studies · Digital and Traditional Archives Management · Military, Security, and Education Studies