Daniel Kehlmann releases novel about the Congo Conference

Author Daniel Kehlmann has released a new novel titled “Afrika,” which depicts the 1884/85 Congo Conference held in Berlin as a black comedy. Kehlmann describes the work as a farce, noting that the historical event involved a gathering of corrupt individuals whose actions were so absurd they are best captured through comedy.

The novel focuses on the historical period when European powers, led by German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, partitioned spheres of influence in Africa. A significant outcome of the conference was the recognition of King Leopold II of Belgium as the sovereign of the Congo Free State, leading to the brutal exploitation of rubber resources and widespread colonial atrocities.

Rather than writing a traditional polemic, Kehlmann centers the narrative on the individual fate of Gustav von Strinetzky, an Austrian diplomat. The story uses satirical elements to explore the historical backdrop of colonial expansion.