Debunking the Colonial Narrative in Belgium: Public Space Decolonization in Brussels and Cultural Objects Restitution to Central African Countries

Abstract

peer reviewed[CHAPTER] This chapter analyzes contemporary decolonial thoughts and practices in Belgium, linking the nation's colonial period to the persistence of structural racism against people with sub-Saharan African origins. The chapter argues that Belgium's dominant colonial narrative and propaganda, centered on the "civilizing mission," continue to influence society despite the country's collective memory having largely suppressed its colonial history. [BOOK] Revived by the global resonance of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, this book adds to the current discussion on the idea of decolonizing Europe. Drawing inspiration from the study of colonialism, postcolonialism and the imperative to decolonize knowledge and practice, the editors bring together a group of scholars approaching these issues through ethnographic inquiry. The volume explores how race, colonial legacies and structural inequality are addressed across diverse European contexts – north, central, eastern and southern – as well as in their entanglements with regions beyond Europe. It offers critical, grounded insights into the possibilities and challenges of decolonial thinking today