To get a 1 year supply of Vitamin D + 5 individual travel packs FREE with your first purchase, go to athleticgreens.com/biographics AG1 is a comprehensive, nutrition drink engineered to fill the nutritional gaps in your diet and support your body's nutritional needs across four pillars of health: Gut health, Immune support, Energy and Recovery! It's packed with 75 vitamins and minerals and whole food-sourced ingredients, combining the perfect amount of micronutrients, absorption, and taste to jumpstart your daily routine. AG1 is available in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe.
Simon, make a video about the corruption of President Biden, and one for the shady and frankly disgusting things hunter has done! That would be an interesting video
Hi Simon can you please do a video Sir Nicholas George Winton MBE he was a British humanitarian who helped to rescue jewish children who were at risk from Nazi Germany just months before the start of World War II he saved 669 children all of them would’ve probably have been killed by the Nazis if he hadn’t got them out please do a video on this man thank you Paul.
The best part of this video is the sheer pain on Simon's face as he drank that swamp water product and still having to say how amazing it was for the ad read
"I take it with my coffee" Yeah because black coffee might be the only thing that tastes strong enough to have a chance to overpower whatever gutter runoff was in that bottle
I first became interested in Mobutu and the history of the Congo because of the many Congolese people I work with. I've heard that at one point, TV news in Zaire opened with a graphic of him descending from heavenly clouds, and that at one point they were forbidden from referring to anyone else by name besides Mobutu.
The last part is baseless drivel, honestly, that people were forbidden on TV from referring to anyone else by name. If you follow soukous, like Luambo Makiadi, he was always on TeleZaire (with Lukunku mostly) and always sings songs with names other than Mobutu.
@@hanbyeol12 yeah. I think what she meant was the term “Citoyen” meaning “Citizen”. No one was called Sir, Mr or prefixes of this sort. Instead we were referring to people as “Citizen”, followed by their African name (no European names allowed for Zairians), For example, Citizen Masamba.
Simon, you don't know how grateful I am for making this video. Thank you to you and your entire team. I am a Congolese, born and bred. And this video is a nightmare relived time and time again.
@@JHG875 that is like having to chose between living with one arm or one leg. Both suck. But lets not forget, the country is in the situation it is because of Mobutu.
The actual translation is: "If you must steal! Then you should be considerate, do not empty the jar all at once but rather do it a step at a time”… Mobutu was a cynical man, He actually believed his own BS
“What I believe is always true about power is that power always reveals. When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.” ― Robert A. Caro
It is unfortunate that as a Belgian we learn more about our colonial past from TH-cam than in school. So thank you for helping us understand more about a past nobody should be proud of...
@@ourmartin No one is celebrating it. Quite the opposite, it is used as an argument, an excuse to get revenge on these nations by mass migration from former colonies. It's funny when migration is used as revenge but diversity is still our strength.
I think it depends on the specific school. We were taught a lot of it. And especially in uni, where I studied history, we did not shy away from the topic. Could the general population be more educated on the topic? Absolutely. But it's better than many other countries and their colonialist past.
This would make me want to see more videos done about lesser known dictators and despots, like Africa's 'Napoleon' Jean Bedel Bokassa, who blew most of the Central African Republic's budget on a Napoleon cosplay during a lavish coronation or Francisco Macias Nguema, who ruled Equatorial Guinea and had people shot by people dressed as Santa Clause while 'Those Were The Days' were played over loud speakers.
More African leaders please.... Rhodesia's Ian Smith, Tanzania's Julius Nyerere, Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah, Ethiopia's Mengistu Haile Mariam, South Africa's F.W. De Klerk
My mother lived in Rwanda during his time in power. She would cross the border daily to go to school in Congo. It was interesting to hear her perspective on how Mobutu was viewed by people who lived under his rule. Great video by the way!
These videos are gold 😀 & so well presented, with lots of wit that doesn’t distract from the gravity of their actions. (Big ups to Simon- they are actually the best I’ve found so far). I’m so recommended this channel to my family especially my Dad, (a well read historian) who was always so entertained by Mobutu’s title. Well done
I will never understand even if born in Belgium congolese descendants like Lukaku play for Belgium, all colonizer were bad but belgians were so cruel !!!
Small related comment... In 1972, I was having part of my Peace Corps training in the Lubumbashi (former Elizabethville) area in Shaba (former Katanga) province. We were staying at the University of Zaire campus. Also there were a group of Zairian college students. Apparently, they had chosen to demonstrate against Mobutu while students in Kinshasa (former Leopoldville). Mobutu drafted them all into the army (could have been worse) and sent them across the country to college in Lubumbashi. As you can imagine, they were not big fans of his. One story they told was that after Lumumba had been killed his body had been dumped in a vat of acid to dissolve it so there would be no memorials to him.
Great video. But point of correction, Mobutu did not flee in his personal plane. He fled in a Ukrainian cargo plane. Originally heading to Savimbi, one of Mobutu's body guards forced the Ukrainian pilots to take Mobutu away. At that time Mobutu's personal plane had been grounded in Brazaville.
I found the DRC quite different to any of the other French speaking countries I've visited in Africa. This was a little under twenty years on froth end of the Mobutu Presidency. I'm hesitant to describe the people and culture there as still damaged by the experience, but the institutions surely are. A few of us went out there on business; all came back with stories to tell.
Mobutu: "European stuff is bad!" Also Mobutu: "Be careful with my Dutch paintings and antique French furniture when you're putting it in my European styled mansion."
Hey Simon, I'm a huge fan of your channels. I mostly consume your podcast content though. I wanted to ask if your Biographics spotify podcast has been cancelled because its no longer available. I'm really sad because this is my absolute FAVORITE podcast I listen to it everyday. Thanks Simon!!!
2:50 - Chapter 1 - Cry for freedom 6:50 - Chapter 2 - Central interference agency 11:05 - Chapter 3 - The kleptocracy 15:10 - Chapter 4 - Cold war warrior 18:55 - Chapter 5 - The war is over, long live the war 21:50 - Chapter 6 - An old sick man
The United States literally overthrew Lumumba because he asked Moscow for help, Lumumba just wanted to turn his country into a prosperous one. America is a Terrorist State.
Earlier this week i said i was going on an unhinged campaign to write a Biographics script for President Harrison. As an update, it is going great. Simon and his valiant crew may never see it, but I damn will try.
Mobutu was excellent example of American policy term "Our son of b*tch". Until someone is American ally and dictator he can do whatever he wants. But if he's not, Americans will activate things like dictator, mad man, genocidal person, abuser of human rights etc. Then he was normal ruler but Mengistu was tyrant. Now we have the same patern. In the media that Asad is ruthless dictator and kings of UAE, S. Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain are OK. Even those rulers have medieval type of society.
I'm an American. I liked your comment, but it makes me think of a "what if". What if the US decided to do a little 1930's style of isolationism? Think about this, if all these nations called on the US for lawyers, guns and money because they have a problem in their country. And the US said "so what? Figure it out yourself." What then would you say? As far as I'm concerned, we, the US, should've just watched as their silly asses killed themselves off, but that's just my opinion. In my opinion, my country has enough of it's own internal affairs and the rest of the world can take a flying leap at a rolling donut. Go ask the Russians and see what that gets you. Better yet, ask the Ukrainians about Russian aid, but make sure you shout real loud because a lot of them won't be able to hear you in they're graves. Cheers.
@@paulceglinski3087 if the US would've said "so what" , instead of enriching themselves by waging war the world would've been better off! You seem to think they did those things out of altruism. Very naive.
@@kwaynr1301 The world would undeniably be worse off, generally; the world massively benefitted overall from American interventionism due to the absurd amount of money spent on aid and trying to keep the peace in hotspots across the planet. You're very naive to think that the world would suddenly be better by removing one of its few stabilizing influences.
Also, generally OP is dead wrong. Mobutu was de an example of "Our son of a b*tch", but that only applied for the Cold War. As we speak, a US ally has been accused of attempting genocide in Ethiopia leading to US condemnations despite being a US ally. The US had backed off from Saudi Arabia after its war in Yemen, though has been forced to slink back due to the oil shortage caused by the Russian-Ukraine War. Generally the US tries to condemn actions its own allies does that are "too far" unless its too geopolitically costly now; which is why it helped toppled all of those dictatorships as soon as the Cold War ended. Of course, when it does, those same people cry that the US is being a hypocrite, so no matter what the US will get hated, even if it tries to take a moral stance.
Fries with mayonnaise is not a snack food, it is a meal! Belgian here with full knowledge about the attrocities in Congo under Leopold II and our questionable colonial history! I do have to say that all Leopold II's statutes are removed and all the streets, tunnels etc. that were named after him are being renamed. (small gesture, I know!)
Excellent and thorough video. I'd love to see videos about other despots/dictators.. they weren't covered in school other than a passing mention, if that. Great job Simon and team 👏 💯 😊
Mobutu was a total narcissist. Some of the people of the Congo were totally deceived. He was not for the people of the Congo. Some people are still confused of his snake like ways
This dictators and autocrats' biographies proves that people always corrupt power. I remember you had made a video about the infamous Filipino autocrat Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Can I suggest the biography of Ramon Magsaysay, one of the most iconic statesman the Philippines had ever seen and a model of good governance. Thank you, really like the videos.😊
I really comment on youtube videos, but i'd like to thank you for this video. I am a Congolese and i've always wanted to learn about the history of my country but resources are scare.
If the United States and the West didn't want Lumumba to ask the Soviet Union for help they shouldn't have denied his request for help dealing with the Katanga secessionists and the imminent coup. Lumumba just wanted to help his people and fight against corruption and colonization by Belgium and that, in and of itself, was seen a pro-communist by the USA. Tragic all around.
He was already believed to be Marxist aligned, so while your rhetoric makes sense for the micro level, it doesn't make sense at all in the macro level. Generally; the West would not want to align with him in this time period.
@@stephenjenkins7971 Marxism is the only lens by which an oppressed people can free themselves from the shackles of their oppressors so yeah I know he was Marxist, but he was a nationalist first. The West’s utter cruelty in allowing and funding the coup that overthrew Lumumba is why he chose the Soviets, they cared.
@@Bludgeoned2DEATH2 That's what Marxists always say before they start oppressing people worse than the capitalists do; and conveniently ignore all the other peoples who were oppressed and then became strong outside of Marxist thought. Or ignores the Marxist nations that themselves were oppressed by...other Marxist nations. Either way, you're dumbing down the situation for your politics. The Soviets cared in the same way the Americans cared about Mobutu; they were a useful pawn. At least the Americans had some standards and didn't send tanks against their closest allies when they disagreed -the Warsaw Pact members recall very vividly what Soviet friendship was like.
@@stephenjenkins7971 Nah lol, a Soviet backed Lumumba government would have been one of peace instead we got a USA backed fascist that destroyed the country. Anyway no reason to argue with an anti-Marxist on TH-cam, I'm sure our time would be better served elsewhere.
@@Bludgeoned2DEATH2 Ah yes, because you can name a single regime that was backed by the Soviets that can be called "peaceful". Being anti-Marxist is like being anti-fascist; which is to say that its common sense.
Simon please do the Story of James Murray "The professor" and Dr. William Minor "the mad man" who created the Oxford English Dictionary. It's an amazing story I know you'd love to tell!
Thanks for this video. Patrice Lumumba was killed with the help of the CIA and Belgium intelligence. In the early 2000`s, both admitted and issued public apologies
There is an amazing, tragic book called “King Leopold’s Ghost” which details the horrific rule of the Belgians in the Congo. The stuff of nightmares. None of Africa’s countries were spared from colonialism.
The house I lived next door to was bought for a couple of U.S Presbyterian missionaries who were had to flee with 20 min to get out taking only only 20 lbs each of their personal things. After the revolution. When the fighting calmed down a few yrs later they were allowed back in and served several more years and were there during the outbreak of Ebola desire but it didn't hit their atea. Altogether they ended spending about 25 yrs in the Congo.They loved the country and the people.
Future Video suggestion - Eamon DeValera (1882-1975) - prominent political leader in 20th century Ireland who, after the Irish war of independence from 1919 to 1921, was in the public eye for over forty years from 1922 until his death were he served as head of government (Taoiseach) and head of state (president). He was nearly executed in the Easter Rising in 1916 and was key in putting into place the new constitution on 1937. A very prominent figure in Irish history.
Another blight on the world you can thank the Dulles brothers for, and afterwards one of them admitted to the press that Lamumba should have been left alone. No kidding.
It's sad to think that he was only kept in power by "foreign interests" purely because he was allegedly "against communism", and as a result, the people suffered, and karma took its' sweet time to bite him in the arse for lauding it up while everyone else died...
Note sure what this says about me, but when I think of Mobutu Sese Seko, I immediately think of the Ali-Foreman fight. EDIT: whelp, reference to it at 15:09.
I was going to say, he was a madman, I think he's already done a video on Mugabi, but what about the bloke who ran White occupied Rhodesia? I'm guessing he also counts as an African Despot?
I’m wondering if you all would ever be willing to do one on Governor George Wallace? I think his trip from moderate to the face of segregation, his presidential campaign and assassination attempt, all the way back to moderate is an interesting story. Just how chasing the vote and populism can change someone for the worse.
European colonists and African dictators always agree on one thing: Despotic one-man rule is the true African form of government. It’s also BS. Looking at descriptions of African governments from before the colonial era, it’s clear that it ran the gamut from one-man dictatorship to some very enlightened systems, and everything in between. The idea that all pre-colonial Africans were one-man, absolute chiefdoms was invented by European colonists. African dictators are happy to use that stereotype to legitimate there rule as “Real African.” It shows how despotic such dictators really are.
completly agree! pre colonial african nations and I say nations cause borders where not drawn like they are now. the ruling used to be tribes based, multiple parties representing each tribe govern together, that way each group has a representitive to advocate for them and no one tribe can rule two tomes in a row.
I guess europeans were upset because they lost Africa, so for revenge they made sure that most Africans would wish they never made the colonizers left.
Mobutu lived out the embodment of the pre-Belgian, colonial Congo Free State of Leopold as writen about and witnessed by Joseph Conrad. To name this video the heart of darkness is apt but means nothing without reading the background.
I took a class at my college on African history and I did a report on the DRC and by extension Mobutu. It truly makes me sad to see all the problems facing the DRC, when I know they could be so much better off, if only foreign governments had just left them alone!
As an African, I think that colonialism is no longer an excuse for modern African governments to deliver nothing to their people. The main reason for Africa's problems now is corruption/mismanagement, and not foreign intervention.
The foreign intervention is really just down to setting up extractive institutions during the colonial period. The lack of progress is really just down to the current leadership’s use of those institutions to enrich themselves and exploit the people. The simple fact is that none of the leaders ever had any desire to improve the lives of the Congolese people, they all just wanted to gain power in order to use it to enrich themselves. They’re just Vladimir Putin in a different place.
@@wandiledlamini2591 If you want to keep blaming foreign powers for our problems in 2022, rather than taking ownership of our destiny and, for example, voting for capable leaders and participating in community development schemes, then frankly that's part of the modern problem. Plus the concept of Western imperialism is getting old at this point. There are lots of other big foreign players in Africa these days, mainly China.
This is so sick, just turned in a paper on the subject of Coltan in D. R. Kongo for university. Had to take a look at this guy, too. Coincidence? I THINK SO!
Humbly requesting George Carlin. A comedian and satirist who oftentimes hit the nail more than just on the head; and whose bits were infinitely more than just satire. The guy was a comedian, satirist, begrudged philosopher, and even the narrative voice of Thomas the Train.
love your videos as always long shot here but i would love to see traditional pre islamic and post islamic classic arabic poets like El-moutanabi and the likes. i had the books covering their biography but i lost it :(
Oddly enough, there is now a company called Soylent making nutritional products. When my son told me there’s a musical group called Soylent Green, I immediately responded with Soylent Green is people!!! Being aware of the film, he laughed while his wife looked at us as if we were unhinged. Good times
CiA did a report on Lumumba, the report mentioned if Lumumba ruled Congo for ten years it will be richer than USA. The rest is history. No country should be richer than America.
I love the scripts on African dictatorships and in Geographics the African based scripts as well. Very educational and helps those who have little knowledge about these topics *Americans with public education(me)*
@@dianeharris6695 “Great flex bro” Lmfao 😂😂 that statement right there is exactly why you didn’t learn anything in school and were probably unable too. You’re the reason Americans are laughed at being completely unaware of world history as you are. Crack open a book at some point you know those pieces of paper bound together with words and maybe just maybe your ignorance will go away.
@@stephenjenkins7971 cool cool cool.. so I guess I had a sub par education from the south where they are literally trying to stop education about MLK btw and complimented this channel for bringing this awesome knowledge to me....again great flex guys. Or you can recognize that not everyone received the same education Y'all did and chat these channels up instead of posting on a thread that was trying to ask for more of these amazing individuals. But you know to each their own.
Actually, Lumumba initially appealed to the West for help, playing on his desire for democracy. But Belgium had already slandered him to the USA and the UN by spitefully claiming he was anti-white, anti-western, and a Communist. That last part became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Being colonised by Belgium might not be as bad as some countries; being colonised by Leopold was terrifying and had no control by Belgium available on it until they could force him to turn it over.
In a "What if..." scenario, does Patrice Lumumba elevate the Congo into becoming a functioning country, or was it always doomed to corruption and poverty?
well since most african countries are rife with corruption and cruelty? it may of done well under Patrice but next election? I suspect it would be fucked.
It has so much to answer for. I'm always a little wary of videos like this, because so many of them start with "evil dictator rises to power" and not the decades of colonial fuckery that created those dictators or enabled them to rise to power. Biographics usually points out the elephant in the room, but a lot of other channels... don't.
![⭐ฮิตในTikTok!! ( หมูเด้ง MooDeng ) Ver. แดนซ์โจ๊ะๆ ReMix BY [ ดีเจกิต รีมิกซ์ ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3krsyfWUeHU/mqdefault.jpg)
To get a 1 year supply of Vitamin D + 5 individual travel packs FREE with your first purchase, go to athleticgreens.com/biographics AG1 is a comprehensive, nutrition drink engineered to fill the nutritional gaps in your diet and support your body's nutritional needs across four pillars of health: Gut health, Immune support, Energy and Recovery! It's packed with 75 vitamins and minerals and whole food-sourced ingredients, combining the perfect amount of micronutrients, absorption, and taste to jumpstart your daily routine. AG1 is available in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe.
Simon, make a video about the corruption of President Biden, and one for the shady and frankly disgusting things hunter has done! That would be an interesting video
Does it taste like pond scum? Green supplements usually do…
Hi Simon can you please do a video Sir Nicholas George Winton MBE he was a British humanitarian who helped to rescue jewish children who were at risk from Nazi Germany just months before the start of World War II he saved 669 children all of them would’ve probably have been killed by the Nazis if he hadn’t got them out please do a video on this man thank you Paul.
I can see your almost at episode 600 of Biographics. Are you going to do something special for it?
Please do Booker T. Washington next. He is an American legend!
The best part of this video is the sheer pain on Simon's face as he drank that swamp water product and still having to say how amazing it was for the ad read
It's the only ad I actually watch because I know how disgusted his face looks when he's forced to take a sip of that sewage.
That was a heck of a CRINGE when he took that sip.
Poor Simon, putting his life on the line for his job.
My thoughts exactly
Lmfao dude was in pain after that sip.
"I take it with my coffee" Yeah because black coffee might be the only thing that tastes strong enough to have a chance to overpower whatever gutter runoff was in that bottle
I first became interested in Mobutu and the history of the Congo because of the many Congolese people I work with. I've heard that at one point, TV news in Zaire opened with a graphic of him descending from heavenly clouds, and that at one point they were forbidden from referring to anyone else by name besides Mobutu.
You can see the footage of it on NewAfrica is video on him
The last part is baseless drivel, honestly, that people were forbidden on TV from referring to anyone else by name.
If you follow soukous, like Luambo Makiadi, he was always on TeleZaire (with Lukunku mostly) and always sings songs with names other than Mobutu.
Search “Mobutu King of Zaire” documentary on youtube. Very detailed.
@@hanbyeol12 yeah. I think what she meant was the term “Citoyen” meaning “Citizen”. No one was called Sir, Mr or prefixes of this sort. Instead we were referring to people as “Citizen”, followed by their African name (no European names allowed for Zairians), For example, Citizen Masamba.
@@Wazalendo_du_Zaïre
nayebi roi du zaire... ezali ya solo te
mpo na nini réalisateur belge azalaka lokuta boye?
Simon, you don't know how grateful I am for making this video. Thank you to you and your entire team.
I am a Congolese, born and bred. And this video is a nightmare relived time and time again.
sese seke salongo oye
You prefer the way the country became after he was overthrown?
This dude is gay
@@JHG875 that is like having to chose between living with one arm or one leg. Both suck. But lets not forget, the country is in the situation it is because of Mobutu.
dont fool by a white ma telling your own history. There many alive today and do you own research.
"If you steal, do not steal too much at a time. You may be arrested. Steal cleverly, little by little." - Mobutu Sese Seko
In other life, Mobutu might've made quite a career in Wall Street.
Weird quote by someone who stole 5 billion.
@@nybotheveg I once read somewhere that it was actually 40 billion.
@@nybotheveg He did it just a million at a time I guess
The actual translation is: "If you must steal! Then you should be considerate, do not empty the jar all at once but rather do it a step at a time”… Mobutu was a cynical man, He actually believed his own BS
"Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely"
- Lord Acton
“What I believe is always true about power is that power always reveals. When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.”
― Robert A. Caro
It is unfortunate that as a Belgian we learn more about our colonial past from TH-cam than in school. So thank you for helping us understand more about a past nobody should be proud of...
Yaaa ive heard yall were da smallest yet da worst in these times
This is the mindset needed by all prior colonial powers, we should not celebrate our dark pasts
@@ourmartin No one is celebrating it. Quite the opposite, it is used as an argument, an excuse to get revenge on these nations by mass migration from former colonies. It's funny when migration is used as revenge but diversity is still our strength.
I think it depends on the specific school. We were taught a lot of it. And especially in uni, where I studied history, we did not shy away from the topic.
Could the general population be more educated on the topic? Absolutely. But it's better than many other countries and their colonialist past.
This would make me want to see more videos done about lesser known dictators and despots, like Africa's 'Napoleon' Jean Bedel Bokassa, who blew most of the Central African Republic's budget on a Napoleon cosplay during a lavish coronation or Francisco Macias Nguema, who ruled Equatorial Guinea and had people shot by people dressed as Santa Clause while 'Those Were The Days' were played over loud speakers.
His son is on Instagram
Indeed, we need more *diversity* in dictatorships !
Yeah both of those dictators we're nut cases. Also Those were the days was a pretty good song I'm not gonna lie
More African leaders please.... Rhodesia's Ian Smith, Tanzania's Julius Nyerere, Ghana's Kwame Nkrumah, Ethiopia's Mengistu Haile Mariam, South Africa's F.W. De Klerk
I've never heard of those stories Kal, they sound too crazy to be real. You just gave me something to read, thanks
My mother lived in Rwanda during his time in power. She would cross the border daily to go to school in Congo. It was interesting to hear her perspective on how Mobutu was viewed by people who lived under his rule. Great video by the way!
These videos are gold 😀 & so well presented, with lots of wit that doesn’t distract from the gravity of their actions. (Big ups to Simon- they are actually the best I’ve found so far). I’m so recommended this channel to my family especially my Dad, (a well read historian) who was always so entertained by Mobutu’s title. Well done
As Congolese, I clicked this video fast - btw Simon did well telling the story
I will never understand even if born in Belgium congolese descendants like Lukaku play for Belgium, all colonizer were bad but belgians were so cruel !!!
Small related comment... In 1972, I was having part of my Peace Corps training in the Lubumbashi (former Elizabethville) area in Shaba (former Katanga) province. We were staying at the University of Zaire campus. Also there were a group of Zairian college students. Apparently, they had chosen to demonstrate against Mobutu while students in Kinshasa (former Leopoldville). Mobutu drafted them all into the army (could have been worse) and sent them across the country to college in Lubumbashi. As you can imagine, they were not big fans of his. One story they told was that after Lumumba had been killed his body had been dumped in a vat of acid to dissolve it so there would be no memorials to him.
One of the worst stories I've heard about Mobutu was the way he slowly tortured to death Moïse Tshombe
@@TNOfan4093 wrong Lumumba was torture Tshombe dies in jail in Argelia .
@@TNOfan4093it was Pierre Mulele
Thanks for doing a vid on Mobutu! I had been requesting a Biographics vid about him for a while.
Great video. But point of correction, Mobutu did not flee in his personal plane. He fled in a Ukrainian cargo plane. Originally heading to Savimbi, one of Mobutu's body guards forced the Ukrainian pilots to take Mobutu away. At that time Mobutu's personal plane had been grounded in Brazaville.
I found the DRC quite different to any of the other French speaking countries I've visited in Africa. This was a little under twenty years on froth end of the Mobutu Presidency. I'm hesitant to describe the people and culture there as still damaged by the experience, but the institutions surely are. A few of us went out there on business; all came back with stories to tell.
What business?
@@_VISION. Telecoms
Mobutu: "European stuff is bad!"
Also Mobutu: "Be careful with my Dutch paintings and antique French furniture when you're putting it in my European styled mansion."
"Watch the paintwork pal, on my speedy than sound plane, (Concorde)."
Hey Simon, I'm a huge fan of your channels. I mostly consume your podcast content though. I wanted to ask if your Biographics spotify podcast has been cancelled because its no longer available. I'm really sad because this is my absolute FAVORITE podcast I listen to it everyday. Thanks Simon!!!
2:50 - Chapter 1 - Cry for freedom
6:50 - Chapter 2 - Central interference agency
11:05 - Chapter 3 - The kleptocracy
15:10 - Chapter 4 - Cold war warrior
18:55 - Chapter 5 - The war is over, long live the war
21:50 - Chapter 6 - An old sick man
I pray that the Congo gets a competent, courageous, selfish leader. They a vast amount of resources that should be going to its people.
An outstanding video about a horrific leader. Every western leader who supported this regime should be ashamed for contributing to this
The United States literally overthrew Lumumba because he asked Moscow for help, Lumumba just wanted to turn his country into a prosperous one.
America is a Terrorist State.
Like the allies supporting Stalin against Hitler...
Fries and Mayo IS a valid snack, thank you 🤣🤣🤣
A brit living in e Czech Republic. You don't expect him to have any active taste buds.
Keep doing what you do guys, you got a loyal viewer here, thanx
Earlier this week i said i was going on an unhinged campaign to write a Biographics script for President Harrison. As an update, it is going great. Simon and his valiant crew may never see it, but I damn will try.
Which President Harrison?
@@Ben_the_Rosafan William Henry Harrison. The one that died a month in
I just had to comment... Se Seko in Finnish means The Crazy, in some cases The Psycho. Just a bit of interesting trivia for some people. 🙂
El Manco is a Spanish word for the One-Armed.
Spanish has a word for One-Armed.
Mobutu was excellent example of American policy term "Our son of b*tch". Until someone is American ally and dictator he can do whatever he wants. But if he's not, Americans will activate things like dictator, mad man, genocidal person, abuser of human rights etc. Then he was normal ruler but Mengistu was tyrant. Now we have the same patern. In the media that Asad is ruthless dictator and kings of UAE, S. Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain are OK. Even those rulers have medieval type of society.
I'm an American. I liked your comment, but it makes me think of a "what if". What if the US decided to do a little 1930's style of isolationism? Think about this, if all these nations called on the US for lawyers, guns and money because they have a problem in their country. And the US said "so what? Figure it out yourself." What then would you say? As far as I'm concerned, we, the US, should've just watched as their silly asses killed themselves off, but that's just my opinion. In my opinion, my country has enough of it's own internal affairs and the rest of the world can take a flying leap at a rolling donut. Go ask the Russians and see what that gets you. Better yet, ask the Ukrainians about Russian aid, but make sure you shout real loud because a lot of them won't be able to hear you in they're graves. Cheers.
@@paulceglinski3087 if the US would've said "so what" , instead of enriching themselves by waging war the world would've been better off! You seem to think they did those things out of altruism. Very naive.
@Darren Right!
@@kwaynr1301 The world would undeniably be worse off, generally; the world massively benefitted overall from American interventionism due to the absurd amount of money spent on aid and trying to keep the peace in hotspots across the planet. You're very naive to think that the world would suddenly be better by removing one of its few stabilizing influences.
Also, generally OP is dead wrong. Mobutu was de an example of "Our son of a b*tch", but that only applied for the Cold War. As we speak, a US ally has been accused of attempting genocide in Ethiopia leading to US condemnations despite being a US ally. The US had backed off from Saudi Arabia after its war in Yemen, though has been forced to slink back due to the oil shortage caused by the Russian-Ukraine War.
Generally the US tries to condemn actions its own allies does that are "too far" unless its too geopolitically costly now; which is why it helped toppled all of those dictatorships as soon as the Cold War ended.
Of course, when it does, those same people cry that the US is being a hypocrite, so no matter what the US will get hated, even if it tries to take a moral stance.
Loved this episode please do add these episodes to your podcast channel i do loved listening to biographics in my car while driving
Imagine if it was Patrice Lumbata who led the DRC.
They found one of his teeth and recently returned it to his family.
That’s all that’s left of him sadly. His body was dissolved in acid.
Disgusting.
What if it was Patrice O’Neal?
To bad the French killed him
Sir Simon should also do a bio about Patrice Lumumba? We ❤️ your channels Simon!
This man deserves his own Into the Shadows video.
Fries with mayonnaise is not a snack food, it is a meal! Belgian here with full knowledge about the attrocities in Congo under Leopold II and our questionable colonial history! I do have to say that all Leopold II's statutes are removed and all the streets, tunnels etc. that were named after him are being renamed. (small gesture, I know!)
Sorry, my preference is the English style of malt vinegar with my fries or sriracha or sriracha ketchup
DRC is still recovering from the trauma of the despotic regime of Mobutu Sese Seko who was handpicked by the West during the times of the Cold war
Excellent and thorough video. I'd love to see videos about other despots/dictators.. they weren't covered in school other than a passing mention, if that.
Great job Simon and team 👏 💯 😊
Mobutu was a total narcissist. Some of the people of the Congo were totally deceived. He was not for the people of the Congo. Some people are still confused of his snake like ways
Simon , u and your team really do a great job with with the various channels you maintain and contribute to. Good job guys 👍👍
Awesome content! Thinking a video about Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo would be cool...or on equatorial guinea regime in general.
This dictators and autocrats' biographies proves that people always corrupt power.
I remember you had made a video about the infamous Filipino autocrat Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Can I suggest the biography of Ramon Magsaysay, one of the most iconic statesman the Philippines had ever seen and a model of good governance. Thank you, really like the videos.😊
I really comment on youtube videos, but i'd like to thank you for this video. I am a Congolese and i've always wanted to learn about the history of my country but resources are scare.
If the United States and the West didn't want Lumumba to ask the Soviet Union for help they shouldn't have denied his request for help dealing with the Katanga secessionists and the imminent coup. Lumumba just wanted to help his people and fight against corruption and colonization by Belgium and that, in and of itself, was seen a pro-communist by the USA. Tragic all around.
He was already believed to be Marxist aligned, so while your rhetoric makes sense for the micro level, it doesn't make sense at all in the macro level. Generally; the West would not want to align with him in this time period.
@@stephenjenkins7971 Marxism is the only lens by which an oppressed people can free themselves from the shackles of their oppressors so yeah I know he was Marxist, but he was a nationalist first. The West’s utter cruelty in allowing and funding the coup that overthrew Lumumba is why he chose the Soviets, they cared.
@@Bludgeoned2DEATH2 That's what Marxists always say before they start oppressing people worse than the capitalists do; and conveniently ignore all the other peoples who were oppressed and then became strong outside of Marxist thought. Or ignores the Marxist nations that themselves were oppressed by...other Marxist nations.
Either way, you're dumbing down the situation for your politics. The Soviets cared in the same way the Americans cared about Mobutu; they were a useful pawn. At least the Americans had some standards and didn't send tanks against their closest allies when they disagreed -the Warsaw Pact members recall very vividly what Soviet friendship was like.
@@stephenjenkins7971 Nah lol, a Soviet backed Lumumba government would have been one of peace instead we got a USA backed fascist that destroyed the country. Anyway no reason to argue with an anti-Marxist on TH-cam, I'm sure our time would be better served elsewhere.
@@Bludgeoned2DEATH2 Ah yes, because you can name a single regime that was backed by the Soviets that can be called "peaceful".
Being anti-Marxist is like being anti-fascist; which is to say that its common sense.
AG1 gosh your commercial is very good too!!!
Simon please do the Story of James Murray "The professor" and Dr. William Minor "the mad man" who created the Oxford English Dictionary. It's an amazing story I know you'd love to tell!
Thanks for this video. Patrice Lumumba was killed with the help of the CIA and Belgium intelligence. In the early 2000`s, both admitted and issued public apologies
Please do videos of Desmond Tutu, Wangari Maathai, President Nasser and King Shaka.
There is an amazing, tragic book called “King Leopold’s Ghost” which details the horrific rule of the Belgians in the Congo. The stuff of nightmares. None of Africa’s countries were spared from colonialism.
The house I lived next door to was bought for a couple of U.S Presbyterian missionaries who were had to flee with 20 min to get out taking only only 20 lbs each of their personal things. After the revolution. When the fighting calmed down a few yrs later they were allowed back in and served several more years and were there during the outbreak of Ebola desire but it didn't hit their atea. Altogether they ended spending about 25 yrs in the Congo.They loved the country and the people.
Hello, love the vids. Can you do an episode on George VI and George V.
Watching Simon choke down AG1 gives me Lucy Ricardo and her Vitameatavegimen commercial. 😄😄
Future Video suggestion -
Eamon DeValera (1882-1975) - prominent political leader in 20th century Ireland who, after the Irish war of independence from 1919 to 1921, was in the public eye for over forty years from 1922 until his death were he served as head of government (Taoiseach) and head of state (president). He was nearly executed in the Easter Rising in 1916 and was key in putting into place the new constitution on 1937. A very prominent figure in Irish history.
Another blight on the world you can thank the Dulles brothers for, and afterwards one of them admitted to the press that Lamumba should have been left alone. No kidding.
It's sad to think that he was only kept in power by "foreign interests" purely because he was allegedly "against communism", and as a result, the people suffered, and karma took its' sweet time to bite him in the arse for lauding it up while everyone else died...
Note sure what this says about me, but when I think of Mobutu Sese Seko, I immediately think of the Ali-Foreman fight.
EDIT: whelp, reference to it at 15:09.
AHAHAHA THIS IS GONNA BE INTERESTING!
EDIT: Are we gonna see Simon do African despots soon?I cannot wait for the inevitable Bokassa vid!
We got idi amin.
I would love to see Mengistu Halie Mariam.
Or Francisco Macias Nguema!
Paul Biya.
I was going to say, he was a madman, I think he's already done a video on Mugabi, but what about the bloke who ran White occupied Rhodesia? I'm guessing he also counts as an African Despot?
Ian Smith?
Please do a video on Patrice Lumbaba
Why am I addictive to watching Biographics doing a video on murderous leaders? 🤷♂️
I’m wondering if you all would ever be willing to do one on Governor George Wallace? I think his trip from moderate to the face of segregation, his presidential campaign and assassination attempt, all the way back to moderate is an interesting story. Just how chasing the vote and populism can change someone for the worse.
Best morning listening ritual
I like AG1, great sponsor 💚🌱❤
European colonists and African dictators always agree on one thing: Despotic one-man rule is the true African form of government. It’s also BS. Looking at descriptions of African governments from before the colonial era, it’s clear that it ran the gamut from one-man dictatorship to some very enlightened systems, and everything in between. The idea that all pre-colonial Africans were one-man, absolute chiefdoms was invented by European colonists. African dictators are happy to use that stereotype to legitimate there rule as “Real African.” It shows how despotic such dictators really are.
completly agree! pre colonial african nations and I say nations cause borders where not drawn like they are now. the ruling used to be tribes based, multiple parties representing each tribe govern together, that way each group has a representitive to advocate for them and no one tribe can rule two tomes in a row.
I guess europeans were upset because they lost Africa, so for revenge they made sure that most Africans would wish they never made the colonizers left.
Mobutu lived out the embodment of the pre-Belgian, colonial Congo Free State of Leopold as writen about and witnessed by Joseph Conrad. To name this video the heart of darkness is apt but means nothing without reading the background.
Incredible video just great and disturbing, I’m still waiting on that episode about the Emperor Caracalla though peace!
"I love democracy" - Mobutu
6:24love how he says the name Kasavubu
I took a class at my college on African history and I did a report on the DRC and by extension Mobutu. It truly makes me sad to see all the problems facing the DRC, when I know they could be so much better off, if only foreign governments had just left them alone!
As an African, I think that colonialism is no longer an excuse for modern African governments to deliver nothing to their people. The main reason for Africa's problems now is corruption/mismanagement, and not foreign intervention.
The foreign intervention is really just down to setting up extractive institutions during the colonial period. The lack of progress is really just down to the current leadership’s use of those institutions to enrich themselves and exploit the people. The simple fact is that none of the leaders ever had any desire to improve the lives of the Congolese people, they all just wanted to gain power in order to use it to enrich themselves. They’re just Vladimir Putin in a different place.
@@beno1129 Excuse fellow African but know that these corrupt politicians are installed by western imperialist countries and governments
@@wandiledlamini2591 If you want to keep blaming foreign powers for our problems in 2022, rather than taking ownership of our destiny and, for example, voting for capable leaders and participating in community development schemes, then frankly that's part of the modern problem. Plus the concept of Western imperialism is getting old at this point. There are lots of other big foreign players in Africa these days, mainly China.
@@beno1129 all I’m saying is politicians are puppets they will always serve their pockets instead of their people
Pretty fitting that Seko means loonie in Finnish
This is so sick, just turned in a paper on the subject of Coltan in D. R. Kongo for university. Had to take a look at this guy, too. Coincidence? I THINK SO!
It’s so interesting learning about lesser known dictators that aren’t mentioned as much as others.
I loved it! You make history so entertaining, Simon!
@سلام الصميدعي omg we get the point, you've replied to like every comment
Good video 👍
Humbly requesting George Carlin. A comedian and satirist who oftentimes hit the nail more than just on the head; and whose bits were infinitely more than just satire. The guy was a comedian, satirist, begrudged philosopher, and even the narrative voice of Thomas the Train.
Soon, my friend. Soon. (I think I said this alot but as a wise president man once said: "Persistence is key!")
@@v.emiltheii-nd.8094 absolutely my friend! Persistence is key!
Thank you
love your videos as always
long shot here but i would love to see traditional pre islamic and post islamic classic arabic poets like El-moutanabi and the likes.
i had the books covering their biography but i lost it :(
Whoa whoa whoa Sweet child of mine, fries and mayonnaise is a perfectly acceptable snack, regardless of what country you come from.
5:12
Next time you eat fish and chips, put a little tartar sauce on the fries. That's the gateway.
@@lauriepenner350 if fish is involved then of course
@سلام الصميدعي you want me to pray?
Okay let's go watching
You tube is unwatchable due to ads great channel though.
Wakanda forever! What...that wasn't these guys? Forget about it...
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 great video, love Congolese History
Very important information about history of world
Otto Avon Bismarck Bio: I know you guys love wars, shall we? My best line, thank you for your videos 🙏
They did Bismarck years ago...
Soylent Green: Is my kind of people.
AG1: "Hold on now, we're not quite there yet; but have you tried us"
Oddly enough, there is now a company called Soylent making nutritional products. When my son told me there’s a musical group called Soylent Green, I immediately responded with Soylent Green is people!!! Being aware of the film, he laughed while his wife looked at us as if we were unhinged. Good times
He is type of leader we don't need in africa .
Lol saw that name and clicked quick😂 this man ruined my country lmao
Maybe you guys can do Francisco Macias Nguema, the most cartoonishly vile dictator in history
Mobutu sese seko nkuku bengu waza banga
Simon, KINDLY MAKE A CLIP ON KENNETH KAUNDA
James Buchanan: I must say I'm a huge fan Mobut-you make me look pretty competent in comparison
CiA did a report on Lumumba, the report mentioned if Lumumba ruled Congo for ten years it will be richer than USA. The rest is history. No country should be richer than America.
The CIA never made a report like that, wtf. Everything it did in this time period was for screwing the Soviets, nothing more.
of course not come on. In 10 years? How?
I love the scripts on African dictatorships and in Geographics the African based scripts as well. Very educational and helps those who have little knowledge about these topics *Americans with public education(me)*
Speak for yourself as I’m an *American with a public education* and I learned about it. You must have fallen asleep during that part of class 🤷🏻♂️
@@davidgessin-mccully3919great flex bro
@@dianeharris6695
“Great flex bro” Lmfao 😂😂 that statement right there is exactly why you didn’t learn anything in school and were probably unable too. You’re the reason Americans are laughed at being completely unaware of world history as you are. Crack open a book at some point you know those pieces of paper bound together with words and maybe just maybe your ignorance will go away.
@@dianeharris6695 He ain't wrong, I did too. :D
@@stephenjenkins7971 cool cool cool.. so I guess I had a sub par education from the south where they are literally trying to stop education about MLK btw and complimented this channel for bringing this awesome knowledge to me....again great flex guys. Or you can recognize that not everyone received the same education Y'all did and chat these channels up instead of posting on a thread that was trying to ask for more of these amazing individuals. But you know to each their own.
Actually, Lumumba initially appealed to the West for help, playing on his desire for democracy. But Belgium had already slandered him to the USA and the UN by spitefully claiming he was anti-white, anti-western, and a Communist. That last part became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The way he says Kasa-vubu 😂
I see a lot of similarities between his story and that of Idi Amin
Being colonised by Belgium might not be as bad as some countries; being colonised by Leopold was terrifying and had no control by Belgium available on it until they could force him to turn it over.
Belgium was same as bad as France, UK and Portugal .
Do you know what Belgians did to the native people. Horror does not describe it
Ok colonizer...
Go watching
Lol Simon drinking AG1, then immediately grimacing and stating it taste “great” lmao nah son we see that stink face
Gbadolite😂😂😂...sorry Simon that took me out!!!
He was a stylish dresser though, you have to give him that.
In a "What if..." scenario, does Patrice Lumumba elevate the Congo into becoming a functioning country, or was it always doomed to corruption and poverty?
well since most african countries are rife with corruption and cruelty? it may of done well under Patrice but next election? I suspect it would be fucked.
He was an idealist and they always died young .
I mean the bar is pretty fuckin low looking at the DRC today. So yeah it would at minimum be a lot better than it is today
Would love to see what ye would do with Michael Collins, the man who took down the British empire and won Ireland their independence.
2:38 "Hooberis"? Sheesh, that was a bad one even for Simon 😂
Can you do a video on Jozef Pilsudski, the founder of Poland after ww1
Colonialism
It has so much to answer for. I'm always a little wary of videos like this, because so many of them start with "evil dictator rises to power" and not the decades of colonial fuckery that created those dictators or enabled them to rise to power. Biographics usually points out the elephant in the room, but a lot of other channels... don't.
So many democratic alternatives murdered by former colonial powers or US. As is beriefly mentioned here.
Id like to see a video on one of the Beatles. Edit, looks like i got what i wished for, George is my favorite Beatle too
Can you do Tomas Sankara?