Latest / The History of Belgium: A Small Country with a Giant Colonial Legacy — Fexingo History
Belgium's 1955 Tshibumba Oil Refinery Strike
In 1955, Congolese workers at the newly built Tshibumba oil refinery in the Belgian Congo walked off the job, sparking a strike that would expose the deep racial and economic inequalities of colonial rule. This episode follows the strike from its origins in the harsh working conditions and wage disparities between European and African employees, to the violent crackdown by the Force Publique, and the broader implications for the Congolese labor movement. We explore the role of the refinery as a symbol of Belgium's post-war industrial ambitions, the emergence of African trade unionism…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.