Entertainment · Books & Arts · 1 day ago
Daniel Kehlmann’s new novel satirises the Berlin Congo Conference
Daniel Kehlmann’s novel “Afrika” satirises the Berlin Congo Conference of 1884 and 1885.
The story follows Strilensky, an invented Austrian official sent to the meeting in place of his supervisor.
He is distracted by personal troubles and barely follows the talks.
European and some American powers discussed trade rights and the division of Africa, without African guests invited to take part.
The conference declared the newly explored Congo region the private property of Belgium’s king.
Belgian colonial rule later brought mass killing of the Congolese population, giving the negotiations a deeply violent legacy.
Kehlmann combines this history with comic dialogue and a looming duel that drives the novel’s suspense.
The book was published by Rowohlt in 2026, and readers must judge for themselves whether comedy is appropriate against this history.
Daniel Kehlmann’s new novel, Afrika, is a political satire set at the Berlin Congo Conference of 1884 and 1885.
It follows Austrian-Hungarian official Legationsrat Strilensky, who attends in place of his superior but is distracted from the conference.
The diplomats discussed trade rights in Africa and the division of the continent among major powers, without African guests.
The conference declared the newly explored Congo region the private property of Belgium’s king, a decision followed by the killing of Congolese people under Belgian colonial rule.
Kehlmann’s novel combines the conference’s historical significance with comic episodes and a looming duel.
- Who
- Daniel Kehlmann wrote the novel, which follows Austrian-Hungarian official Legationsrat Strilensky.
- What
- Afrika is a political satire about the Berlin Congo Conference.
- When
- The conference took place in 1884 and 1885; the novel was published in 2026.
- Where
- The conference took place in Berlin.
- Why
- The conference concerned trade rights in Africa and the division of the continent among major powers.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
European and some American diplomats, rulers and interest representatives met in Berlin for the Congo Conference.
Daniel Kehlmann’s novel Afrika was published.
- Novel
- Afrika
- Author
- Daniel Kehlmann
- Setting
- Berlin Congo Conference, 1884–1885
- Strilensky’s employer
- Foreign Office of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy
- Strilensky’s debt
- 5,000 gulden
What people are saying
Das Schreiben habe ihm riesigen Spass gemacht.