European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 26, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                June 2007 stars and stripes Page 17 Nick trips if Africa in your Back Yard on the it belgian museum has artefacts from european colonial Era by Joseph Giordono stars and stripes can a Little bit of racism go a Long Way in teach ing tolerance and history the Royal museum for Cen trial situated in a Park on the outskirts of seems to be betting that it and the museum does give a fascinating look at the colonial attitudes of Europe toward even if youre there just to see some great pieces of african Flora and the museum is Well Worth a but let me in the second half of the 19th As european nations raced to Divide up the african the belgians took hold of what would later become the democratic Republic of at the area was called the Congo free and was literally owned As a private holding by a group of european businessmen headed by belgian King Leopold created in the late it provided rubber and other natural materials a Colony run by big in Belgium hosted the worlds fair and the museum was built As a showcase for business but As cruelties mounted and the atrocities associated with colonial Rule elsewhere were widely pressure was put on the belgian government to do in it took direct Rule Over the keeping it As a Colony until by Independence move ments were sweeping through and the Congo was no the museum features dozens of wonderful Wood carvings and including this congolese version of a voodoo its this period that the museum tries to put into As its web site the permanent exhibition still reflects the Way Europe regarded Africa in the despite a radically altered social context not Only in but Here As in other words a bit paternal a bit racist and a bit factually incorrect the museums history Section is a work in but it does have perhaps the most symbolic Independence photo Ive in when belgian King Baudouin arrived to Grant the Congo its he Rode from the Airport standing in an open a nationalist sprang from the snatched the stars and stripes Kings sword the Symbol of colonial Rule from his Belt and danced holding it aloft in a photographer was photos by Joseph and stripes some of the original architecture of the Royal museum for Central including this Cross hatched Metal ceiling above an exhibit of taxidermy red is More interesting than the there to capture the but enough whats there to see at the museum a wealth of beautifully Eye catching pieces of african a somewhat Giggle inducing menagerie of papier mache and plaster animals of the temporary exhibits in clude a wonderful array of traditional african headdresses that will be on display until septem there Are musical costumes and there Are plenty of interactive displays on both history and and some things to keep the kids theres also the has to be seen to be the gilded which houses the ticket office and information also has a set of colonial Era Gold statues with such unabashed titles As Bel Gium brings civilization to that sculpture is of a White priest towering Over a naked outside the museum is a Lush Green Park with a and on the Day we there were dozens of families and school age kids lounging in the because a ticket for the museum allows Many of the visitors made a Day of bring ing a picnic and bouncing be tween the indoor exhibits and outdoor directions if driving from Brussels take the Belliard Tunnel n3 and continue on the de Ter Vuren until you reach the quatre bras go toward Teru Renlian at the turn left on leu Vens Steenweg to the museum parking lot is opposite the Muse from take the Brussels ring to to the Ter Vuren exit then turn left on the Teru Renlian at the turn left on leavens Steenweg to the Muse by Public transportation from Brussels Central take the subway line in to Ward Stockel and Stop at Mont then take Tram 44 to the final the museum is a 300yard times hours Are from 10 to 5 tuesday through Friday including Public 10 to 6 saturday and closed on new years May Day and costs tickets Are 4 euros for adults plus a surcharge for some of the temporary exhibits and euros for students children under 12 get in discounts for senior citizens and groups larger than 15 the Royal museum for Central just outs we tits in the Middle of a Beautiful the museums Simba cafeteria is quite Nice and offers everything from simple baguettes to authentic Afri can lunches from a menu that rotates every two you can sit inside or outside in the Central information the museum has a web site in dutch and it also has a childrens some exhibits in the museum Are in French or dutch but English guide materials and headsets that Tell you about what youre seeing Are Avail staff members speak Joseph Giordono