The Belgian writer David van Reybrouck has won the Dutch AKO literary award with his book 'Congo'. Last month he won another literary prize - the Libris award for history. Mr Van Reybrouck spoke to RNW's Sophie van Leeuwen about his prize-winning work.
 
What made you decide to write about the history of Congo?
"Because I wanted to read it. In 2003 I travelled to Congo for the first time. I wanted to read an accessible, comprehensive and complete history of the country, but I couldn't find anything like that. So I said to myself: 'If such a book doesn't exist, I will write it myself!"
 
"So I wrote a history of Congo between 1850 and 2010. I interviewed many Congolese people and I used documents and stories from the archives. It is a history of Congo told by the Congolese themselves."
 
How do Belgians remember the sometimes bloody and racist colonial days of Belgian Congo?
"It depends on their age. Older people seem to have a certain colonial pride. But the younger generation feels guilty and ashamed. They need self-contemplation. I believe it's very important that Belgium goes through a period of reflection."
 
"But at the same time you shouldn't get stuck in reflection. One can also feel too much guilt. A sense of guilt is very egocentric. The bond between Belgium and Congo is too important for such feelings."
 
How important is the relationship between Belgium and the DRC today in your opinion?
"Economically Congo is less important to Belgium than it used to be. In colonial times, the Belgian economy largely depended on Congo. Today, Belgian economic interests there are minimal."
 
"There is a symbolic, historic and emotional bond. Yes, there are nostalgic manifestations that are quite painful. But the young generation shows a new interest in Congo. They want to go there. They want to meet the Congolese."
 
But are they welcome? You met hundreds of people in the DRC, what did they tell you?
"When I arrived in Congo for the first time, I felt ashamed. I had a hard time telling people I'm Belgian. I was afraid the Congolese would make me feel responsible for what happened during colonial times, even though I was born after independence."
 
"But this was not the case at all! Strangely enough, the Congolese were rather happy. They said: 'You're Belgian? Your parents and ancestors used to be our colonisers. So that makes us family!' This shows the great generosity of the Congolese people."
 
You wrote 'Congo - A history'. What about the future?
"The country was devastated by war in 2000. It still is a very fragile state. Although today's Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is going through a minor economic recovery, there are also a lot of negative developments. The democratic achievements of the 2006 elections have diminished. Public and democratic spaces are less open than before."
 
"In 2011 there will be elections again. I hope they will revive the big democratic adventure that Congo is undertaking."