Congo Stories

Battling Five Centuries of Exploitation and Greed

John Prendergast, Fidel Bafilemba, Ryan Gosling , Soraya Aziz Souleymane

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Hardback

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English

Little Brown
12 February 2019

History; African history; The environment

Congo is one of the most complex countries in the world, yet it is the most overlooked. It is one of the wealthiest in Africa as a result of its natural endowments, but its people are some of the poorest in the world. Congolese culture is informed by the brutality of war. Over 5 million Congolese died at the beginning of the 21st century because of our demand for the minerals that power our cellphones and laptops. Billions of dollars are being siphoned out of the country while billions in humanitarian aid and peacekeeping are coming in to clean up the mess. Although the country has paid a price for over five centuries, progress has and continues to be made.

Wanting to learn more about this incredible land and history, Ryan Gosling and activist John Prendergast went to the Congo to learn first-hand how the prosperity of America and Europe has defined Congolese history for the last five centuries in a multitude of ways. CONGO STORIES introduces readers to the incredible men, women, and children whose lives have been upended by conflict. Filled with photos Gosling took during their trip, and Prendergast's and Bafilemba's meticulous research, CONGO STORIES is a stirring exploration of the Congo experience, an invitation for readers to connect with a vibrant but embattled part of the world, and a worthy call to action and engagement.

By: John Prendergast, Fidel Bafilemba
Photographs by: Ryan Gosling
Foreword by: Soraya Aziz Souleymane
Contributions by: Dave Eggers
Imprint: Little Brown
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 238mm, Width: 198mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 1.140kg
ISBN: 9781455584642
ISBN 10: 1455584649
Pages: 352
Publication Date: 12 February 2019
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Ryan Gosling is an actor known for La La Land and Half Nelson--both of which garnered him an Academy Award nomination--as well as The Notebook, Blue Valentine, and The Ides of March, and Blade Runner 2049. He hosted the SNL premiere episode for the 2017-2018 season. His forthcoming film the First Man is a highly anticipated biopic of Neil Armstrong. John Prendergast is a human rights activist and New York Times bestselling author who has focused on peace in Africa for over thirty years. He is the founding director of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide and crimes against humanity. He is also the co-founder of The Sentry with George Clooney, a new investigative initiative focused on dismantling the networks financing conflict and atrocities. John has worked for the Clinton White House, the State Department, two members of Congress, the National Intelligence Council, UNICEF, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. Fidel Bafilemba is a field research consultant for the Enough Project who is based in Central Africa.

Reviews for Congo Stories: Battling Five Centuries of Exploitation and Greed

"""Eye-opening reportage from an African nation that has been robbed and despoiled for centuries-but that is now finding paths of resistance ... No thoughtful reader of this book will look at his or her computer or cellphone the same way again.""--Kirkus ""In this well-organized, vigorously informative, polyphonic, unnerving, and conscience-rousing presentation, [Prendergast] and researcher and activist Bafilemba trace 'the connection between natural resources exploitation and the violent conflicts' destroying the lives of millions in the Democratic Republic of Congo ... A thoughtfully assembled resource and a clarion call for readers to seek out ethically sourced goods and support efforts to bring justice and peace to this cruelly pillaged land.""--Booklist"