Paper short abstract:

The Royal Museum of Central Africa (RMCA) in Belgium is starting up collaboration with the former colonised communities living in Belgium today. How is this collaboration worked out? What are the ambitions of the institution and of the Congolese actors envolved?

Paper long abstract:

Abstract This article provides readers with a contrapuntal interpretation of the collaboration between Congolese actors and the Royal Museum of Central Africa (RMCA). Building on Edward Said's method of contrapuntal interpretation the colonial archives and collections of the museum are the vocal point to outline the contemporary exhibition culture of the RMCA. The author argues that this collaboration is taking place in a contested 'contact zone' where different opinions, visions, perspectives and voices are present within the hierarchy of an 'exhibitionary complex'. The main argument of the article states that the name of the game is still written out by the museum itself and not by extern, subaltern voices or contrapuntal interpretations.