In 1999, Radio Netherlands marked the end of the millennium with a series of 12 programmes telling the story of the 20th century through famous books. In each programme, a guest speaker gives us the historical background behind the story in the book and tells us about the actual events that inspired it.
“The Laughing Cry” by Congolese writer Henri Lopes is a satirical novel which paints a portrait of an African dictator right after independence.
The guest speaker is Jude Kehla, a social scientist from Cameroon who now lives in the Netherlands.
Producer: Hélène Michaud
Broadcast: November 24, 1999