Italian by birth and French by education, Brazza explored West Africa, seeking to understand the various cultures. His philosophy of nonviolence allowed him to penetrate Congo’s rainforests peacefully, sowing trust along the way. Meanwhile, his rival Stanley, in the service of the Belgian King Leopold II, advanced with the roar of cannon fire. Rejecting the racism of his age, Brazza embraced Africans with respect and equality, while discouraging slavery among tribal chiefs. He was a pioneer of human rights and sustainable development. His alliance with King Makoko Iloo I, sovereign of the Batéké people, created French Equatorial Africa. Their lasting friendship represents a rare luminous moment in the tragic history of colonial Africa.

Today’s violent conflicts across Central Africa are rooted in these events. Congolese author, Jean Leonard Touadi, sums up Brazza’s legacy: “For us, Pietro di Brazza—the explorer with a compassionate heart and a farsighted mind—is one of our ancestors. He remains so loved by the Congolese people that our capital steadfastly preserves his name, Brazzaville. And no politician would ever dream of changing it. Even if he was born in Rome, we believe that his soul is African.”