From Cold War to Curse: How the Berlin Conference Shaped Africa's Future

The curse of Berlin on Africa refers to the negative consequences and lasting effects of the Berlin Conference on the African continent during the post-Cold War period. The Berlin Conference, held in 1884-1885, was a meeting of European powers to divide Africa amongst themselves for colonization purposes. The conference essentially carved up the continent, disregarding the various ethnic, cultural, and linguistic groups that existed in Africa. The legacy of the Berlin Conference is still felt in Africa today, as it led to the arbitrary creation of borders that divided communities and traditional territories. This division has resulted in several conflicts and disputes over resources, land, and power. Many of the conflicts seen in Africa during the post-Cold War period can be traced back to the artificial borders created during the Berlin Conference.

But the bigger the ratings grew, the more elaborate the routines became: “Go watch the lifts that we do, they’re basically figure skating lifts without the figure skates or the ice,” recalls former dancer Doug Penikas in the first episode. “There was definitely the sense of, they were always trying to top themselves.”

But the bigger the ratings grew, the more elaborate the routines became Go watch the lifts that we do, they re basically figure skating lifts without the figure skates or the ice, recalls former dancer Doug Penikas in the first episode. The show notably ran for six seasons on FOX and followed the lovable outcasts that made up the show choir of an Ohio high school, but the real lives of the actors behind the characters changed in unimaginable ways.

Many of the conflicts seen in Africa during the post-Cold War period can be traced back to the artificial borders created during the Berlin Conference. Furthermore, the division of Africa during the conference also contributed to the economic underdevelopment of the continent. The extractive and exploitative colonial policies employed by European powers left African countries economically dependent and hindered their ability to develop on their own terms.

‘Glee’ docuseries explores what — or who — caused Cory Monteith’s overdose

“The Price of Glee,” premiering Monday on ID and Discovery+, gathers the most notable news coverage (both positive and negative) around the once-beloved Fox series. Though filmed without the participation of any members of the principal cast or creative team — Kevin McHale and Jenna Ushkowitz, who currently run a “Glee” podcast, respectively deemed the new series “trash” and urged viewers to “proceed with caution” — the three-part documentary recounts the dark shadows around some of its actors: Cory Monteith’s overdose, Mark Salling’s arrest, Lea Michele’s bullying behavior, Naya Rivera’s tragic death, and Melissa Benoist’s allegations of domestic violence against Blake Jenner.

The docuseries attempts to assign blame for the various controversies and casualties of the cultural phenomenon. “Part of what has happened on this show is so incredibly toxic, and yet it was a giant hit that everybody was watching, including me,” says psychotherapist Stacy Kaiser.

While most of the included information will be familiar to former and still-faithful Gleeks, the project did reveal some factoids in its first two episodes. If you’re not going to watch any of it, here’s what you missed on “The Price of Glee.”

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Social media fueled behind-the-scenes conflict.

Created by Ryan Murphy, “Glee” debuted in 2009, alongside the explosion of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr. “It’s great that fans of a show can come together and connect over things, but the fighting began almost immediately,” entertainment reporter Andy Swift remarks in the first episode. “Suddenly, with social media, you can track who the fans are really into because those actors will have the most followings.”

While filming the third season, “I would oftentimes see that actors gathered talking about how many people they’ve acquired as followers, and there was a competition,” notes former hair department head Dugg Kirkpatrick. “In the beginning when they had to tweet every day, it was Lea that really had the numbers. The head gets a little bit bigger, to say the least.”

The show’s schedule took an unmentioned toll.

Like other TV shows with musical numbers, “Glee” actors split their time between recording songs, learning choreography and rehearsing entire sequences, in addition to filming each episode’s scenes — the latter of which regularly stretched past the usual workweek into Saturday mornings.

But the bigger the ratings grew, the more elaborate the routines became: “Go watch the lifts that we do, they’re basically figure skating lifts without the figure skates or the ice,” recalls former dancer Doug Penikas in the first episode. “There was definitely the sense of, they were always trying to top themselves.”

And unlike other shows, the cast spent multiple hiatuses on national concert tours. “They weren’t getting the time off — for the actors, it became almost a year-round job,” says former rigging gaffer J.A. Byerly, who adds that returning to work just weeks after Monteith’s death was particularly stressful — a decision, multiple crew members allege, made because the series was nearing the notable 100-episode mark.

Monteith had a stalker and hated fame.

Fans regularly mobbed the cast when they were shooting on location, and occasionally became invasive: Chris Colfer was kissed by a fan on the mouth without consent; Monteith had a young woman stalking him. The production even had to “build a wall from their trailers to the set that was like a tunnel so that the cast could travel safely without the tours bothering them or just people in the parking lot,” says Stephen Kramer Glickman, who filmed “Big Time Rush” on the same studio lot.

Such privacy concerns left Monteith isolated, along with being exhausted by the show’s filming schedule and the nonstop headlines about his relationship with co-star Michele. “I remember him specifically saying, ‘I wouldn’t wish fame on my worst enemy,’” says Monteith’s former roommate Justin Neill. Plus, he was particularly stressed about his lack of dancing skills in comparison to his co-stars, and had to turn down multiple film projects because of the series’ demands.

A fellow actor may have triggered Monteith’s relapse.

Monteith was written out of numerous episodes of the fourth season to attend rehab, but overdosed four months later. After rehab, “[Monteith] said he was at a party and hadn’t been drinking, and he wanted to have a drink, but he knew he shouldn’t,” says former hair department head Kirkpatrick, who stayed in contact with the actors beyond his third-season stint on the series. “He was told by a certain cast member that night, ‘If you want to have a drink, you should have a drink. I’ll be here, you can trust that I’ll always be here.’”

“That confused him and made him mad,” added Kirkpatrick, who doesn’t name the actor who spoke to Monteith. “But he did. He started drinking because he was given permission by somebody that he loved. He resented it, but he also took the direction. It took him on a path to destruction.”

The docuseries also mentions the numerous other actors and crew members who tragically passed away during and after the show’s run, which reporter Swift called “rare” for any series.

Michele’s on-set behavior did not go unnoticed.

The second episode briefly touches on Michele’s ongoing feuds with Rivera and Amber Riley, and includes accounts of her behavior by fellow actor Dabier Snell and Garrett Greer, a former assistant to a “Glee” executive producer. “I’d had friends in New York who grew up with and knew Lea, so I was aware of her reputation before that, and she had a rap for being a little bit difficult,” says Greer.

“She wants to keep Rachel Berry front and center, so if there was ever a threat to that kind of attention, that caused conflict,” adds Greer, recalling a set visit by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. ahead of the Golden Globes. “Amber sang a song and Leah sang a song live for them, and Amber’s song was more showy than what Leah was singing. And I remember being like, ‘Oh, she’s not gonna like this.’ … Lea’s a narcissist.”

‘The Price of Glee’

When: 6 and 9 p.m. Monday

Streaming: Discovery+, any time starting Monday

Rating: TV-14 (may be unsuitable for children under the age of 14)

The official synopsis for the docuseries is as follows:

The post-Cold War period in Africa saw the end of many authoritarian regimes and the rise of democratic movements. However, even with this shift towards democracy, the effects of the Berlin Conference continued to plague the continent. The arbitrary borders made it difficult for democratic governments to establish legitimacy and maintain control over their territories. Various ethnic, religious, and political groups, which were previously forced together by colonial powers, sought self-determination and often resorted to violence to achieve their goals. Moreover, the Berlin Conference also played a role in exacerbating resource conflicts in Africa. Many of the borders created during the conference disregarded natural resources, resulting in several countries being rich in resources while others were left impoverished. This imbalance of resources has fueled conflict and corruption, as powerful elites and foreign actors have sought to exploit Africa's wealth to their advantage. In conclusion, the curse of Berlin on Africa in the post-Cold War period refers to the lasting effects of the arbitrary division of the continent during the Berlin Conference. The artificial borders created during the conference have contributed to conflicts, economic underdevelopment, and resource disputes in Africa. Overcoming the curse of Berlin requires addressing these underlying issues and working towards a more equitable and cohesive Africa..

Reviews for "Trapped by History: The Curse of Berlin and Africa's Struggle for Independence"

1. John - 2/5 stars - I found "The Curse of Berlin on Africa in the Post Cold War Period" to be a dry and overly academic read. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their knowledge and intelligence rather than presenting the topic in an engaging way. The book was filled with long and complex sentences, making it difficult to follow the main arguments. Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of accessibility and readability of this book.

2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - While "The Curse of Berlin on Africa in the Post Cold War Period" had some interesting insights into the impact of the Berlin Conference on Africa, I felt that it was overly focused on historical details and lacked a broader analysis of contemporary issues. The author spent a great deal of time delving into the intricacies of the conference, but failed to connect it to the post-Cold War period and its implications for Africa today. I would have appreciated a more balanced approach that considered both historical context and present-day challenges.

3. Mike - 1/5 stars - This book was an absolute chore to get through. The writing was overly convoluted and filled with jargon that made it nearly incomprehensible. The author seemed more interested in impressing their academic peers rather than making the content accessible to a wider readership. The lack of clear structure and organization made it hard to follow the main arguments, resulting in a frustrating reading experience. I cannot recommend "The Curse of Berlin on Africa in the Post Cold War Period" to anyone seeking a straightforward and informative book on the topic.

The Colonial Divide: How the Curse of Berlin Continues to Split Africa