Located in Southeastern Africa, KwaZulu was a Bantustan in South Africa; a providence for black Africans. After abolishing racial segregation in 1998, the KwaZulu province merged with the nearby Natal province, becoming KwaZulu-Natal. Bordering the Indian Ocean, the province also borders three other African countries, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Lesotho. During the 1800s the most northern part of the region was established as the Zulu Kingdom; the kingdom remained independent until 1879 (“KwaZulu-Natal”).

Belgium is a country situated in Western Europe, surrounded by the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, and France.  Belgium plays a pivotal role in Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness.  The period of time from 1789-1914 in Europe was dubbed the “long nineteenth century” by British historian, Eric Hobsbawm and refers to the idea that the period itself reflects changes that are integral to understanding it (Long Nineteenth Century).  Belgium became a monarchy in the early 19^th century, and following a revolution, began to fall under the influence of