Prophet of ‘national authenticity’
One man who was keenly aware of the political advantages to be derived from assumption of victimhood was Mobutu Sese Seko, Dalrymple reminds us. In order, Dalrymple explains,
to overcome the effects of a colonial past, and in the name of authenticity, Mobutu decreed that all Zaïrian citizens abandon their European names — to which they had been accustomed since birth — and take on African ones. Likewise, no one was henceforth to wear a collar and tie; instead Mobutu had designed a national costume, which he imposed. In this way, he made himself all-important.
However,
when he had a toothache, he commandeered a jet aëroplane of the national airline and flew to Paris for dental treatment.
Leading by example: Mobutu models his abacost (‘à bas le costume’) menswear designs
Jet aircraft of the type commandeered by Mobutu for visits to the dentist
