My Name Is Joel Savage: Why I Am The Most Hated Journalist In Belgium
Belgium is one of the world’s leading producers of chocolates and quality beer. Unfortunately, many don’t know what the country produces than the crime the country committed in Africa.
Images of the maiming, the amputation of the limps, of women, children and the killing of over ten million Congolese are all over the internet describing the cruelty of Belgium.
Thereafter, the country made headlines across the world again when they built a statue and named streets after the one that committed such atrocity in Africa, King Leopold II.
With such a horrific and distasteful historical background, I didn't delay a minute when the African Community in Antwerp, contacted me to investigate the high death rate of African patients at a notorious hospital in the city of Antwerp called Stuivenberg Hospital.
As a matter of fact, before the investigation, I have heard of the rumours about this hospital, making it the most feared hospital in Antwerp, or probably in Belgium. The mere mention of the name ‘Stuivenberg,’ sends cold waves through the spine of Africans, the fact that hundreds of Africans who visit that hospital don't come back home alive.
What made the African community to suspect that something sinister is going on at the hospital is, many who went to the hospital without any serious injury were declared dead to their relatives. There were rumours that they deliberately kill the African patients for body organs, desperately needed for the Belgians.
Then personally one day, I witnessed a demonstration by a group of Albanians over the same allegation. I can't describe the spirit which entered into my body, the day I entered the hospital to find out what is really going on that Africans who are sick wouldn’t like to go there.
Underestimation is one of the biggest problems the black man faces, especially an African. They greeted me with scorn. They frustrated me and hindered all my activities, but one doesn't need to be educated to know that they are fighting to cover up something. Actions speak louder than words.
According to a worker, the hospital is in service for over more than hundred years, so there is no way such things can go on. "Whatever crime committed against African, can never be read in any newspaper in Belgium," I replied.
Who wouldn't believe that the hospital is killing Africans for body organs if Belgium has constructed a statue of a lunatic king that killed over 10 million Africans including women and children?
It almost turned to verbal war, so I left the hospital and published the story in one of my books, 'An African in Antwerp,' then updated to be published in the United States of America as 'Little Boygium-Wonderful Experience.'
It worth to note that the high death rate of Africans occurred during the administrations of Mayors Leona Détigé and Patrick Janssens but not the present mayor, Bart De Wever.
After the publication, an official from the City of Antwerp wasn't pleased, she, therefore, made an appointment with me to see her but I refused. Later she called the publication 'Stupid,' according to her the husband is a journalist and wouldn't publish such a stupid book.
I replied, "your husband is a journalist but not an African." It's unfortunate that when it comes to Africa or Africans, nobody cares about what happens to them. I am therefore fighting this alone without the support or investigation by any Belgian journalist.
Even the media refuses to address serious situations about Africa, until last minute, when things get bad, they pretend and quickly jump into it.
Now you know the reason this writer, Joel Savage, remains the most hated writer in Belgium because he has proved to the Belgians and their journalists that Africans are not stupid like the way about 95% of white people think.
The investigation took them by surprise because that has never occurred anywhere in Belgium. The best way to defend is to attack, therefore, they called my book ‘stupid,’ but whether I published a stupid book, or I am the stupid one, I have unanswered questions for the City of Antwerp officials.
Stuivenberg, the hospital Africans feared most in Antwerp, Belgium
"Why after the publication of the story, the police were at the hospital for several weeks to protect the place? Are they afraid that since they have been exposed, the African Community will storm the hospital? And why is that after the publication, the hospital now remains one of the safest hospitals in Antwerp, without any more death of Africans like before?
On many occasions, I disguised myself, stood by the hospital watching the events taking place inside, without any idea of the hospital staff and the police that this is the man who has subjected us to all these tasks. Even though they feared that the African community will storm the hospital, I know that they will not come.
I am a Ghanaian, therefore, I know Africans. Even though I accepted the request to go to the hospital to investigate, I know that when it comes to a demonstration, you’ll never see a single person in front of the hospital. They will tell you that “my brother food is delicious, so think twice.”
A book I read once told me “don’t be worried and put yourself in a state of depression if someone hates you. You should consider yourself great the reason someone hates you.”
Such inspiring piece of writing has helped me to live in Belgium happily for over seventeen years and the outcome is great, a Belgium press card and eight books to my credit at Amazon.com. Thank you, Jesus.
Belgian‑Ghanaian journalist Joel Savage writes the column “A Mixture of Periodicals.” A former member of the Flemish Journalists Association, he has contributed to the Weekly Spectator, Ghanaian Times, Daily Graphic and The Mirror.
Disclaimer: "The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect ModernGhana official position. ModernGhana will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here."