“More Belgility than any other Belgian”: who was Glorian Kabongo, the antique dealer of “concluded affair” dead at 57 years old?

“Goodbye Glorian …” Since the announcement by the production of his death at the age of 57, tributes are raining for Glorian Kabongo, this Belgian antique dealer, has been a “business concluded” on France 2 since 2021. “It is with deep sadness that the whole team ofAffair (…) Regrets to announce the disappearance of one of their own, ”read this press release that shocked the colleagues and friends of the Buyer of France 2.

His compatriot, the Brussels resident Stéphane Vanhandenhoven, also used to the Plateau de France 2, and with whom Kabongo had made his first shoot for the program, greets a colleague who knew how to “communicate [s] we know and [s] passion ”. He thanks In Instagram Glorian Kabongo for “having joined us with more Belgility than any other Belgian could not have (we said) to do so. Vanhandenhoven also pays tribute to his family whom he “loved deeply”, to his friends of the profession, of rugby and “to all those who had the chance to make a small, too small way with you …” for the Belgian, only one Mont is enough to describe his deceased friend: “heart”.

His colleague from France 2, Laurent Fernandez describes him “a real nice and very great humility. ». While Caroline Margerridon pays homage to the husband, father of two daughters and grandfather of a granddaughter “her ray of sunshine”. The figure of “affair concluded” depicts “a man of exceptional benevolence with real values”. And to conclude: “You have always loved others, protected your family, rest in peace, my friend. I love you. »»

The job learned late

In his press release, production says that Glorian Kabongo had “inherited” his passion for antiquities via his in-laws. What confirms the website of this enthusiast of objects and furniture from the 19th century: “It all started in 1926 with our back grandparents who, using their arm cart, bought a little of everything In order to sell it in their flea market store located in the heart of Brussels. »»

At the time, this contractor in the building, born in Nigeria of a Belgian mother and a Congolese father and arrived in Belgium at the age of 12 years after “a brief passage in Paris” knows nothing about it old trinkets. The apprentice must train, he explains again: “I spent days and entire evenings in sales rooms to note the prices of furniture and objects. (…) I noted everything. (…) After four years of study, I started to buy and resell myself. (…) I started working in collaboration with my stepfather for a few years. In 2005, the novice became an expert, it was he who took over the business of his in-laws.

He “led the boat”

“Today is Glorian Kabongo, the stepson, who leads the boat,” adds the website of the family box. His innovative spirit gives new life to the family company which makes it possible to diversify our activities and to be always looking for new opportunities. »»

And it is another antique dealer, Julien Cohen, who brought him in early 2021 into the small world of television. “I met Julien Cohen at a flea market that I have been doing in Brussels for some time. This is the first time that I met him, he explained in 2021 to the current woman. He came to talk to me and asked me if participating in the show could interest me. I answered yes. We made a short video. Then, production called me and I spent a casting, Covid forces, by phone. Then I went to the producers. The rest, we know it: Glorian Kabongo joins the “Big family” of the show, “in mourning” for two days.