January 17th this year will mark the 60th anniversary of the brutal, heinous murder Congo’s first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, alongside trusted aides Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo. The dastardly deed, effectively a joint effort between Belgium, the USA, the UK and the United Nations (1) is regarded as “the most important assassination of the 20th century.” (2) It was the first coup of the ‘independence era’ and ushered in the phenomenon of neo-colonial client states, often at the behest of the USA (which makes their current bleating about Donald Trump’s “assault on US democracy” laughable at best and perverse at worst.) (3)
Even though he spent a relatively short time on the political scene, Patrice Lumumba’s impact was immense. Omowale Malcolm X called him “The greatest black man who ever walked the African continent.” (4) Many activists since have reclaimed (named) themselves and their children after him and he has inspired numerous musical tributes across various genres. (5)
However, since the assassination, perhaps more so than anywhere else on the continent, due its strategic importance (size, location, mineral resources) Congo has been subject to proxy wars directed by global super powers causing the deaths, brutalisation and displacement of millions and millions. (6)
Amid the ongoing turmoil, Belgium is set to return Lumumba’s remains (his teeth) and he will be given “a burial worthy of his sacrifice” as part of the 2021 Independence celebrations. (7) His daughter, Juliana Lumumba, said, “My first reaction is, of course, that this is a great victory because at last, 60 years after his death, the mortal remains of my father, who died for his country and its independence and for the dignity of black people, will return to the land of his ancestors.” (8)
Patrice Lumumba remained steadfast until the end about the “sacred task” of liberation, even while facing death, as his final, moving letter to his wife reveals:
“No brutality, mistreatment, or torture has ever forced me to ask for grace, for I prefer to die with my head high, my faith steadfast, and my confidence profound in the destiny of my country, rather than to live in submission and scorn of sacred principles. History will one day have its say, but it will not be the history that Brussels, Paris, Washington or the United Nations will teach, but that which they will teach in the countries emancipated from colonialism and its puppets. Africa will write its own history, and it will be, to the north and to the south of the Sahara, a history of glory and dignity.
Do not weep for me, my dear companion. I know that my country, which suffers so much, will know how to defend its independence and its liberty. Long live the Congo! Long live Africa!” (9)
(1) PatriotWarrior (21/01/15) The Assassination of Lumumba. http://www.rastafarispeaks.com/cgi-bin/forum/archive1/config.pl?md=read;id=50135
(2) Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja (17/01/11) Patrice Lumumba: the most important assassination of the 20th century. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/jan/17/patrice-lumumba-50th-anniversary-assassination
(3) Observer editorial (10/01/21) The Observer view on Donald Trump’s assault on US democracy. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/10/the-observer-view-on-donald-trumps-assault-on-us-democracy; William Blum (2004) Killing Hope U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II – Part I. Zed Books. p. 3-4, passim. https://www.cia.gov/library/abbottabad-compound/13/130AEF1531746AAD6AC03EF59F91E1A1_Killing_Hope_Blum_William.pdf
(4) Carlos Martinez (20/01/11) Tribute to Patrice Lumumba on the 50th anniversary of his assassination. https://www.pambazuka.org/governance/tribute-patrice-lumumba-50th-anniversary-his-assassination
(5) For example, activists like Malcolm X (daughter Gamilah-Lumumba), Sonny Carson, Bongi Makeba, Chokwe Lumumba, Amitiye Lumumba. Artists like Miriam Makeba, Max Roach, Rico, The Classics, The Spencer Davis Group.
(6) Marie Claire Faray (01/12/20) Racist Imperialism Killed Millions in Congo – Black Agenda Radio with Margaret Kimberley and Glen Ford. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8925425/Lockdown-claim-equivalent-560-000-lives-health-impact-recession-cause.html
(7) Patrick Ilunga (16/12/20) Patrice Lumumba’s remains to be repatriated to DR Congo. https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/rest-of-africa/patrice-lumumba-s-remains-to-be-repatriated-to-dr-congo-3230484
(8) Percy Zvomuya (17/09/20) A modicum of release: Lumumba’s remains return home at last. https://mg.co.za/friday/2020-09-17-a-modicum-of-release-lumumbas-remains-return-home-at-last/
(9) Regina Jane Jere (18/01/18) Patrice Lumumba in his own words: “Neither brutality nor cruelty nor torture will ever bring me to ask for mercy, for I prefer to die with my head unbowed…” https://newafricanmagazine.com/16082/
We ask the question:
Has Afrika recovered from the Assassination of Patrice Lumumba?
1) Why was Lumumba’s Assassination “the most important of the 20th century”?
2) Why does Patrice Lumumba have such a lasting global impact?
3) What is the best way to honour Patrice Lumumba’s legacy? And what are the obstacles to doing this?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Bro. Jean-Jacques Lumumba: is the grand-nephew of one of Congo’s independence leaders Patrice Lumumba, who was executed seven months after becoming Congo’s first democratically elected leader in 1960. At barely 30, he held a comfortable position as a bank executive in one of DRC’s largest banks. It was his refusal to cooperate with the misuse of public funds that turned his life upside down. In June 2016, fearing for his life, Lumumba fled to Europe. He now lives and works in European exile. He is fighting for the rule of law in his country and for the Democratic Republic of the Congo to know peaceful and democratic times.
Sis. Francine Mukwaya Sodi: started her activism ten years ago. She is the founder of Kitunga Ya Mboka, a Lingala phrase meaning, ‘basket of the country, a grass roots, community centred organisation that provides basic level of assistance in the areas of youth education as well as providing emergency health care for those citizens in greatest need. Kitunga Ya Mboka works with hospitals, orphanages and support centres providing what they can when and where they can. They also support gifted young people and adults with empowerment projects through targeted, focussed and closely monitored entrepreneurship training.
Bro. Abiola Sow: is a pan-africanist from Ivory Coast living in France. He is a founder member of Nation Kamit, a pan-africanist organization started in France in 2014, focusing on afrocentric spirituality, education and economy. Nation Kamit advocate Revolutionary Kanitism with the Objactive of re-establishing Afrika as first world power in all fields.