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PATRICE LUMUMBA- A FREEDOM FIGHTER REMEMBERED

By MKAKATI updated on June 27, 2024

Patrice Emery Lumumba, who served as Prime Minister of then known as The Republic of Congo, now the DRC, for a short time from June to September 1960. He was executed on 17th January 1961, because of his ideological beliefs and his daring stance towards the then Colonial Rulers and the Western World. Lumumba was a pan Africanist and a staunch Nationalist, who believed in the ideals of humanism, social equality (egalitarianism), social justice, liberty and equal fundamental rights for all, which he believed, was the duty of the state to provide for its citizens. He was fearless in articulating and contradicting the traditional Belgian views of colonisation, and he openly highlighted the suffering of the Congolese indigenous population under Colonial rule. 

His impromptu speech on 30th June 1960, in front of King Baudouin of Belgium and the foreign press attending the Independence Day celebration defines the strength of character and belief of Patrice Lumumba.

 

 

“For this independence of the Congo, although being proclaimed today by agreement with Belgium, an amicable country, with which we are on equal terms, no Congolese worthy of the name will ever be able to forget that it was by fighting that it has been won, a day-to-day fight, an ardent and idealistic fight, a fight in which we were spared neither privation nor suffering, and for which we gave our strength and our blood. We are proud of this struggle, of tears, of fire, and of blood, to the depths of our being, for it was a noble and just struggle, and indispensable to put an end to the humiliating slavery which was imposed upon us by force.”

Lumumba’s main goals as the Prime Minister of an independent Country was to improve the quality of life of the Congolese people, which had suffered harsh treatment under the Colonial Government and to unify a country which was divided by tribalism and regionalism. Maybe the DRC would be a different country had Patrice Lumumba survived to bring his vision to fruition.

On January 17, 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo will commemorate the 62nd Death anniversary of its first Prime Minister and freedom fighter, Patrice E. Lumumba. Considered a hero and symbol of the struggle for freedom, and widely appreciated for his role as a Congolese political and independence leader, Lumumba made a significant and indelible impact on the history of DRC.

His infamous assassination made him a martyr as well as a reference point in the struggle for justice in Africa. His murder sparked global outrage and strengthened the resolve of liberation movements across the continent.

More than six decades later, Patrice Emery Lumumba continues to be widely revered in the DRC as a national hero and representative of the struggle for independence and human dignity. However, despite a legacy perpetuated through monuments, streets and institutions in his honor, many agree that this vast Central African country reflects very little of the former head of government’s progressive vision.

« To know where you’re going, you need to know where you’ve been. » 

This adage underlines the importance of learning and reflecting on past experiences in order to secure one’s future. History is a great teacher and it is important of us to learn by remembering and knowing our failures, our successes, our lessons learned so that we are better prepared to make more informed decisions and avoid repeating the same mistakes. We can then build a more promising and progressive future, not just for a few but the country as a whole.

It also means that knowledge of history and past events is essential to understanding current problems and to considering innovative solutions. This principle can be applied at both individual and collective level, whether in our personal lives, our professional careers or even within societies and nations. For this to happen it is very important for the people of the country to be educated in the true facts for that brings awareness on what changes need to be done to positively impact the lives of the people of a nation.

 

 

History and legacy

Realizing history is an ongoing process that requires a commitment to learning, questioning, and re-evaluating our preconceptions. Legacy is the inheritance a person leaves behind when they die.

To combine history and heritage, it’s important to develop a broader perspective. What’s more, when we understand the causes and consequences of past events, we can make more informed decisions and contribute to a better future. 

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we know the story of Patrice Emery Lumumba and have inherited the consequences of his assassination rather than the causes that led to his atrocious death. His ideals got the better of him and did not have time to be integrated. 

From knowledge to consciousness

Knowledge and consciousness are two interconnected but distinct concepts. On the one hand, we have knowledge, which is the act of understanding the world around us, acquiring skills through experience, education, research and so on. On the other hand, consciousness recognizes the importance and impact of something. Can we say that the Congolese have inherited a history without a deep knowledge of it?

« Patrice E. Lumumba fought colonialism without knowing that neo-colonialism was on the horizon. » 

Above and beyond the heinous crime of which Patrice Lumumba was the victim, it is the evil hands behind this assassination that should raise our concern. A murder, ordered from Brussels, Washington, and Leopoldville, that remains unpunished to this day. This important part of history remains hidden and is hardly ever brought to the fore. 

At the time of independence, pan-Africanist ideas were very popular, which did not please our “former” executioners. They were determined to eliminate anyone who didn’t want to play their part. 

Patrice Lumumba, Prime Minister in the Kasa-Vubu government, disavowed his president, judging him to be too close to the whites and Western thinking. His progressive visions clashed with ordinary racism. Indeed, the man nicknamed “the chaos of the Belgian Congo” by the late King Baudouin sealed his fate when he asked the Soviets for help in transporting his troops to the Katangese front. On August 18, President Eisenhower chaired a meeting of the National Security Council in Washington, during which CIA Director Allen Dulles called for Lumumba’s physical elimination.

To know the story of Patrice Emery Lumumba is to understand that he was the hero of a battle, and that in the end, it was war that got the better of him. A war that did not speak its name, but which today is identified as “neo-colonialism”. Saïd Bouamama, sociologist and community activist with the United Front for Immigration and Neighborhoods, declared: “Neo-colonialism is the establishment of mechanisms of dependence without military occupation”.

Learning to understand

It is essential to give meaning and significance to the commemoration of Patrice E. Lumumba, providing historical context, telling relevant stories, encouraging reflection and learning, and highlighting the lessons and values that can be drawn from his assassination.

« Everywhere in the world, when you proclaim someone a “hero”, the least you can do is to disseminate their political thought, in schools, on the radio, on television… », said François Lumumba, son of Patrice E. Lumumba.

The future of the Democratic Republic of Congo lies in popularizing and appropriating the political thought of our national hero. These two aspects will enable the Congolese to understand and connect with their culture and roots, and strengthen their sense of belonging, while contributing to a better future.

Today, the emancipation of some African countries is the legacy of Patrice E. Lumumba’s vision. Lumumba’s political program has inspired many African leaders to strive for greater economic sovereignty. His fight for justice, abolishing tribalism, Nationalism and African unity remains relevant even today, and continues to guide those seeking to prosper and building a bright future for the countries on the African Continent.



Africa, the cradle of humanity, a land that stirs the soul with its mystic allure. My soul chose to be born in a land where golden savannahs stretch far and wide. A land where one can witness the plains come alive with the rhythmic footsteps of herds embarking on their breath-taking migration in a timeless display of resilience and unity. A country that holds beauty, that enchants the senses and ignites wonder.

My land, my motherland Kenya. Born into a Kenyan family of Asian descent, a family that has lived and breathed Kenya and Africa for previous 5 generations, I can only identify as a Kenyan, a proud 6th generation African. Brought up in a family where ‘Being Human’ was the main principal belief. We have been raised with values that don’t differ greatly from those of the thousands of tribes that make up Africa – roots, heritage, family, faith, morals, principles and more.

Many years ago, I stood on stage at a speech writing contest in High School, where I described the strategy behind Muhamad Ali’s glorious win where he “floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee” against George Foreman, in the fight forever known as the ‘Rumble in the Jungle.’ Years later, never even in my wildest imagination, did I imagine I would be living in the very ‘jungle’ itself, and working in the world of strategic storytelling and encouraging the amplification of Congolese voices and narratives far and wide across the globe from the heart of Africa.

Congo or as it was then called Zaire, a land that was stamped in the memory of the World as the place where Ali fought Foreman and caused a mighty Rumble in the boxing world. A battle that was immortalised in the song ‘In Zaire’ sung by Johnny Wakelin. Congo was a land everyone wanted to know about.

A land that is endowed with all the riches known to mankind. A blessed land, with a rich cultural heritage and a teeming, deserving population. A land sadly destroyed by its colonial past. Which, since its independence, is slowly trying to attain its rightful place in the World. It is here that I arrived five years back.

As I look back on my first five years of living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been moments of floating and very often, little stings. I moved to Kinshasa for love. In the beginning, I can honestly admit, it was not love for the city or the country or the people – I didn’t know enough about this 

ginormous country and the 100+ million people that fill its borders – it was personal love. But five years later, I never thought I could love a country and its people as though they were mine. That love comes from the heart that feels the mystic rhythm of the African land, and I couldn’t be prouder to call it home.

You can never shake the ancient dust of Africa off your boots – no matter how far and wide you travel.

Having lived in London for thirteen years followed by a few years in the Middle East, returning to Africa was natural. 

The love for Africa always remains in the soul. Living in the heart and soul of Central Africa, has been an adventure.

The narratives that have filled Western Media have sung a different song for many years, call it geo-politics, strategic positioning, economic control, all things aside, the story of the Congo has never really been told loudly by the Congolese themselves. From the outside looking in, the perceptions are dotted and plagued with negativity, but on the ground, the beating hearts of the Congolese are rumbling a little louder day by day towards progress, and it’s in these slivers of hope, that the true stories are revealed.

The stories that spotlight the young entrepreneur battling to build a viable business, young students carving out their careers currently into untapped and underdeveloped industries, the non-existent middle class that should build the private sector and contribute to its growth and the country’s economy, international investors building projects that create jobs and wealth for the locals as much as it does for the financial interest in the Congo. We can’t talk about changing the narrative of a country when we don’t discuss the positive changes that education, infrastructure developments, economic policies, universal health care, food self sufficiency etc can contribute towards developing Congo.

In Africa, a transformative era is on the horizon as the continent sets its sights on change and development like never before, and country examples like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, and Kenya are a testament to these positive changes. A combined drive by the Africans to build an Africa by Africans for a future developed Africa. A daunting task as a fellow African who first arrived in Kinshasa for a two-week trip which quickly extended from month to month and snowballed into creating a business in the field of strategic advisory and communications. It was created around the simple premise – the African narrative needs to be written by the Africans, and the Congolese needed a platform for their voices to be heard as far and wide across the globe.

At the heart of Africa, the center of its soul, the Congolese beats are picking up. Business is quietly picking up, post the first peaceful democratic elections. As the incumbent President Felix Tshisekedi embarks on his second mandate, the world waits with bated breath for the promised change and greater development, the impact of which can be felt across the entire population. Whether its infrastructure, governance reform, education, better health, access to basic needs – there are plenty of conversations to be had. Storytelling, an essential part of Congolese culture, an oral tradition that is filled with narratives, stories, and songs, need to be told from the perceptions and opinions of the Congolese.

In the past, and especially in 2023 the power and bias of the international media came to the forefront.

Geopolitics and powerful Media Houses controlled and amplified the narrative that in their perception was important. It’s only natural to question the visibility of certain global issues over another. This raises the question about the impact of our voices when catastrophes and issues affecting an African country are narrated differently. Whether it’s election, unrest or other catastrophes affecting an African country, sometimes the western media does not consider it newsworthy because they do not have an in-depth understanding and information of the issues and disasters that affects this Continent.

There are a lot of positive changes happening as well, and these news worthy developments need to be made a part of the Global narrative. Positive or negative these conversations need to be had openly and who better than the Africans to be at the forefront of this narrative. The true voices of the Congolese need to be heard from their heart and soul and from their perspective. That’s when the true picture of the reality of their lives, struggles and aspirations emerges.

There is a need for a platform where the Congolese voices and the African voices can be heard, where views can be freely given not as a negative but as a positive approach to help bring the DRC to take its rightful place, not just in Africa but also in the World. Is it not our experiences from around the world when put together with like minded individuals – where greatness begins? Where stories and narratives become the basis for legacies.

DRConversations is the platform created as a gift for all the voices that need to be heard, for all the emotions that need to be expressed and to bring forth the dreams and aspirations of a nation on the cusp of development. Join this journey by sharing openly your knowledge and experience to make DRC a happy, positive and progressive Nation.

It’s time for another rumble in the jungle – Welcome to the conversations from the Congo.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             KS