The gold tooth of former freedom fighter Patrice Lumumba was buried on Thursday in Congo. The ceremony sought to convey peace, not solely to the grieving household however to the complete Congolese individuals:
He’ll now relaxation in a specifically constructed mausoleum within the capital Kinshasa. Beforehand, individuals had been in a position to say goodbye to the one mortal stays of the previous prime minister at varied areas.
60 years of ache
For a lot of Congolese, Lumumba is a nationwide hero. In 1961, on the age of 35, he was kidnapped, tortured and assassinated — following a navy coup backed by Western powers — with the help of Belgian operatives and the U.S. intelligence company CIA.
His physique, dissolved in acid, was by no means discovered.
A Belgian police officer concerned within the disposal of the physique apparently stored the gold tooth as a trophy. Following the intervention of Lumumba’s daughter, it was turned over to the Belgian authorities, which till just lately refused to offer it to his descendants.
Lumumba’s youngsters obtain their father’s tooth in Belgium
“Greater than 60 years of ache” — that is how Juliana Lumumba described her household’s emotions in a DW interview in mid-June.
“For us as a household, sure, we’ve to maneuver on someway, however to try this we’ve to bury our father’s stays.”
The tooth can also be a logo of Belgium’s darkish historical past in Congo. A interval that Belgium continues to be struggling to come back to phrases with, says Juliana Lumumba.
Many Congolese echo her sentiments. Patrick Batiki, a 41-year-old civil servant, thinks Belgium’s return of the tooth is necessary — however not sufficient.
“They need to additionally compensate the household. By returning the tooth, they’re not directly accusing themselves of being those who killed him,” Batiki mentioned in interview with DW.
Persevering with Lumumba’s preventing spirit
Many Congolese see Belgium’s current makes an attempt at reconciliation as an indication of rapprochement. However the strikes are thought-about inadequate to atone for the nation’s colonial previous.
The occupation of Congo — which was initially the non-public property of King Leopold II from 1885 and later turned a Belgian colony — is taken into account one of the crucial brutal chapters in African historical past.
It was Patrice Lumumba who, after his election in June 1960, denounced the crimes and humiliations dedicated below Belgian rule, promising the Congolese that the nation’s huge deposits of uncooked supplies — gold, ivory, diamonds, rubber and uranium — can be nationalized.
That means, Lumumba hoped, extra individuals would profit.
Patrice Lumumba was Congo’s first prime minister
On the peak of the Chilly Battle, Lumumba’s rise sparked fears within the West that he would possibly flip to the Soviet Union. Simply three months after his election, he was ousted from workplace by a corrupt military colonel, Joseph Mobutu, who arrested and killed him. Mobutu would subsequently oppress the individuals as a brutal dictator.
The Congolese ought to proceed Lumumba’s battle, mentioned Augustin Bidonda.
The 30-year-old accountant is impressed by Lumumba’s braveness. In view of this, the $2.4 million (€2.3 million, £2 million) price ticket for the mausoleum constructed by Chinese language firms is sort of nothing in his opinion.
“Lumumba deserved extra. I want to see such a narrative performed once more in a number of provinces,” he informed DW.
Household rift
Nurse Armand Onyangunga additionally considers Lumba’s gold tooth a major image.
“The Congolese individuals should know concerning the battle that Lumumba waged. It’s due to him that we sing concerning the victory of independence,” they mentioned.
However there are different voices in Kinshasa criticizing the costly development of the memorial.
“It isn’t the proper time to construct this,” Mpia Mudiandambu informed DW. “Go searching our neighborhood; individuals are struggling rather a lot. That is unacceptable! There aren’t any roads, no electrical energy, no water, and meals provides are tough.”
Lumumba’s tooth was proven in a number of cities within the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Even Lumumba’s household is split. Two of his youngsters opposed the ceremonies organized by President Felix Tshisekedi.
Michel Lumumba and Man-Patrice Lumumba denounced the political appropriation of their father. “Our father’s mortal stays belong to us,” they mentioned.
Guardians of democracy
Belgian-Congo professional Ludo De Witte, however, doesn’t imagine the tooth’s burial may have a lot influence on present Congolese politics.
The larger drawback, he mentioned, is that, regardless of phrases of remorse, the Belgian authorities continues to be not clearly addressing its nation’s darkish previous. As a result of Lumumba’s assassination had repercussions: It was adopted by a long time of Mobutu dictatorship and several other civil wars in jap Congo.
However for a lot of younger individuals concerned in civil society actions, Lumumba is a vital level of reference, mentioned historian Karine Ramondy: “As a result of these actions actually signify what you name the guardians of democracy. You want a motion in a rustic, and particularly in jap Congo, that embodies the potential for a greater future.”
Collaboration: Jean Noel Bamweze (Congo), Wendy Bashy, Priyanka Shankar
This text has been translated from German.