Saturday Matinee: It’s A Continent

Summary

History Daily – Saturday Matinee: It’s A Continent
Release Date: November 30, 2024
Host: Lindsay Graham

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Introduction

In the “Saturday Matinee: It’s A Continent” episode, History Daily celebrates the profound impact of the award-winning podcast “It's a Continent” hosted by Ginny and Astrid. Recently honored at the Independent Podcast Awards in London with accolades including Podcast of the Year, Best Educational World, Business and Financial Podcast, and Best History Podcast, History Daily delves into the essence of what makes “It’s a Continent” a standout in the realm of historical storytelling.

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Spotlight on “It’s a Continent”

Ginny and Astrid, the dynamic duo behind “It’s a Continent”, introduce their mission to dismantle pervasive misconceptions about Africa. They emphasize that Africa is not a single country nor a monolith, but a tapestry of diverse nations, each with its unique history and identity.

Astrid [02:45]: “We’re here to challenge the common misconception that Africa is a country by appreciating the identity of each nation.”

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African Pride: Celebrating Achievements

One of the episode's highlights is the celebration of African excellence in various fields. Ginny and Astrid discuss Adejo Kere, the pioneering black female chef in the UK who earned a Michelin star for her restaurant Chisuru. This achievement marks a significant milestone in recognizing African culinary artistry on a global stage.

Astrid [05:50]: “Chisuru means the silence that descends when you're enjoying a meal.”

This quote encapsulates the serene and immersive dining experience that Chisuru offers, reflecting the deep cultural roots and refined craftsmanship behind African cuisine.

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The Story of Patrice Lumumba: A Pillar of Independence

A substantial portion of the episode is dedicated to the life and legacy of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a fervent advocate for African independence.

1. Early Life and Rise to Prominence

   Lumumba’s journey from humble beginnings in Onolua village to becoming a key figure in Congo’s independence movement is thoroughly explored. Despite limited educational resources, his determination led him to secure a position in the civil service as a postal employee, where he began to cultivate his political ambitions.

   Ginny [13:09]: “Lumumba was determined to succeed and worked hard to secure various jobs, including working in the civil service as a postal employee.”

2. Struggle Against Colonialism

   The episode delves into the oppressive Belgian colonial rule, highlighting the atrocities that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 10 million Congolese. Lumumba’s role in mobilizing resistance against such exploitation is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his people’s freedom.

   Astrid [09:55]: “It's often referred to as the hidden holocaust because of just the sheer number and the atrocities committed.”

3. Political Rivalry and Path to Independence

   The intricate power dynamics between Lumumba and Joseph Kasavubu, another prominent leader, are examined. Their rivalry underscored the complexities of navigating Congo’s fight for autonomy amidst internal and external pressures.

   Astrid [17:12]: “Despite sharing a common goal, Lumumba and Kasavubu had a sense of rivalry between them.”

4. The Roundtable Conference and Independence

   The pivotal Roundtable Conference of Independence in January 1960 is highlighted as a crucial moment where Congo’s future was debated. Lumumba’s presence and his staunch stance against Western interference were significant in shaping the independence discourse.

   Ginny [34:46]: “Lumumba was vocal about freeing the Congolese people and allowing the country autonomy over its natural resources.”

5. Assassination and Legacy

   Tragically, Lumumba’s relentless pursuit of true independence led to his assassination in January 1961, orchestrated with the involvement of Belgian and American agencies. The harrowing details of his murder, including the desecration of his remains, underscore the brutal lengths to which colonial powers would go to suppress African leadership.

   Astrid [35:59]: “He was killed in 1961, and it wasn't until 2022 where he could have a lawful burial.”

   This moment serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring scars left by colonialism and the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition.

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Reflection on Ongoing Challenges

Ginny and Astrid reflect on how Lumumba’s legacy continues to influence the current socio-political landscape of the DRC. They draw connections between historical events and present-day issues such as political instability, corruption, and resource exploitation.

Astrid [37:33]: “The DRC continues to grapple with a multitude of challenges, from political instability, corruption, to natural resource exploitation.”

This reflection emphasizes the importance of understanding history to address and overcome contemporary challenges.

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Conclusion

In wrapping up the episode, History Daily underscores the vital role that podcasts like “It’s a Continent” play in educating and reshaping narratives about Africa. By spotlighting Lumumba’s story, Ginny and Astrid not only honor his legacy but also inspire a deeper appreciation for Africa’s rich and complex history.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Astrid [02:45]: “We’re here to challenge the common misconception that Africa is a country by appreciating the identity of each nation.”
• Astrid [05:50]: “Chisuru means the silence that descends when you're enjoying a meal.”
• Ginny [13:09]: “Lumumba was determined to succeed and worked hard to secure various jobs, including working in the civil service as a postal employee.”
• Astrid [09:55]: “It's often referred to as the hidden holocaust because of just the sheer number and the atrocities committed.”
• Astrid [17:12]: “Despite sharing a common goal, Lumumba and Kasavubu had a sense of rivalry between them.”
• Ginny [34:46]: “Lumumba was vocal about freeing the Congolese people and allowing the country autonomy over its natural resources.”
• Astrid [35:59]: “He was killed in 1961, and it wasn't until 2022 where he could have a lawful burial.”
• Astrid [37:33]: “The DRC continues to grapple with a multitude of challenges, from political instability, corruption, to natural resource exploitation.”

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Final Thoughts

This episode of History Daily not only honors the remarkable efforts of “It’s a Continent” but also enriches listeners' understanding of Africa's intricate history through the powerful narrative of Patrice Lumumba. By shedding light on such pivotal moments and figures, the podcast fosters a more nuanced and respectful appreciation of Africa’s contributions to global history.

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For more insights and to explore “It’s a Continent,” visit itsacontinent.com.

Transcript

[Narrator]

There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history [e-mail] if you're a very loyal listener, you may have noticed that last week we didn't air a Saturday matinee. Why? Because I was sick and I still don't sound normal a week later. So I hope you'll forgive me if I keep this introduction short. Though I by no means want to shortchange the podcast we're spotlighting today. Recently named Podcast of the Year at the Independent Podcast Awards in London, they also won Best Educational World, Business and Financial Podcast and Best History Podcast, with the judges raving Instantly interesting. The hosts are charming and fun and each episode was fascinating and well researched. Well, who are these podcast wunderkinds? Chinny and Astrid from the podcast It's a Continent which reminds us that Africa is not a country, not a monolith, and not to be overlooked. I hope you enjoy While you're listening, be sure to search for and follow It's a Continent. We put a link in the show notes to make it easy for you. Hey prime members, have you heard you can listen to your favorite podcasts ad free? That's good news. With Amazon Music, you have access to the largest catalog of ad free top podcasts included with your prime membership. To start listening, download the Amazon Music app for free or go to Amazon.com adfreepodcasts that's Amazon.com ad freepodcasts to catch up on the latest episodes without the ads. History Daily is sponsored by Audible, whose best of 2024 picks are here. Discover the year's top audiobooks and originals in all your favorite genres, from memoirs and sci fi to mysteries and thrillers. Audible's curated list in every category is the best way to hear 2024's best in audio entertainment, like a stunning new full cast production of George Orwell's 1984 heartfelt memoirs like Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's lovely one, the year's best fiction, like the Women by Kristin Hannah and Percival Everett's brilliantly subversive title James, or a personal pick of mine, Malcolm Gladwell's latest audiobook, Revenge of the Tipping Point. Find a new favorite and get listening with Audible because there's more to imagine when you listen. Go to audible.com historydaily and discover all the years Best waiting for you.

[Ginny]

Hi, I'm Ginny.

[Astrid]

And I'm Astrid. And welcome to It's a Continent, the podcast that widens access to African history. We're also the co authors of a book by the same name. You can find out more information about us on It's a Continent dot com.

[Ginny]

We're here to challenge the common misconception that Africa is a country by appreciating the identity of each nation. Through each episode, we'll be exploring key historical moments which have shaped the continent.

[Astrid]

Okay. Hello and welcome to It's a Continent podcast. How have you been?

[Ginny]

Yeah, no good. It's finally creeping into little previews of spring, but not quite seeing that. Although you have been to very hot places.

[Astrid]

Yes, yes, I have. So for I will be sharing about this in the next newsletter, so make sure you're subscribed. It's continent.com newsletter. I have spent the past four weeks in Asia, so.

[Ginny]

Lovely.

[Astrid]

Do it, do it. I was literally in my gap year bag. I'm not gonna lie.

[Ginny]

Did you get the trousers?

[Astrid]

Okay? I didn't get the truck because I was like that is screaming. I went to tattoos. No, didn't get no tattoos, but I did get like some nice printed trousers. No elephants on them. Just a bit of a vibe to say.

[Ginny]

A bit of a boho vibe.

[Astrid]

Yeah, yeah, just like my vibe. But yeah. So I did the whole Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia. So make sure that you're subscribed to find out more if you're looking to travel to those places. Because it was incredible. Had the best time and now I'm back and it's cold.

[Ginny]

Yeah. The Eat Pray Love era is over.

[Astrid]

It's still inside. Internally there is warmth and sun and joy.

[Ginny]

Yeah.

[Astrid]

Externally it's not what I'm representing. It's not quite there between detail itself. It's the only way I get it. Although I find the sprays are better.

[Ginny]

Yeah. Oh, 100%.

[Astrid]

Yeah.

[Ginny]

I'm all for the bathroom cabinet spray in every room.

[Astrid]

This is all the sun that I will get.

[Ginny]

Yeah.

[Astrid]

But here we are. And here you are.

[Ginny]

Yes.

[Astrid]

We're starting with African Pride.

[Ginny]

Yes. Let's go.

[Astrid]

Mine goes to Adejo Kere, the founder and head chef of Chisuru. Her restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in February this year, making her the first black female Michelin starred chef in the uk.

[Ginny]

Yeah, we're still there. We're still having to call out first.

[Astrid]

Number one.

[Ginny]

Yeah.

[Astrid]

Bakare is a self taught chef and has worked in various sectors including care and property. Management before winning a competition in 2017 that allowed her to open a three month pop up restaurant. Eventually, she found a permanent home for her restaurant in 2023.

[Ginny]

Nice.

[Astrid]

You guys know if you've been listening that I like knowing kind of the meaning behind words. So Chisuru means the silence that descends when you're enjoying a meal.

[Ginny]

I like that. That's so good.

[Astrid]

That's when you know you'll enjoy it. When it's just like quite like no one talk to me. It's just me, the place or just.

[Ginny]

In a relationship with the food.

[Astrid]

The food, yeah. Only relationship I'm in. And yeah, Chinny and I both visited.

[Ginny]

End of last year.

[Astrid]

Yes, end of last year. It was incredible.

[Ginny]

Like so good.

[Astrid]

So good. We went for the lunch and had a drink. We definitely recommend the Martini. I can't quite remember the full name.

[Ginny]

It was like Ogoro spirit. I was looking at it online actually. I was like, I want that at home. But it was very spicy. Very.

[Astrid]

Yeah, A lot of coffee, a lot of strong drink. It's a very strong drink. And they only allow you to order maximum two because we were there like sharing like, okay, we have to keep. Yeah.

[Ginny]

You know when the drink evaporates in your mouth before it's like reached the back of your mouth.

[Astrid]

It's one of those. It's one of those. I definitely recommend you pay them a visit.

[Ginny]

Definitely.

[Astrid]

And Bacari herself recognized that we're very much at the forefront of West African food and there's still so much more to do. So that's what they focus on and focus on kind of building and growing that way. And for her, being an independent restaurant chef is incredibly liberating. We make our own rules, we answer to no one and we do our own thing. And I'm all for that. So.

[Ginny]

Yes, definitely.

[Astrid]

So if you're in the area, definitely recommend visiting Tesuru in Fitzrovia, London. And yeah, congratulations to Bacare because this is amazing to only have started in 2023 and this achievement, getting a full on Michelin starred. Love it, love it.

[Ginny]

It's nice to just see African restaurants gaining that. I know. We also had a past episode with Maria where we discussed.

[Astrid]

Yes, yes, we did. Yes, yes.

[Ginny]

I couldn't tell you what season or.

[Astrid]

Episode that was, but that just goes.

[Ginny]

Sweets Alone.

[Astrid]

Sweets alone, yes.

[Ginny]

Wonderful book. And yeah, we discussed the idea of African food being seen as high end and how, you know, perceptions need be changed in that area.

[Astrid]

And we're moving into, we are moving into space.

[Ginny]

It's Great to see. It's very encouraging.

[Astrid]

Amazing.

[Ginny]

Yes.

[Astrid]

So where are we this week? We are going to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

[Ginny]

Yes, I feel we need to go there, to be honest.

[Astrid]

We need to go back.

[Ginny]

Definitely needed.

[Astrid]

This week we are telling the story of Patrice Lumumba. He was a prominent Pan African politician and the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lumumba's story is a really important one for us to share and it's one which we've wanted to share for quite some time. Just never got around to it because.

[Ginny]

There'S just so much we didn't want to, like, visit the same countries over and over. Apart from Nigeria, we've done.

[Astrid]

We've done quite a bit.

[Ginny]

We've done too much in there.

[Astrid]

We've done quite a bit of Nigeria and we felt it was an important time to tell this story given the ongoing crisis in the country. And it feels even more kind of relevant and timely to share it. Now, just to give you a heads up, this episode does contain some graphic depictions of violence. If you want to skip that part, you can check out the exact times of those parts in the episode. Show notes. Let's share the story.

[Ginny]

Yes, let's go into it. So Lumumba was born in 1925 in the village of Onolua, located in the Kasai province of the DRC. Between 1885 and 1908, the DRC was under the private ownership of the Belgian King Leopold ii, which we covered. That was one of our first few episodes.

[Astrid]

Yes. Season one, episode three. Oh, boom.

[Ginny]

Someone's done their. Someone's been reading their revision.

[Astrid]

But, yeah, if you want to find out, definitely check that out because it provides a bit more.

[Ginny]

A lot of context.

[Astrid]

Yeah, context in terms of what was going on in the country at the time.

[Ginny]

Yes. And this period was marked by exploitation and terrible atrocities committed against the Congolese people, with an estimated 10 million people dying as a result. I mean, that's a number of people you can't even say lightly. I can't just say 10 million people and just carry on.

[Astrid]

It's just. It's. Yeah, yeah. It's often referred to as the hidden holocaust.

[Ginny]

Yes. Yes.

[Astrid]

Because of just. Yeah. The sheer number and also the atrocities that were committed under his leadership. And I think something to mark is the word private ownership.

[Ginny]

Yes.

[Astrid]

Because the DRC at the time wasn't under the Belgian government. It was his own. It was his. His to do as he wishes. And that's how he saw it and that's how he treated it and the.

[Ginny]

People and the ownership of the country was later transferred to the Belgian government in 1908 as King Leopold II was forced to abandon the Congo as his activities came to light and he was charged with crimes against humanity. But still, things didn't get much better for the Congolese people. However, Lumumba played a significant role in the country's struggle for independence. Growing up, Lumumba had limited access to educational opportunities. However, he did attend primary school and received a basic education. Despite this, Lumumba was determined to succeed and worked hard to secure various jobs, including working in the civil service as a postal employee. This job was challenging to obtain. He had to pass an entrance exam to be accepted into the postal school, where he spent nine months studying to become a qualified postal employee. He was also dedicated to broadening his knowledge. He enrolled in evening classes and volunteered at a library to improve his French language skills and deepen his knowledge of history and philosophy. On top of that, he was actively involved in voluntary associations and even contributed to articles for newspapers discussing the colonial situation. All this placed Lumumba in a strong position. He was well connected professionally and socially and had real influence. He was deeply integrated into the black middle class, known as the eviloue. Then this class, established by the Belgian government, was viewed as the ideal African. And they had the ability to speak French, dress in European styles and hold white collar positions. This is actually quite similar to what they had in Portuguese Lusophone countries where they had the assimilados.

[Astrid]

Yeah, yeah. And it's a very similar idea with that. Yeah. And I think especially with the Belgians, this whole idea. So evolution evolved.

[Ginny]

So that's a bit on the nose. Yeah, yeah.

[Astrid]

So the whole idea of it, because they came into the DRC around this whole, like, okay, Africans need to be civilized. You know, everybody did that routine. And so then you had these evolution. This is what we were able to achieved to achieve. I think it was like less than 1% of the population made it to that status, but Lumumba had that status. Lumumba's career in the Belgian colonial administration's postal service began in 1944, and over time, who rose to a position of responsibility. However, things took a turn for the worse in 1956 when he was arrested and imprisoned for embezzlement. But why did Lumumba, with a good job and a promising career, decide to embezzle? The answer lies in the unfair treatment that Africans, including Lumumba, faced in their jobs at that time. So, like Lumumba, Africans who worked at the Postal service were not paid wages that reflected their responsibilities and rankings. So even though he'd reach a volue status.

[Ginny]

It doesn't really mean anything.

[Astrid]

It doesn't mean anything. So under these circumstances they had to find creative ways to maintain their livelihoods. Embezzlement was one such way.

[Ginny]

Creative ways. 419.

[Astrid]

It'S a way. It's a form of creativity.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Ginny]

It is a form of creativity. Imagination.

[Astrid]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ginny]

No.

[Astrid]

Was one such way. So Lumumba's decision to embezzle was a desperate attempt to cope with an unjust system that denied him and other Africans a fair and dignified life. Lumumba spent 14 months in prison. After his release, he pursued a short career as a sales director for a brewery also.

[Ginny]

So that sounds like a nice job.

[Astrid]

He was very much in touch in very much different areas. I don't think I've meant. He just literally has those hands in terms of dabbling to everything. Following his release from prison, Lumumba became more politically active and vocal. He strongly opposed imperial rule and called for Congo to free itself from the chains of paternalism. In October 1958, he joined other Congolese leaders in founding the Congolese National Movement, the first nationwide political party. Between December 5th to 13th of that year, he attended the first All African People's Conference in Accra, Ghana, hosted by Kwame Nkrumah. I'd like to say that was season one, episode two that we cover. Did we?

[Ginny]

I don't think it's episode two, but it is there.

[Astrid]

Someone gets someone. We'll probably add in. We'll add it in the show notes. Show notes. So he was Ghana's first independence leader. If you haven't found that episode. The conference brought together a diverse group of people, including politicians, nationalist leaders, unionists and revolutionaries from across the continent and beyond.

[Narrator]

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[Astrid]

Around the same time as Lumumba, you also had Joseph Kasavubu emerge as a key figure in the Congolese fight for independence. So Kasavubu had his own political party, the alliance de Bakongo. So Abaco, which was also an influential party, especially with the Bakongo ethnic group, Abaco was the second largest political party after MNC and played a pivotal role during the country's struggle for independence. Despite sharing a common goal, Lumumba and Kasavubu had a sense of rivalry between them. So when I was kind of digging into this, so we mentioned about the All African Party Congress that happened in Ghana, Kasavuba was also invited, but no, he didn't attend. Ah, but then there's a point where Kwame Nkrumah introduces Lumumba as sort of the face of independent Congo. And that kind of Casavuba hears this did not take it Very well. So there's just this sense of, like, who's going to be the face of the movement. Of the movement.

[Ginny]

And following his return from the conference, Lumumba hosted a successful rally on December 28 to inform supporters about the conference and the future of Congo's independence. It's believed that an estimated 5,000 to 10,000 people attended the gathering. In response to the growing influence of Patrice Lumumba's MMC party, Kasavubu's ABACO party planned a public rally of their own on January 4, 1959. Why are they, like, combating each other? You guys should really be working together.

[Astrid]

Yeah, they're just like, no, they seem to be going a little bit ahead, so we're going to have to do our own rally as well. But, yeah, it's the same mission.

[Ginny]

It's tough. I guess that's what happens when a country is carved up along, like, ethic lines.

[Astrid]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ginny]

Colonial relic there. However, the colonial government denies permission for the event to go ahead, but supporters still gathered on that day. This quickly escalated into violence, chaos, destruction and casualties, which was further amplified as their presence coincided with crowds exiting a nearby football stadium. This event is considered significant in the DRC's struggle for independence, signalling civilian empowerment and marking Congo's journey towards independence. On June 30, 1960, to commemorate the lives lost, January 4 is observed as a public holiday in the DRC, honouring the martyrs of independence. Between 1959 and 1960, the Belgian government observed a weakening of their influence as certain regions within the country slipped out of their control. With communities rejecting colonial authority, these developments, alongside widespread calls for independence across the continent, pressured them towards granting independence.

[Astrid]

Yeah, and I do think the rally that Lumumba did straight after the conference, probably from a Belgian government perspective, was like, okay, we can't be having these sorts of rallies. And so I think that probably influenced that decision to sort of say to Casavuba in history that they can't. No, you can't go ahead. But, yeah, obviously things escalated, but I do think that event and going ahead and obviously the martyrs of independence was really pivotal and then really encouraging people to sort of say, okay, you sort of have to. You can take ownership of this and just go out there and fight even more. Obviously they were doing so, but even more so in order to be able to push for independence. Against the backdrop of calls for independence, the Belgian government introduced a plan for eventual independence for the Congo, beginning with local elections in December 1959. However, nationalists including Lumumba, saw this as a tactic to install compliant leaders before independence and called for a boycott of the elections. Because we have seen this in other times. We're doing elections, but we'll put people in that we feel are more aligned with what we want and will keep us in.

[Ginny]

Yeah, it's straight out of the colonizer handbook, the classic handbook, strategy classic.

[Astrid]

This led to violent clashes between civilians and Belgian authorities and actually saw Lumumba imprisoned for inciting violence. Another key milestone on Congo's road to independence was the Roundtable Conference of Independence that took place on January 20, 1960. So as you can see also if you're like following the dates of everything, it's super short timings. Like literally between 1958 to 1960, 1961, so much happens in the Congo, which brought together Belgium and Congolese leaders to discuss independence. So the Congolese leaders in attendance insisted on Lumumba's release from prison so that he could also attend the conference. Obviously all the work that he had done and contributed towards getting the country to that point, and Belgium was like, okay, fine, we'll release him for prison. Lumumba was freed on January 24, and he was able to attend the conference in Brussels. And eventually on January 27, 1960, they'd agreed that the DRC would gain independence on June 30, 1960.

[Ginny]

Just kind of goes to show how, because when you think of independence, it's not just a we're just rolling it out. It's just a peaceful process. It usually involves a lot of fight. And you think about all the people that died within those clashes, just within that two year period, really.

[Astrid]

Yeah.

[Ginny]

It just goes to show the extent of the. How much effort goes into independence. In preparation for independence, the country established a parliament and the two main political parties, ABACO and mmc formed a partnership. Finally.

[Astrid]

Well, quote, even I use the term partnership, but quote, unquote, not really.

[Ginny]

Yeah.

[Astrid]

Fred. Yeah.

[Ginny]

Freddie's frenemies.

[Astrid]

Vibes. Yeah.

[Ginny]

They agreed that upon independence, Kasavubu would become the president. Alemumba would be the Prime Minister. On the day of Congo's independence, a ceremony marked the occasion. King Badouin of Belgium took the time to acknowledge and commend the efforts of his great, great uncle, King Leopold ii. Commend.

[Astrid]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ginny]

This man that is involved in the death of 10 million people.

[Astrid]

And for me it's to have the audacity to say that in front of the Congolese people was, you're in the country is just reminds you of Lothar.

[Ginny]

Von Trotha in Namibia. Where the ancestors, his descendants, had to go be like, we are sorry.

[Astrid]

We are sorry you did something so bad that your descendants happened. He doesn't even take this opportunity to sort of say, like, and at this point, everybody knows what his great, great uncle had done. And he also was like, convict charged with crimes against humanity. But for him not to even recognize it and sort of say, yeah, wow. To have then gotten to this point is such a slap in the honesty.

[Ginny]

Yeah, yeah, no, it is. It really is. And. And this king expressed his hope that the Congolese people would be able to live up to the trust placed to them by Belgium. How about if you'd come over?

[Astrid]

Yeah, that would. Then I wouldn't have.

[Ginny]

Then I would need my trust.

[Astrid]

Yeah. It's the actual. And I think it goes some way to also show, even now when we get kind of countries being unwilling to accept the atrocities that they committed, that is a part of it. Right. You just hold on to, no, nothing happens. Fine. Look, if we didn't go this, that and the other. But wow.

[Ginny]

Yeah. Our Lumumba was in attendance witnessing all of this. And when he got up to speak, he stated in front of the king, we remember the ridicule, insults and beatings we had to endure morning, noon and night because we're Negroes. We recollect the atrocious suffering of those persecuted for political opinion or religious, exiled in their own country. Their fate was worse than death itself. This was a powerful moment and reflective of Mnbumba's character. He wasn't going to allow himself to be intimidated and have the struggles of his people go unnoticed and unacknowledged. This bravery reminds me of Thomas Ankara, because he used to go to France and just cuss people out.

[Astrid]

It just had to be done. He would just be like, like, you've disrespected our people, our country, exploited it for decades. And I'm just going to stand here and be like, thank you so much.

[Ginny]

Thank you for the honor.

[Astrid]

Thank you for trusting us and giving it back.

[Ginny]

Giving us independence. What do you mean, independence? It shouldn't be that.

[Astrid]

Yeah. So I'm. And one thing to say, though, for a lot of people, a lot of historians, this point and these words that Lumumba says is often considered as him signing his own death. Yeah. Because it wasn't taken well. It was, you know, people weren't like, well, good on you for that. No, from a Western perspective, it was.

[Ginny]

Very like, oh, this man is not batting to us.

[Astrid]

He's not. And he's not going to. And especially he's going to be prime minister. He's going to make it difficult for us to sort of have that sort of. We're letting you go, but we'll still be involved.

[Ginny]

We can't do our neo colonial business. This man is in charge. Even his daughter, Juliana Lumumba recognized that her dad was not a professional politician. He was a rebel. The king therefore took him for a troublemaker.

[Narrator]

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[Astrid]

These aren't the sounds of holiday gifting. Oh. Or oh. Okay, thank you. Well, they're not the sounds you're hoping for. You want squeals of delight like this. Ooh. And spontaneously written songs of joy. I am so happy. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. To get those, make everyone on your list feel heard with gifts like personalized jewelry, custom artwork, vintage pieces and home decor. For original gifts that say I get you, Etsy has it. After gaining independence, the country quickly fell into a political crisis. And for several reasons. I mean, quickly, it literally felt like click of a finger. There was crisis after crisis. So first off, the government was split into two opposing groups. So that quote unquote partnership did not last very long. The first group was very much led by Lumumba, and they believed that the country's independence was a great opportunity to develop without interference from Western countries. But the second group, led by the President Kasavubu, wished to maintain a relationship with Belgium and other Western countries. I feel like through the process, Kasavubu just, you know, I don't know what softened him. I don't know why, but he wanted that alignment to stay. And this obviously caused tension between the two groups. And since Belgium was unwilling to fully let go of the drc, they supported Kasavubu's efforts. Lumumba's rejection of Western involvement in the Congo made him a problem. Another issue that emerged post independence was the new ruling class's neglect of the country. And we've seen this so many times. Post independence, they were more interested in enjoying the material benefits that they'd been Denied under Belgian rule. So you had parliamentarians voting to increase their pay from $2,000 to $10,000, whereas the annual monetary income per African was less than $50. There was no. I don't feel like there was any appreciation of. Okay, by us doing that. Where we're going to get the money. Yeah. We're denying people. Where are we going to get the money from? We're just going to appear out of thin air.

[Ginny]

There's no magic money tree. I haven't heard that in a while. I was going to say hope she as well, but I'm not really sure. Evoking the spirit of Theresa May. No, thank you.

[Astrid]

Dissatisfied with their salaries and working conditions, workers like teachers striking. At the same time, the military needed to be reformed. So what was going on is you still had Belgians at the top of the military. And so it was like, okay, we're now free. Why are you here? So there was some reform required. And so what Lumumba decided to do is he appointed his quote unquote friend, Joseph Desiree Mobutu, as colonel and chief of staff of the army. This was not a wise decision. There were rumors at the time about Mobutu being a double agent with links to the Belgian and American intelligence services. So, yeah, not the best idea again, very much. Signing his death kind of reminds you.

[Ginny]

It'S Sankara and Konpolri all over again.

[Astrid]

Yeah.

[Ginny]

These frenemies stabbing people in the back.

[Astrid]

And we do cover Mobutu's story in the book. It's a continent.

[Ginny]

Yes. Just in case.

[Astrid]

Just in case. Just in case. But, yeah, if you want to find out more, definitely, that's what we cover under the DRC chapter. During this time of chaos and instability in the Congo, you then also had the Katanga province also declaring its independence from the country. With Belgium's support, obviously.

[Ginny]

Yeah.

[Astrid]

The Congo appealed to the UN to intervene and expel the Belgians, but the situation remained unresolved. And Lumumba also sought assistance from the Soviet Union and independent African countries as well, which caused alarm among Western powers as well as Kasavubu.

[Ginny]

And in light of this, on September 5, 1960, President Kasavubu dismissed Prime Minister Lumumba. But this was illegal and illegitimate. Lumumba refused to accept this and reacted by dismissing Kasavubu from his position. As a result, the situation was at a standstill. On September 14, Mobutu intervened, claiming to neutralise both Lumumba and Kasavubu temporarily until the situation stabilized. But in fact, this was a coup Against Lumumba. Love a coup.

[Astrid]

But I think to also recognize like the country gained independence 30th of June. We are, we're in September. We're in September. The 2. Your president and prime minister are both sacking each other. And they do this over radio and then obviously, yeah, former communication but like, do you know what I mean? And then a couple of days later. Oh, right, your head of the military is like, right, I'm basically putting them both on a timeout. I'm taking control. But actually that's a coup.

[Ginny]

Like these power hungry. It's like, is it the deprivation, do you know what I mean? That makes people just be like, I want the power. It's just not even thinking about other people and benefiting the country. It's just all about. Well, we see what Mobutu does later.

[Astrid]

On, don't we, in the future?

[Ginny]

But yeah, it's an interesting theme. We see.

[Astrid]

Well, I think it's that element of taking control of a country. There is no like rule book or. And for the Congo itself, you know, we say, you know, King Leopold came in in 1885 from there and they gained independence in 1960. There is. All the Congolese people are seeing is sort of this, you know, exploitation, destruction. And there is no. We do see a lot of countries when they gain independence, that struggle of like, how do we do this? What is the best course of action? But fighting between each other is not, it is not the solution.

[Ginny]

You know, it's almost as though it was almost engineered to happen because the colonizer country just leaves them in this state, in the state they leave dragging their heels, almost being like, well, fail then and prove us right. Which is why a lot of people, it's interesting in Nigeria a lot of people still ask what would it be like if the British were still here? Like, that's a common question. It just goes to show the extent of the, you know, how much it's ingrained within the population. Mbutu's forces placed Lumumba under house arrest in October, but he escaped only to be re arrested whilst Kasavubu remained in power. Lumumba and two associates, Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo, were assassinated on January 17, 1961, less than seven months after Lumumba became prime minister. Why exactly was he assassinated and by whom? Well, any guesses?

[Astrid]

It's our classic, the US will be involved. The US will be involved.

[Ginny]

Just like we're the new colonizer in town. We've been funding the colonizers, but it's our Turn to have a slice of the pie. Essentially, yes. It was the work of the US and the Belgian governments with the support of Congolese puppets. Lumumba was vocal about freeing the Congolese people and allowing the country autonomy over its natural resources, which threatened Western interests. Now, see, this ties into almost what we see today. I'm not being so simplistic and say if Lumumba was still here, then we wouldn't have the issues.

[Astrid]

Yeah, we can't be sure. Yeah.

[Ginny]

But we do see how this really paved the way for. For the current situation in the DRC today.

[Astrid]

No, Definitely.

[Ginny]

So we have a trigger warning here for a graphic depiction of violence. And then you can skip to the point within the timestamp if you want to skip this part. Lumumba was executed by firing squad, hacked into pieces and dissolved in acid. The Belgian officer overseeing this, Gerard Suete, decided to keep Lumumba's tooth and other body parts as a trophy. It wasn't until the late 90s that he admitted to having Lumumba's only remains, a tooth in his possession. Lumumba's tooth was eventually returned to his family and he was buried in Kinshasa in 2022. As his daughter reflects, her father belongs to the country because he died for Congo and for his own values and convictions of the dignity of the African person. So this man was killed in 1961, and it wasn't until 2022 where he could have a lawful burial.

[Astrid]

Yeah.

[Ginny]

That is something that is actually illegal in the uk. If you deny someone the right to have a legal burial, it is a.

[Astrid]

Crime for him to have kept.

[Ginny]

And he puts until the late 90s.

[Astrid]

Until the late 90s, to have kept that as some sort. And I think it goes to that dehumanization, 100 of Africans, 100%, that you're keeping it as some sort of a trophy.

[Ginny]

Trophy, you know, almost like the head of an animal.

[Astrid]

That's. And this Lumumba had so much potential.

[Ginny]

Yeah.

[Astrid]

And the fact that that's how his story plays out.

[Ginny]

That's the way it ends. How can they end like that?

[Astrid]

You know, literally a tooth, a tooth.

[Ginny]

That's all that we have. Look at what they have in Ghana for Kwame Nkrumah. You know, they have a whole museum display for him. You know, obviously he didn't die in that way. But it's such a shame that the DRC has been denied that sort of thing. Just to have for Patrice Lumumba and an episode that we did a few episodes ago on Repatriating African items covers this as well. Just this phenomena of European colonizers taking things from the continent, taking dead body parts and just keeping them. Taking skulls and just keeping them.

[Astrid]

Yeah.

[Ginny]

As though, you know, these were souvenirs. These are human beings.

[Astrid]

I guess Lumumba's story, like many that we covered, of Pan Africans who then end up, you know, just not. Well, yes.

[Ginny]

Yeah.

[Astrid]

Being completely just that ending and kind of ending too soon and not having the opportunity to really see their countries fulfill their potential is frustrating.

[Ginny]

It is.

[Astrid]

And it feels like for a lot of them, we just get to the point where, like, right, we have independence. Let's do this. And then it completely gets thrown away and prevented in these ways. The drc. I know there's a lot going on at the minute, but, yeah, the DRC does continue to grapple with a multitude of challenges, from political instability, corruption, to natural resource exploitation, which we also cover. And ongoing violence which has left the country very much struggling to progress and for me feels like just in a constant state of crisis. So it's just that feeling of, like, what could have been. So, yeah, do make sure that you stay up to date. We will add in this episode show notes so you find out a bit more about what's going on in the drc, why we're talking about it, why it's being talked about. It was a very important story for us to share and I'm glad that we.

[Ginny]

I'm glad we've finally been able to cover him because he definitely has been popping up in a lot of our stories. So he deserved his own episode for sure.

[Astrid]

Thank you for listening.

[Ginny]

Yes, you can follow us on Instagram pod on X Twitter. When I type Twitter into our phone like it's not there. Have to type in X. Oh, will you just put in X at It's a continent. And also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter. It's a continent.com/newsletter. And our website as well, it's thecontinent.

[Astrid]

Com.

[Ginny]

Bye.