ADVERTISEMENT
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Involve Africa
  • Home
  • All African News
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Entertainment News
    • Travel
    • Tourism
    • Arts
  • Finance
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All African News
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Entertainment News
    • Travel
    • Tourism
    • Arts
  • Finance
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
No Result
View All Result
Involve Africa
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Energy & Environment

The significance of Lumumba’s golden tooth

Involve Africa by Involve Africa
July 14, 2022
in Energy & Environment
0
The significance of Lumumba’s golden tooth
585
SHARES
3.2k
VIEWS
https://web.facebook.com/involveafricanews?_rdc=1&https://twitter.com/involveafricanews


Sixty-two years after his brutal murder, a funeral has been held for the DRC’s first post-independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, in Kinshasa, after the only remaining part of his body – a tooth – was returned to his family by Belgian authorities. At least now, the big lie has been exposed for what it was all this time and no one is under any illusions about the real role of Belgium in the Congo – not least the Congolese themselves, writes Anver Versi.

For some time now, we have been experiencing a period of ‘look backs’, during which long-buried or ignored issues have been brought willy-nilly to the surface. 

The Black Lives Matter campaign turned the spotlight once again on the ramifications of slavery; which led to the global toppling of statues and other icons celebrating former slavers, which in turn highlighted the marginalisation of Black achievement and historical contributions around the world – and all this was perhaps perfectly encapsulated by the book Born in Blackness by Howard French, which I wrote about recently.

The lid on the chest marked ‘forgotten African history’ was pushed open a bit further in June when the government of Belgium returned a tooth belonging to the murdered Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba to his family.

This gesture, as well as some words of contrition by the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and King Phillippe of Belgium during a visit to the DRC earlier in the month, marked a very belated recognition of the atrocities and wholesale looting of the country by this European nation. 

The Congo’s horrific relationship with Belgium began around 1885 when King Leopold II latched onto the central African country, seizing it as his personal property and launching what has been described as colonial exploitation that was “unbelievable in its brutality, cruelty and lack of any human feeling or compassion.”

In Leopold’s ‘Congo Free State’, over 10m Congolese died over a 23-year period as whole villages and settlements were put under the whip of some of the cruellest taskmasters ever to have lived and forced to fill impossible quotas of rubber sap – or risk having their hands chopped off or being horribly maimed or killed as a warning to others.

Leopold had skilfully obtained an official recognition of his claim to the Congo during the infamous Berlin Conference of 1884 when several rival European powers gathered to carve up the continent into the geographical chunks and zones of influence we see in today’s Africa. The vast wealth accumulated by Leopold from the sale of rubber to industrialising Europe and the US turned his once impoverished nation into a respected power and set the pattern for the ruthless exploitation of Africa’s human and natural resources.

In Congo itself, Belgium’s malevolent influence did not end with Leopold but continued well into and after the country achieved independence in 1960, with Patrice Lumumba as the much-loved and universally respected Prime Minister.

Brainwashed

Lumumba had rejected the brainwashing the colonial-era schools routinely doled out to African students, convincing them that Belgium was a benevolent and just ruler and that it was civilising the primitive Congolese. Many had bought into this vision – and some say it has not entirely disappeared even today.

The Congo was – and is – a treasure trove of minerals and other natural resources: diamonds, copper, cobalt, gold, iron, uranium, hardwood timber, rubber, ivory and on and on. Belgium and other Western countries were digging their hands into the treasure as fast as they could go. 

They saw Lumumba as a threat as he refused to act as their ‘Black agent’ and insisted on independent action. They fomented a rebellion in Katanga. He was arrested, tortured and brutally killed. His body was dissolved in acid with only his gold-capped tooth remaining. It had been taken by one of his killers as a bizarre memento.

It was this tooth that was finally returned to his family members in Belgium. His son Ronald said the family would finally be able to ‘finish their mourning’. The tooth, as the only surviving part of Lumumba’s body, was finally laid to rest in the DRC on 29 June after a funeral was held in Kinshasa.

After decades of denying their role in Lumumba’s death or even acknowledging their horrific history in the Congo, the Belgians showed small signs of recanting. Prime Minister De Croo accepted his country’s moral responsibility for Lumumba’s murder. “This is a painful and disagreeable truth, but must be spoken,” he conceded. “A man was murdered for his political convictions, his words, his ideals.”

Earlier, during his visit to the DRC, King Phillippe agreed that Belgium’s relationship with Congo was one of “unequal relations, unjustifiable in itself, marked by paternalism, discrimination and racism… it led to violent acts and humiliations”. However, he refused to apologise on behalf his nation.

Belgium continues to exert considerable influence over the DRC – and continues to benefit financially and diplomatically from its former colony. But at least now, the big lie has been exposed for what it was all this time and no one is under any illusions about the real role of Belgium in the Congo – not least the Congolese themselves.

But as they say: those who fail to learn from history are destined to repeat it.



Source_link

You might also like

whose job is it to clean up the mess?

Southern Railway, ICF to construct steam locomotive replicas

Global supply chain challenges will not affect energy transition progress in 2023 —Report

Previous Post

African Development Bank approves $175 million Regional Trade Finance Funded Risk Participation Agreement facility for Eastern and Southern African Trade & Development Bank | African Development Bank

Next Post

Diagnostics challenge medical inequities

Involve Africa

Involve Africa

Related Posts

whose job is it to clean up the mess?
Energy & Environment

whose job is it to clean up the mess?

by Involve Africa
January 31, 2023
Southern Railway, ICF to construct steam locomotive replicas
Energy & Environment

Southern Railway, ICF to construct steam locomotive replicas

by Involve Africa
January 31, 2023
Global supply chain challenges will not affect energy transition progress in 2023 —Report
Energy & Environment

Global supply chain challenges will not affect energy transition progress in 2023 —Report

by Involve Africa
January 30, 2023
Eritrea participates at Cairo Book Fair
Energy & Environment

Eritrea participates at Cairo Book Fair

by Involve Africa
January 30, 2023
Network Rail announces fund allocation for Station regeneration
Energy & Environment

Network Rail announces fund allocation for Station regeneration

by Involve Africa
January 29, 2023
Next Post
Diagnostics challenge medical inequities

Diagnostics challenge medical inequities

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Evening of African cultures scheduled for Saturday in Roanoke

Evening of African cultures scheduled for Saturday in Roanoke

November 5, 2022
Madagascar: Yields increase for youth enterprises, thanks to an African Development Fund project | African Development Bank

Madagascar: Yields increase for youth enterprises, thanks to an African Development Fund project | African Development Bank

September 14, 2022

Categories

  • All African News
  • Arts
  • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
  • Entertainment News
  • Finance
  • Food & Agriculture
  • News Videos
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Travel

Don't miss it

Central Africa: Can EU Investment Revive Lake Chad Basin’s Economy?
Business & Economy

Central Africa: Can EU Investment Revive Lake Chad Basin’s Economy?

January 31, 2023
TB breakdown takes toll on young farmer’s mental health
Food & Agriculture

TB breakdown takes toll on young farmer’s mental health

January 31, 2023
Rolling Over Leftover 529 Funds Into A Roth IRA: Who Benefits?
Finance

Rolling Over Leftover 529 Funds Into A Roth IRA: Who Benefits?

January 31, 2023
African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Photo Contest 2023
All African News

African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI) Photo Contest 2023

January 31, 2023
Crypto 101: What is the blockchain trilemma?
Crypto News

Crypto 101: What is the blockchain trilemma?

January 31, 2023
Burna Boy Reacts As South African Rapper, Gigi Lamayne Professes Love To Him
Entertainment News

Burna Boy Reacts As South African Rapper, Gigi Lamayne Professes Love To Him

January 31, 2023

Social Bar

Welcome to involve Africa The goal of involve Africa is to give you the absolute best news sources for any topic! Our topics are carefully curated and constantly updated as we know the web moves fast so we try to as well.

Categories

  • All African News
  • Arts
  • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment
  • Entertainment News
  • Finance
  • Food & Agriculture
  • News Videos
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Travel

Site Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Recent News

Central Africa: Can EU Investment Revive Lake Chad Basin’s Economy?

Central Africa: Can EU Investment Revive Lake Chad Basin’s Economy?

January 31, 2023
TB breakdown takes toll on young farmer’s mental health

TB breakdown takes toll on young farmer’s mental health

January 31, 2023

INVOLVEAFRICA.COM

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • All African News
  • Politics
  • Technology
  • Entertainment News
    • Travel
    • Tourism
    • Arts
  • Finance
    • Food & Agriculture
    • Business & Economy
  • Crypto News
  • Energy & Environment

INVOLVEAFRICA.COM

What Are Cookies
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT