Belgium’s capital is marking the 100th birthday of Patrice Lumumba, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s first prime minister and enduring anti-colonial icon, with a rich programme of exhibitions, conferences and screenings. Lumumba, who was assassinated in 1961, is widely revered as a martyr of Pan-Africanism and a symbol of resistance against colonial oppression.
Exhibition: Lumumba 100 Years
From 3 to 30 July, the Congolese Cultural Center in Brussels will host Lumumba: 100 Years, showcasing the works of five emerging artists from the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Arts. Each artist interprets contemporary Congolese challenges through Lumumba’s vision of unity and justice. The exhibition also features a hands-on workshop for children, inviting young participants to explore Congolese art traditions and Lumumba’s ideals through painting and collage.
Conference and Film Screening
- 5 July – Conference on Legacies Scholars, activists and members of the Congolese diaspora will reflect on Lumumba’s enduring impact on decolonial movements and African unity.
- 29 June – Screening of Soundtrack to a Coup d’État The Oscar-nominated documentary examines the turbulent post-colonial context of Congo’s independence and the international intrigues that culminated in Lumumba’s death.
Diaspora Resonance
For Belgium’s Congolese community and local decolonial groups, the centenary carries profound emotional weight. “Lumumba still speaks to our struggle for dignity and equality,” says Marie Nkulu, a community organiser in Brussels. His life story remains a rallying point for campaigns against racial injustice and economic exploitation.
Historical Context
Patrice Lumumba led Congo to independence on 30 June 1960, ending more than 50 years of Belgian colonial rule. As prime minister, he sought to forge a sovereign nation, but internal upheavals quickly followed:
- A military mutiny in January 1961.
- Secession of the mineral-rich Katanga province.
- A Belgian-backed coup that deposed Lumumba.
He was arrested, transferred to Elisabethville (now Lubumbashi) and executed by secessionist forces with CIA and Belgian complicity. Only a single tooth was recovered from his remains.
Belgian Complicity and Acknowledgements
Evidence of Belgium’s role in planning and executing Lumumba’s assassination has gradually surfaced. In 2002, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt formally apologised on behalf of the Belgian state. Two decades later, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo went further, admitting Belgium’s “moral responsibility” for the killing. In 2022, Lumumba’s tooth was repatriated to his family.
Quest for Justice
Last month, Belgian prosecutors announced plans to try 92-year-old former diplomat Etienne Davignon, the last living named suspect in Lumumba’s murder. If convicted, he would become the first Belgian tried for the assassination more than 60 years after the crime.
Opening of Lumumba Square
To conclude the centenary celebrations, Brussels will inaugurate Lumumba Square, a public plaza near the Congo Cultural Center dedicated to his memory. The ceremony on 2 July will bring together cultural and political figures, closing a month of remembrance and affirming Lumumba’s place in the city’s landscape of decolonial comme
