DRC: more than 61 years after his death, the funeral of Patrice Lumumba for Independence Day

At the Palais de la Nation, during the commemorations, the historic speech given during independence by Patrice Lumumba was rebroadcast, in Kinshasa, on June 29, 2022. © Paulina Zidi / RFI

Text by: Paulina Zidi Follow

3 mins

More than 61 years after his death, the remains of Patrice Lumumba will be buried this Thursday, June 30, 2022, the day of the anniversary of independence.

End point of more than ten days of commemorations which began in Brussels with the delivery by Belgium of a tooth attributed to the former Congolese Prime Minister, and kept all these years by a Belgian policeman. 

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From our special correspondent in Kinshasa, 

This Wednesday, the body was taken to the Palais de la Nation for a ceremony with a very symbolic significance.

It was in this room, almost 62 years ago to the day, that Patrice Lumumba gave a speech that went down in history.

A speech, on the day of the country's independence, in which he had castigated colonization in front of a dumbfounded King of the Belgians. 

And 62 years later, this speech was rebroadcast in this same room in the presence of Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, but also of many officials.

Indeed, almost all the great personalities of the State were present.  

►Dossier: Patrice Lumumba, a murdered independence

A ceremony which also paid tribute to Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo.

These two companions in misfortune were also murdered with Patrice Lumumba, on January 17, 1961. The two families had regretted, a few days ago, to be kept on the sidelines of these commemorations.

This time, the three men were decorated posthumously by the President of the Republic.

Burial in the heart of the capital 

This Thursday is the last line of these commemorations, with the last ceremony planned in the heart of Kinshasa.

It is at the interchange of Limete, that is the place of eternal rest of Patrice Lumumba, next to a large monument to his glory, there is now a mausoleum in which the coffin will be installed. 

► To read also: In Kinshasa, the final preparations for the memorial of national hero Lumumba

To get there, there were a few twists and turns.

This return of the remains of Patrice Lumumba was delayed several times before finally taking place on June 22.

And even then, this burial, in the program, was scheduled for June 29.

All of this was finally changed recently to make this burial coincide with the anniversary of the country's independence.

The family of Patrice Lumumba in front of the Palais de la Nation in Kinshasa, June 29, 2022. © Paulina Zidi / RFI

Must participate in this funeral obviously, the family of Patrice Lumumba, but also of his two companions in misfortune killed the same day as him, Joseph Okito and Maurice Mpolo.

The main heads of the Congolese state are announced and President Félix Tshisekedi is to make a speech there.

It will ultimately be his first speech since the country recovered the remains of Patrice Lumumba. 

The burial itself will take place in a small committee with especially the family of Patrice Lumumba, three of his children François, Roland and Juliana, and some of his grandchildren who have followed the entire route of this coffin between Belgium, Sankuru, Kisangani, Haut-Katanga and of course this last stage in Kinshasa.

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