Main content

Lamumba: How a DR Congo leader killed in 1961 finally came home

In DR Congo, a ceremony has been held to bury the gold-crowned tooth of the country's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. He was assassinated in 1961 and only his tooth remains.

In DR Congo, a ceremony has been held in the capital Kinshasa, to bury the gold-crowned tooth of the independence leader and the country's first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. Mr Lumumba was assassinated in 1961 by separatists abetted by Belgian mercenaries. His body was dissolved in acid, with only the tooth remaining. A Belgian police officer who oversaw the destruction of his body kept the tooth as a trophy.聽 It was returned to Mr Lumumba's family last week at a ceremony in Brussels.聽

Patrice Lumumba's daughter Juliana attended the ceremony. She says she was buoyed up the crowds in the street who had turned to watch the memorial procession, and that speeches at the memorial were a powerful reminder of his values and his rich political legacy of non violence and 'anti-tribal' leadership, and that she hopes that these can be revived.

"At last he comes home and we can pay tribute"

Photo: A member of the guard of honour carries a poster the murdered Congolese leader hero Patrice Lumumba, during his burial ceremony in Kinchasa, DRC Credit: Reuters

Release date:

Duration:

6 minutes