After watching the documentary, I found Patrice Lumumba to
be a phenomenal person. Similar to Marcus Garvey his standards conflicted with
those who sought out to control so as a result, he became a threat to them. Lumumba
believed that the Congo should be independent of Belgium and run things the way
the Congolese wanted to. Discussed in chapter 9 was the position of
decolonization “the presentation of some of the main currents in the decolonization
process will center around the political, social and economic factors
influencing the decolonization process” (pg. 163). So in the film the Belgians
appointed Lumumba prime minister so that the Congo would feel independent. The
Congo was now divided.
When the Belgians first invaded Africa, they admired it for
its many resources such as zinc, gold and copper. But one could argue that the ultimate
goal was the “colonial rule”. Discussed in chapter 9 was the invasion of
Ethiopia by Italy as stated in the chapter “this experience convinced African nationalist
that they had to fend for themselves and that any thought of a “progressive” colonialism
was but an illusion” (pg.166). So
although Lumumba met the goal of becoming independent, he also wanted the
people to feel like a unit. So he pushed for laws that would apply for everyone
not just to a tribe; even though some tribes were more dominant than others.
“Colonialism had to be defeated in all aspects and independence for Africa
restored” (pg. 166).
The Belgian forces had
to be in charge at all times and they believed independence would never work
amongst tribes. Granting Congo their independence was a plan to have them fall
back into colonialism because the different tribes hated each other. They knew that
soon they would have to step in and mediate situations and at the point would
gain control. Lumumba was a symbol of freedom to his people who believed in his
message. Still many people envied him and him as a threat to everyone. He was
then set up by his closest ally Genera Motumbu, whom was the head of the
Congolese Army. In many senses he became
a martyr. The Belgians became very angry because he tried to enlist the help of
the Russians who were their sworn enemies to come in and stop rebellion.
Lumumba did play a
part in his own downfall; trying to win back his popularity got him killed. Lumumba
travelling to where he still had followers led troops to where he was, and they
tortured and put him in jail, then eventually kill him. Lumumba was not a physical threat to these
people that wanted him dead. They feared him because was more of a psychological
influence on the African peopled and they knew that eventually stronghold Belgium
had on the African people would be released if they allowed him to live. Everyone
from the CIA to the FBI was for his assassination. In the film the United States seemed innocent,
but they were not opposing to his assassination. The US was also interested in
Africa’s resources as well. Most advocates for the freedom of African were
either severely harassed and or killed. The government decided to cover up his
death by staging it to appear that Lumumba sworn enemy killed him, so that the government
could as many say “keep their hands clean”.
This was a great film and the fact that it display how the government gets
involved in such endeavors was a definite eye opener.
