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Russia Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Africa's chains have changed but slavery remains – Lumumba's son
Western colonialism in Africa never ended – it simply changed its form, Roland Lumumba has told RT. In an exclusive interview ahead of International Africa Day, the son of the Congolese independence hero and first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, said that while flags and borders may have changed, Africa remains under Western domination through debt, economic exploitation, and corrupt leadership that serves foreign masters over the people. Lumumba believes that Africa's struggle for independence is far from over. 'The colonial rulers are gone, but their strategy of division remains,' he said, adding that the neocolonialists of today are not concerned with Africa's needs, but are 'attracted by Africa's riches.' 'They left through the front door, only to slip back in through the windows of economic exploitation and political interference.' He pointed to the Western-backed conflicts that still rage in resource-rich regions like the Congo, where foreign interests profit from chaos. 'Today, they don't need armies. They use debt, sanctions, and banks. The IMF, the World Bank – these are the tools of modern colonialism,' he said. 'Our resources are taken, and in return, we get loans on impossible terms. The more we pay, the greater the debt. The yoke of colonialism has never been lifted; it has only been repainted.' Lumumba placed some of the blame on the African elites who 'remain fascinated by the West for their own gain' and 'sell Africa for a penny just to send their children to Harvard.' He argued that true independence can only come through good governance, regional unity, and cooperation with nations that respect African sovereignty. 'Africa must be led by its own sons and daughters – not by puppets of foreign powers,' he said. 'We need leaders who protect, not sell. Who build, not steal.' Lumumba hailed cooperation with Russia and the BRICS group of countries as a chance to escape Western control. 'The BRICS represents an opportunity. It's not a military bloc. It's a space where Africa has a voice, where we are respected as equal partners,' he said, adding that BRICS countries view Africa 'not as a place of plunder, but as a partner for progress.' Lumumba advised Africa to 'unite with those who come to build with us, not oppress us,' to achieve true independence.
Russia Today
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Africa's chains have changed, but slavery remains – Lumumba's son
Western colonialism in Africa never ended – it simply changed its form, Roland Lumumba has told RT. In an exclusive interview ahead of International Africa Day, the son of the Congolese independence hero and first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba, said that while flags and borders may have changed, Africa remains under Western domination through debt, economic exploitation, and corrupt leadership that serves foreign masters over the people. Lumumba believes that Africa's struggle for independence is far from over. 'The colonial rulers are gone, but their strategy of division remains,' he said, adding that the neocolonialists of today are not concerned with Africa's needs, but are 'attracted by Africa's riches.' 'They left through the front door, only to slip back in through the windows of economic exploitation and political interference.' He pointed to the Western-backed conflicts that still rage in resource-rich regions like the Congo, where foreign interests profit from chaos. 'Today, they don't need armies. They use debt, sanctions, and banks. The IMF, the World Bank – these are the tools of modern colonialism,' he said. 'Our resources are taken, and in return, we get loans on impossible terms. The more we pay, the greater the debt. The yoke of colonialism has never been lifted; it has only been repainted.' Lumumba placed some of the blame on the African elites who 'remain fascinated by the West for their own gain' and 'sell Africa for a penny just to send their children to Harvard.' He argued that true independence can only come through good governance, regional unity, and cooperation with nations that respect African sovereignty. 'Africa must be led by its own sons and daughters – not by puppets of foreign powers,' he said. 'We need leaders who protect, not sell. Who build, not steal.' Lumumba hailed cooperation with Russia and the BRICS group of countries as a chance to escape Western control. 'The BRICS represents an opportunity. It's not a military bloc. It's a space where Africa has a voice, where we are respected as equal partners,' he said, adding that BRICS countries view Africa 'not as a place of plunder, but as a partner for progress.' Lumumba advised Africa to 'unite with those who come to build with us, not oppress us,' to achieve true independence.
Russia Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Africa: Legacy of the Great Leaders
RT Presents a Project Featuring Descendants of Mandela, Lumumba, and Nasser RT presents a project about the leaders of Africa's anti-colonial struggle On Africa Liberation Day, May 25, 2025, RT is releasing a special video project titled African Legacy (Africa: Legacy of the Great Leaders) dedicated to the continent's leaders whose fight against colonialism and efforts to unite African peoples changed the course of history. The children and grandchildren of legendary figures, including Patrice Lumumba, Nelson Mandela, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Samora Machel, Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Oliver Tambo, and Steve Biko, share stories about their ancestors and their contributions to Africa's liberation and development. They also speak about the importance of preserving historical memory as modern Africa once again faces various challenges, and how the new generation must continue the work of their great forebears in order to move forward, toward prosperity and unity. 'Today history repeats itself. The same powers that once dictated to Africa whom it should call friend and whom it should call enemy are trying to do so once again. They paint Russia as a villain, just as they once did with the Soviet Union. But we must remember the lessons of the past. Those who truly supported Africa's liberation are not the ones who plundered our lands, who assassinated our leaders, or who imposed crippling debts upon us,' says Roland Lumumba, son of Congolese national liberation movement leader and the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Patrice Lumumba. Participants of the project note that Russia has always supported their peoples' struggle for freedom and justice, and that the USSR played a pivotal role in helping African nations break free from colonial dependence. Today, partnership with Russia opens new opportunities for the continent's countries based on shared values, respect for sovereignty, and a vision of a multipolar world. 'With Russia, we see opportunities for trade, technology exchange and development that will help Africa grow independently and sustainably. By working with Russia, we can secure support that respects Africa's right to shape its own destiny and economic future,' states Ndileka Mandela, granddaughter of the legendary anti-apartheid fighter, former South African president, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela.
Globe and Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Isolele Introduces Comic Series Blending Congolese History with Fictional Storytelling
Zaiire comic series by Isolele connects Congolese history, royalty, and myth with modern African narratives. Isolele, a creative media brand based in Beverly Hills, California, is drawing attention for its latest project, Zaiire: The Prince of Kongo and the Necklace of Destiny. The comic series presents a fictional African prince whose story is rooted in historical and cultural elements from the Congo. At its center is Zaiire, a young boy from Kinshasa, navigating the contrast between inherited privilege and the challenges faced by his people. Zaiire's story introduces readers to a fictional artifact known as the Necklace of Destiny, passed down through generations of Congolese royalty. As the plot develops, the character leaves his wealthy surroundings to reconnect with his mother in Kinshasa's slums. This encounter sets him on a path where he learns about his lineage and is called to protect his homeland. The comic weaves fictional and historical figures, referencing individuals like Patrice Lumumba, who is portrayed as the 'African Panther,' and Ganga Zumba, a real-life escaped slave who led Brazil's Quilombo dos Palmares. The series also introduces Jameela, a character inspired by Queen Califia of California folklore, and Captain Africa, who bears a shield inscribed with the Ethiopian term 'Negus,' historically associated with regional leadership. The fictional city of Isolele is prominently featured in the series. Designed using references to architecture from across the African continent, it aims to reflect a blend of traditions and present-day aesthetics. According to the creators, these design choices were made to bring African identity into a visual and modern context without losing touch with its origins. The founder of Isolele, HRM King Kufulula, also known as The Lion of Congo, is a Kinshasa-born author and entrepreneur. His background includes experiences of exile and homelessness in the United States, followed by efforts in investment and storytelling. Through his nonprofit organizations Focus Congo and We Love Congo, King Kufulula supports people affected by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Beyond entertainment, the comic also touches on historical and socio-political themes. It references Congo's connection to key events in global history, such as the Shinkolobwe mine's role in supplying uranium used in early nuclear weapons development. It also comments on the country's mineral wealth, including its cobalt reserves, drawing parallels with fictional elements like vibranium from the Marvel universe. Zaiire is part of a broader effort to encourage cultural engagement and expand the portrayal of African identities through modern media. According to Isolele, plans are in place to make the series accessible to an international audience through translations and partnerships with artists across the African diaspora. As the comic prepares for wider release, Isolele emphasizes its focus on African storytelling, to supporting local creative talent, and building narratives that connect both historical context and contemporary experiences. While the comic remains fictional, it draws heavily from real-world history and cultural perspectives to shape its content. Users can visit the official website, for any media or commercial inquiries. Isolele is a creative media company focused on telling African stories through comics and animation. The brand centers its work on historical and cultural themes from the continent, particularly the Congo.
Los Angeles Times
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
How the CIA used jazz greats as cover for a 1961 coup in Africa
History is a playlist crackling with fire and intrigue in 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat.' The film's heady 2½ hours are as thick with detail as a graduate seminar yet bustle like a TikTok video, a deft and nearly breathless archival exposé that centers on the January 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba, less than a year after he was elected leader of the newly formed Democratic Republic of the Congo, at last independent from Belgium's colonial rule. America's CIA spearheaded the assassination plot, but this Cold War drama revolves like a kaleidoscope through a far-flung cast of characters, all of them intersecting at a pivotal moment in the 1960s. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev famously banged his shoe at the United Nations, which had welcomed 16 new African states to its ranks. Meanwhile, a host of American jazz greats were serving as cultural ambassadors — Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie among them — ostensibly to promote Yankee goodwill and democratic values. Instead, they acted as unknowing decoys for CIA operations. 'It's very schizophrenic,' says Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez, who fuses together global politics, subterfuge and the freedom cries of jazz giants such as Max Roach, Eric Dolphy, Abbey Lincoln and John Coltrane as if they're of a piece. 'Because those artists are asked to represent a democracy where back home they're still second-rate citizens,' he says. 'And so there's that paradox as well.' Grimonprez made 'Soundtrack,' an Academy Award nominee for documentary feature, as a way to reckon with his own country's colonial legacy. After directing 'Shadow World,' a 2016 archival dive into the amoral world of the global arms trade, he wanted to investigate something that was right in front of him yet harder to see. 'All these things were [swept] under the carpet,' says Grimonprez, who was born in 1962. 'Nevertheless, Belgium's history is so tied to the Congo. All of Brussels is built with rubber money. It's sort of seeped into the ground. It's a trauma that is unacknowledged on both sides. It felt crucial … to bring the story back home and dig into the dirt of my own country's history.' The film boasts a stunning array of archival footage, from the vaults of the BBC, the U.N. and Belgian and American television networks, along with Cuba's Havana Archive, but rarer sources as well. 'The home movies are very important,' Grimonprez says. The movie makes vital use of contributions from Congolese writer In Koli Jean Bofane ('Congo Inc.'), who was raised on his stepfather's coffee plantation, and Eve Blouin, the daughter of writer and pan-African activist Andrée Blouin, Lumumba's speechwriter and chief of protocol, whose excerpted memoirs are read by Marie Daulne of the group Zap Mama. Grimonprez even managed to secure private footage of Khrushchev and audiotapes of him reading his memoirs, from the fallen leader's son. The filmmaker spent four years putting it all together with editor Rik Chaubet, with a keen focus on visual rhythm and bursts of surprise. 'There's always a new element that is revealed,' Grimonprez says. 'Sometimes it's not chronological, but we chose [it] for a dramatic development.' They took inspiration from a perhaps unexpected source: Alfred Hitchcock. As it happens, Hollywood's master of suspense was the playful subject of Grimonprez's 2009 essay film, 'Double Take,' which also trafficked in Cold War tropes as it mediates a fictitious encounter between Hitchcock and a mysterious double. (Not for nothing does Khrushchev also serve as a doppelgänger.) Thus, the tone of 'Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat' is 'in a sense, what Hitchcock would call 'The Birds': It's a comedy that becomes a thriller,' Grimonprez says. 'So we had a little bit [of that] as well, but the thriller takes over at the end.' The music, which also spotlights the role of Congolese rumba in pan-African liberation, functions not as mere soundtrack but what Grimonprez calls a 'historical agent.' 'There's such beautiful stuff, but then it can be set against such horrible things,' he says, recalling how when vocalist Abbey Lincoln and drummer Max Roach were playing 'We Insist! Freedom Now Suite' on Belgian television in 1964 — footage that is put to powerful use in the film — there was a genocide in the Congo. Music and politics collide head-on near the end of the film, when Lincoln helps lead a group of 60 protesters — including Roach, Maya Angelou and Paul Robeson — as they loudly disrupt a meeting of the U.N. Security Council in the wake of Lumumba's assassination. 'It's as James Baldwin says,' Grimonprez suggests, offering a paraphrase of the author. 'History is not the past. History is what we are made of. It's the present. It's what seeps into our skin and into our body and our bones.'
