People around the world are acknowledging the the death of Lumumba a half-century ago with programs and presentations.
In Washington, D.C., TransAfrica and BloomBars will sponsor a panel discussion and screening of “The Assassination of Patrice Lumumba” a 2000 film by Thomas Giefer that examines the story of the first elected Prime Minister of the Congo (Kinshasa).
While seen as a hero by fellow Africans, Lumumba was perceived as a threat by many in Europe and the United States. A few months after becoming prime minister, of the newly independent Republic of the Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), he was overthrown by a military coup, inspired by the West, and then killed on Jan. 17, 1961. No one was ever charged in Lumumba’s death.
The screening will be followed by a discussion with a representative of Friends of the Congo and Mwiza Munthali, the public outreach director of TransAfrica, the oldest and largest African-American human rights and social justice advocacy organization. The film is being shown as part of BloomScreen Indie Film Night, a weekly series of independent and foreign films, accompanied by discussions with filmmakers and other experts.
The event is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29. The suggested donation is $10, but popcorn and refreshments are free.