Histoire Histoire

On this very day, 17th January 1961, the DRC’s first Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba was assassinated.

I wrote this specific poem in 2019 for the celebration of my country’s 59th Independence Day at our University Congolese Society event. I am reposting my poem, in memory of a great Hero.

I drew inspiration from the movie Lumumba. Which is the opening line of my poem, where Patrice writes a letter to his wife before getting assassinated. I then quote another great artist. Tupac Shakur, from his song, Ghetto Gospel. I hope you do enjoy.

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Chère Pauline

Tu leur diras simplement que j’étais arrivé 

50 ans trop tôt. 50 ans trop tôt.

50 years too soon

But now we sing the tune

Of a great fortune

That we now possess

See history repeats itself

For history’s letter was sent too soon

Somehow

Traveling through time

Carried by

The winds of no changes

That letter was written to us

Today’s generation

To the reincarnated soldiers

Of yesterday’s imagination

– Its passion

– its dream

Yesterday’s history

Is today’s victory

Which unfolds through the injury

And a man’s misery

Independence! Cried the earth

That once soaked in

Crimson love

Now blossoming

In blue daisies

Reflecting our future

Igniting our ways

Notre avenir

With great inheritance of

Diamonds, cobalt and copper

For our sons and daughters

To keep amd embrace

Their true identity

Their true riches

Peace to this young warrior

Without the sound of guns

We can now rewrite history

In black ink

Which was once refrained from

Beginning its story

Histoire ! Histoire !

Annoncé !

Vive l’indépendance!

Vive le Congo !