Patrice Lumumba (1925-61) is perhaps the most famous leader of the African independence movement. After his execution in 1961, when he had been prime minister of the newly-liberated Congo for only seven months, he became an icon of anti-imperialist struggle. As the news came out, his picture was brandished in demonstrations in capitals around the world, along with Che Guevara and Mao Zedong. His life and the independence that he sought for the Congo made him a pivotal figure of the 20th century, highlighting ongoing Western colonialism and the problematic nature of the independence granted to huge swathes of the globe after 1945. In this book, revised and updated to include new thinking on the Congo crisis and incorporating material recently released from British intelligence archives, Leo Zeilig tells the story of the Congo in the dying days of colonialism, and of Lumumba's transition from nationalist to revolutionary to international symbol of African liberation.

About the Author
Leo Zeilig is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and is the author of African Struggles Today: Social Movements Since Independence (2012).


Book Information
ISBN 9781908323941
Author Leo Zeilig
Format Paperback
Page Count 198
Imprint Haus Publishing
Publisher Haus Publishing
Weight(grams) 680g
Dimensions(mm) 25mm * 15mm * 2mm