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She married [[Patrice Lumumba]] on March 15, 1951, at the age of 14, was his third wife, bore him four children, Patrice, Juliana, Roland and Marie-Christine.<ref name="uncensoredopinion" /><ref name="face2faceafrica.com">Adedeji Ademola, [https://face2faceafrica.com/article/why-patrice-lumumbas-widow-marched-bare-breasted-across-leopoldville-in-1961 Why Patrice Lumumba's widow marched bare-breasted across Leopoldville in 1961], ''F2FA'', January 17, 2019</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Widow of Lumumba Marches In Mourning to Ask U.N. Help |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/02/15/archives/widow-of-lumumba-marches-in-mourning-to-ask-un-help.html |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1961 |id={{ProQuest|115354981}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Zeilig |first1=Leo |title=Lumumba: Africa's Lost Leader |date=2015 |publisher=Haus Publishing |isbn=978-1-908323-95-8 }}{{page needed|date=July 2020}}</ref> It was an at times difficult relationship, and the couple were separated by Patrice's imprisonment on more than one occasion. Pauline never remarried, reportedly because she was unable to "find someone else of the same quality".<ref name=":3" />
She married [[Patrice Lumumba]] on March 15, 1951, at the age of 14, was his third wife, bore him four children, Patrice, Juliana, Roland and Marie-Christine.<ref name="uncensoredopinion" /><ref name="face2faceafrica.com">Adedeji Ademola, [https://face2faceafrica.com/article/why-patrice-lumumbas-widow-marched-bare-breasted-across-leopoldville-in-1961 Why Patrice Lumumba's widow marched bare-breasted across Leopoldville in 1961], ''F2FA'', January 17, 2019</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Widow of Lumumba Marches In Mourning to Ask U.N. Help |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/02/15/archives/widow-of-lumumba-marches-in-mourning-to-ask-un-help.html |work=The New York Times |date=15 February 1961 |id={{ProQuest|115354981}} }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Zeilig |first1=Leo |title=Lumumba: Africa's Lost Leader |date=2015 |publisher=Haus Publishing |isbn=978-1-908323-95-8 }}{{page needed|date=July 2020}}</ref> It was an at times difficult relationship, and the couple were separated by Patrice's imprisonment on more than one occasion. Pauline never remarried, reportedly because she was unable to "find someone else of the same quality".<ref name=":3" />

== Personal Life ==
The relationship between [[Patrice Lumumba]] and Pauline was quite unconventional. Pauline Opango was Patrice's third wife, following Henriette Maletaua (1945-1947) and Hortense Sombosia (1947-1951), before marrying Pauline in 1951.<ref>{{Citation |last=Bouwer |first=Karen |title=Introduction: The Gender of Decolonization |date=2010 |work=Gender and Decolonization in the Congo |pages=1–11 |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1057/9780230110403_1 |access-date=2024-05-02 |place=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan US |language=en |doi=10.1057/9780230110403_1 |isbn=978-1-349-37925-5}}</ref> Together, they had three children - two boys and one girl. During their marriage, it was reported that Patrice frequently cheated and enjoyed the company of other women, which was not uncommon for men in the "[[Évolué|Evolue]]" sector.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lukhele |first=Francis Fanyana |title=Torturous paths, forboding futures: Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba and national destiny |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/928128734?%20Theses&accountid=12832&parentSessionId=wlq1xy5AQfLFYkthmfOgfSVB%2FQmcsYee7WuTynX3aEw%3D&sourcetype=Dissertations%20 |journal=The University of Wisconsin |pages=197 |via=ProQuest}}</ref> This caused conflict within the marriage, and some sources even claim that Patrice's infidelity led to Pauline returning to her parent's home. Another source of conflict in their relationship was Pauline's lack of education. According to some reports made by Francis Fanyana Lukhele, Patrice was ashamed of her background and education level, which may have contributed to his reluctance to be seen with her in public. Some sources claim that Patrice would have Pauline hide when guests came over. However, it's worth noting that all of Patrice's wives had limited educational backgrounds. The only woman he was involved with who had a higher education was Alphonsine Masuba, with whom he was in a relationship at the same time as Pauline.


==Patrice Lumumba==
==Patrice Lumumba==

Revision as of 19:32, 3 May 2024

Pauline Opango
Born(1937-01-01)January 1, 1937
Sankuru District,  Belgian Congo
DiedDecember 23, 2014(2014-12-23) (aged 77)
Kinshasa,  DR Congo
Resting placeNécropole de la Nsele, Kinshasa
OccupationActivist
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1951; died 1961)​
Children4

Pauline Opango Lumumba (January 1, 1937 – December 23, 2014), also known as Pauline Opangu, was a Congolese activist, and the wife of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was born in Wembonyama, Sankuru, Belgian Congo.[1][2]

Background

The Congo was subjected to the rule of Belgian colonialism for many years, after being under the leadership of King Leopold II for over a decade. by the implementation of genocidal policies that caused significant harm to the region. In 1908, King Leopold II relinquished control of the territory, and the Belgian state assumed responsibility, renaming it Belgian Congo. Belgium continued to occupy the region for several more decades, during which time they exploited the natural resources and enforced a capitalist system through policies that often had an adverse impact on the local population. During this period, civil unrest, resistance movements, and anti-colonial movements were prevalent. Mine workers and indigenous populations protested for their rights and equity in the legal system, but were met with extreme brutality.[3] As a result of years of oppressive rule, political groups emerged advocating for independence, with major groups like the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC) seeing the most success. Patrice Lumumba was a key leader of this group, and together with his wife Pauline Lumumba, they successfully mobilized various sectors of the Congolese population. After many years of struggle, Congo finally gained its independence in 1960, and Patrice Lumumba was elected as the prime minister of the newly-freed state.

Early Life

Born in the Belgian Congo in 1937, Pauline Lumumba was a Congolese activist for independence and women's rights. During the Congo's struggle for independence, she made significant contributions to the political landscape and strongly advocated for women's rights. Even after gaining independence, she continued to champion this cause. Pauline's leadership among women in politics was remarkable as she fearlessly challenged Evolues views on Congolese relationships.

Marriage

She married Patrice Lumumba on March 15, 1951, at the age of 14, was his third wife, bore him four children, Patrice, Juliana, Roland and Marie-Christine.[1][4][5][6] It was an at times difficult relationship, and the couple were separated by Patrice's imprisonment on more than one occasion. Pauline never remarried, reportedly because she was unable to "find someone else of the same quality".[2]

Personal Life

The relationship between Patrice Lumumba and Pauline was quite unconventional. Pauline Opango was Patrice's third wife, following Henriette Maletaua (1945-1947) and Hortense Sombosia (1947-1951), before marrying Pauline in 1951.[7] Together, they had three children - two boys and one girl. During their marriage, it was reported that Patrice frequently cheated and enjoyed the company of other women, which was not uncommon for men in the "Evolue" sector.[8] This caused conflict within the marriage, and some sources even claim that Patrice's infidelity led to Pauline returning to her parent's home. Another source of conflict in their relationship was Pauline's lack of education. According to some reports made by Francis Fanyana Lukhele, Patrice was ashamed of her background and education level, which may have contributed to his reluctance to be seen with her in public. Some sources claim that Patrice would have Pauline hide when guests came over. However, it's worth noting that all of Patrice's wives had limited educational backgrounds. The only woman he was involved with who had a higher education was Alphonsine Masuba, with whom he was in a relationship at the same time as Pauline.

Patrice Lumumba

Patrice Lumumba is one of the iconic figures in the decolonisation of Africa. Much of the Congo Basin was a colony of Belgium, from 1885 as a virtual private fiefdom of Leopold II, until its annexation by the Belgian state in 1908.

Patrice Lumumba helped to found the Mouvement National Congolais and was elected the first Prime Minister of the independent Republic of Congo in 1960. Within a year of his election, Patrice Lumumba was shot by firing squad[4] after his government was overthrown in a coup d'état. A 23-year-old Pauline Lumumba watched as her husband was arrested, beaten, and taken away by his murderers.[1]

Activism

Lumumba seemed to believe he would be killed, and wrote to Pauline encouraging her to carry on his work after his death.[9] The letter was never sent to her; it was recovered by journalists and Pauline learned about it in news reports.[10]

On February 14, 1961, Pauline marched through the African neighbourhoods of the city bare-breasted, accompanied by nearly 100 of her late husband's followers, to the United Nations Headquarters. The women's bare-breasted protest (men walked behind with bowed heads) was to protest Patrice Lumumba's death.[11][12] At the UN HQ Pauline, with Albert Lumumba, Joseph Lutula, and Pauline's young son, whom she carried in her arms, met with Rajeshwar Dayal, a UN representative.[11] As a result of the meeting, the UN agreed to help find her late husband's body, which Pauline wanted to give a Christian burial to in the capital, Léopoldville.[5][1] Moise Tshombe ultimately refused to return the remains.[13]

Aftermath

Threatened by her late husband's enemies, Pauline and her children sought safety at a UN camp in Leopoldville. She later moved to Egypt with guarantees of protection under President Gamal Nasser.[10] From Egypt she traveled to Belgium and France before returning to Congo after the government recognized Patrice Lumumba as a national hero.[4]

Pauline Opango Lumumba lived the rest of her years in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

On December 23, 2014, at the age of 77, Pauline died while sleeping in her home in Kinshasa, Congo.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Pinky Khoabane (2018-09-28). "Women Forgotten In The Shadow Of History: Pauline Lumumba". Uncensored Opinion. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
  2. ^ a b "A Tribute to Pauline Opango Lumumba". www.theburningspear.com.
  3. ^ Harms, Robert Wayne (2018). Africa in global history: with sources (1st ed ed.). New York (N. Y.): W.W. Norton and Company. ISBN 978-0-393-92757-3. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
  4. ^ a b c Adedeji Ademola, Why Patrice Lumumba's widow marched bare-breasted across Leopoldville in 1961, F2FA, January 17, 2019
  5. ^ a b "Widow of Lumumba Marches In Mourning to Ask U.N. Help". The New York Times. 15 February 1961. ProQuest 115354981.
  6. ^ Zeilig, Leo (2015). Lumumba: Africa's Lost Leader. Haus Publishing. ISBN 978-1-908323-95-8.[page needed]
  7. ^ Bouwer, Karen (2010), "Introduction: The Gender of Decolonization", Gender and Decolonization in the Congo, New York: Palgrave Macmillan US, pp. 1–11, doi:10.1057/9780230110403_1, ISBN 978-1-349-37925-5, retrieved 2024-05-02
  8. ^ Lukhele, Francis Fanyana. "Torturous paths, forboding futures: Nelson Mandela, Patrice Lumumba and national destiny". The University of Wisconsin: 197 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ "Letter from Thysville Prison to Mrs. Lumumba by Patrice Lumumba". www.marxists.org. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
  10. ^ a b Williams 2021, p. 393.
  11. ^ a b "'The Poacher's Widow'". The Musical Times. 64 (963): 348. 1 May 1923. doi:10.2307/911189. JSTOR 911189.
  12. ^ Landon, H. C. Robbins (November 1961). "Haydn's Marches". The Musical Times. 102 (1425): 712. doi:10.2307/949182. JSTOR 949182.
  13. ^ Williams 2021, p. 392.

Works cited

  • Williams, Susan (2021). White Malice : The CIA and the Covert Recolonization of Africa. New York: PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-5417-6829-1.
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