The golden tooth of Patrice Lumumba, the iconic independence leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is safe and has not been stolen, his daughter confirmed to the BBC. This comes after widespread concerns following the vandalism of his mausoleum in Kinshasa on Monday night, which had led many to fear that the tooth, one of the last remnants of the country’s revered first prime minister, had been taken.
Juliana Lumumba, speaking out to ease national fears, explained that security concerns had prompted the family to move the tooth to a more secure location. The tooth had been returned to the family by Belgium in 2022 and placed in a special mausoleum dedicated to Lumumba, following years of lobbying for its return.
The news of the alleged theft had sparked outrage across DR Congo, as the golden tooth had become a powerful symbol of Lumumba’s enduring legacy as a pan-African hero and critic of colonialism. In the months following Congo’s independence from Belgium in 1960, Lumumba became a symbol of hope for many. However, his leadership was short-lived, as he was deposed and executed in 1961, with Belgium’s involvement in his death remaining a deeply controversial chapter in the nation’s history.
The tooth was taken by Belgian police officer Gerard Soete, who oversaw the destruction of Lumumba’s body, and kept as a grim memento until its return to DR Congo in 2022. The return of the tooth was a highly celebrated event in the country.
The vandalism of the mausoleum had many fearing the worst. Images circulating online showed a smashed glass door and a damaged coffin inside, prompting Culture Minister Yolande Elebe Mandembo to announce an investigation. However, Juliana Lumumba reassured the public on Wednesday, clarifying that the tooth was not in the mausoleum at the time of the break-in.
Still, she expressed her “anger and sadness” over the desecration of her father’s grave, emphasizing the disrespect to the cultural values of DR Congo, which honor the graves of the deceased. “Patrice Lumumba sacrificed himself for the sovereignty and independence of his country and the Congolese,” she said.
Local authorities have arrested four suspects in connection with the vandalism, though their identities have not been revealed. The Lumumba family, through the Lumumba Foundation, has long called for greater control over the management of the mausoleum, citing security concerns.
