Lumumba's death and legacy

Even after his imprisonment, Lumumba's reputation and the strength of his followers remained a threat to the unstable new rulers of the Congo. This was demonstrated when Lumumba nearly managed the incredible feat of persuading his military jailers to help him retake power. This incident only strengthened the conviction of authorities in the capital to get rid of Lumumba. They formed a plan to transfer him to either one of the secessionist states of Southern Kasai or Katanga (where he was sure to be executed) as a possible way of reconciling with these two breakaway regions. On January 18, 1961, Lumumba was flown to Elisabethville, the capital of Katanga. There, despite the presence of UN troops, he was picked up by a small group led by Katanga's interior minister and included white mercenaries (professional soldiers hired by a foreign army). He was taken to a nearby house and murdered.

The Katanga government made clumsy attempts to cover up the murder, but the shock waves caused by the killing traveled around the world. They created enough international pressure to cause the UN Security Council to permit the use of force as a last resort by UN forces in the Congo. This decision caused events that led to the restoration of a civilian government in Léopoldville and to the eventual end of all movements by regions to secede from the Congo. In addition, Lumumba's tragic murder caused him to be hailed as a hero and symbol for various causes after his death. However, he is best remembered as a passionate believer in the power of African nations to shape their own destinies and free themselves from colonial influence.

What led to the Rwanda genocide?

Under colonial rule,tensions had long simmered between ethnic Hutus, predominantly farmers, and Tutsis, who raised cattle.Hutus were in the majority, though Tutsis generally commanded greater wealth and social position.

A Hutu uprising in 1959 resulted in a civil war that ended Tutsi domination.
In 1962, when Rwanda gained independence from Belgium, 120,000 Rwandans — mostly Tutsis — fled the country. Hutu leaders gained control of Rwanda.
Starting in the late 1980s, Rwanda exile groups made political and military moves to repatriate.
Peacemaking attempts in 1993 by the United Nations and regional African governments were unsuccessful.
On April 6, 1994, Rwanda President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundi President Cyprien Ntaryamira, both Hutus, were killed in a rocket attack on their airplane, while returning from peace negotiations.
A 100-day spree of brutal violence immediately ensued, perpetrated mainly by Hutus against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Beadnet dress Egyptian Old Kingdom

Beadnet dress Egyptian Old Kingdom,Dynasty 4,reign of Khufu2551–2528 B.C.Findspot: Egypt, Giza, Tomb G 7440 Z.
Depictions of women in Egyptian art occasionally feature garments decorated with an overall lozenge pattern. This design is believed to represent beadwork, which was either sewn onto a linen dress or worked into a separate net worn over the linen. This beadnet dress is the earliest surviving example of such a garment. It has been painstakingly reassembled from approximately seven thousand beads found in an undisturbed burial of a female contemporary of King Khufu. Although their string had disintegrated, a few beads still lay in their original pattern on and around the mummy, permitting an accurate reconstruction. The color of the beads has faded, but the beadnet was originally blue and blue green in imitation of lapis lazuli and turquoise.
Provenance
From Giza, tomb G 7440 Z. 1927: excavated by the Harvard University-Museum of Fine Arts Expedition; 1927: assigned to the MFA by the government of Egypt. (Accession Date: May 27, 1987)
Source:Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition

ZAIRE NOW DEMOCRATIC REPULIC OF CONGO

Zaïre 74 was a three day live music festival that took place on September 22 to 24, 1974 at the 20th of May Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaïre (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). The concert, conceived by South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and record producer Stewart Levine, was meant to be a major promotional event for the heavyweight boxing championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, known as The Rumble in the Jungle. When an injury forced Foreman to postpone the fight by six weeks, the festival’s intended audience of international tourists was all but eliminated and Levine had to decide whether or not to cancel the event. The decision was made to move forward, and 80,000 people attended.
In addition to promoting the Ali-Foreman fight, the Zaire 74 event was intended to present and promote racial and cultural solidarity between African American, Afro-Latinx and African people. Thirty one performing groups, 17 from Zaire and 14 from overseas, performed. Featured performers included top R&B and soul artists from the United States such as James Brown, Bill Withers, B.B. King, and The Spinners as well as prominent African performers such as Miriam Makeba, TPOK Jazz, and Tabu Ley Rochereau. Other performers included Celia Cruz and the Fania All-Stars. source
A documentary about the Zaire 74 festival, entitled Soul Power, was released in 2009. The film was directed by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, who served as the editor on the 1996 documentary When We Were Kings. 
Source:Vintage Congo

Efé people

The Efé are part of the indigenous people of D.R. Congo and Central/East/Southern Africa (they have lived in the region before the Bantu, Sudanic and Nilotic ethnic group migrated there, forced their cultures onto them, displaced and in some cases enslaved them) they live in the Ituri Rainforest of D.R.Congo. The Efé are considered by mitochondrial DNA haplotype analysis to be one of the oldest races on earth
The indigenous people also include the Baka who live in the North, the Mbuti/Bambuti and that refers to refer to the Sua, Efé and Asua ethnic groups as a collective who lives mostly in the Ituri Forest. Then you have the Twa which includes the Mongo Twa, Kasai Twa and Great Lakes Twa. The Kasai Twa are also part of the Bakuba/Kuba people (the Kuba conglomeration). They are labelled as P*gmies and different indigenous ethnic groups also live in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia and face ethnic/institutional discrimination in the countries/regions they’re indigenous to.
Source: Vintage Congo

Discography of Oliver de Coque (Oliver Sunday Akanite) (1947 - June 20, 2008)

King Chief Oliver de Coque died on June 20, 2008 in a hospital in Gbagada, Lagos, after struck by heart failure.
Together with Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe and the various Orientals off-shoots, Oliver De Coque (b. Oliver Sunday Akanite) can be considered one of the prime exemplars of and chief innovators in contemporary Igbo popular music. Of these musicians, he has done the most to integrate contemporary highlife and traditional Igbo music. Indeed, his trademark "system" or "style" takes its name from the Ogene, a double-headed bell used in traditional Igbo music. One of Africa's greatest guitarists, he has been much inspired by Congolese soukous, and this is shown to good form in such releases as 1985's "Nne Bu Oyoyo / Ezigbo Nna." "Omumu Onye Nzoputa (Jesu Kristi) / Olu Ebube Nke Onye Nweayi" from 1983 shares a guitar line with the tune "Nanu Lubutu" by Congolese group Minzoto Wella-Wella.

UKWA AS MY FAVOURITE IGBO DELICACY

Rotten ukwa fruit being processed (extraction of ukwa seeds).

One of my favourite Igbo delicacy is Ukwa(Treculia Africana )which is the seed of the African Breadfruit. It is unique in it's own way and the taste is "Awesome". I could perceive the aroma of Ukwa 15 buildings away from my home(LOL). Its aroma travels far and faster than the speed of light. And once it is perceived, your whole body system will ensure you don't rest until you eat it (lol). It is highly priced in the market due to its nutritious and tasty values. In this part of Nigeria where I reside, a cup of ukwa goes for #400 or #500 (chei!)depending on the size of the seed(lol. Ndị mmadụ). You can get it at a cheaper rate in Igbo land. Ukwa is a seasonal fruit.

Jollof/porridge ukwa and plain ukwa

Aki na Ukwa

To extract the seeds from the fruit, the fruits are allowed to ripen and fall from the large trees in which they grow on. The fruits are then allowed to rot, and machetes are used to crack open the fruit or sometimes the fruit is even thrown on large rocks. The extracted ukwa seed which is very messy is then placed in a basket (most times), washed thoroughly and allowed to dry well (under the sun). 

There is a long lengthy process before the seeds that are eaten are fully extracted. The seeds are typically roasted and eaten with coconut or palm kernel (aki na ukwa) or can be boiled to soften them making a sort of porridge or jollof (ukwa a gwọrọ agwọ). Aki na ukwa has been described as the smallest balanced food combo in Nigeria as it is believed that Ukwa contains all food nutrients except one (vitamins) which is found in coconut, hence a perfect complimentary combination.

Different segments of the roads in Nigeria is dotted with energetic Aki & Ukwa hawkers- young Igbo girls and boys proudly calling out to motorists to buy the packaged food. "Gonu ukwa. Ukwa fifty naira gị ébé a! Aki, twenty twenty naira!". One cannot resist the sight of Aki na ukwa. It's a big temptation especially when all you have on you is your transport fare back home (ije uwa).

Extracted ukwa seeds

Ukwa fruit

Ukwa is such a versatile food with a natural delicious flavour. It can be cooked plain without any ingredient, not even salt and it will taste great especially when prepared with fresh seeds. Ukwa could be cooked with potash and just eaten like that or it could also be separated from the water for just the seeds to be mashed with some ingredients and thereafter served with the extract (mmiri ukwa). Ukwa has several health benefits such as Low saturated fat, No cholesterol, Very low in sodium, No sugar, High in dietary Fibre, High in niacin, High in potassium, High in thiam and many other benefits. It has essential oils and it is a very good source of protein and a good part of diabetic and vegetarian diet.

Ukwa is indeed a natural blessing to the Igbo people. How do you like your ukwa prepared? As for me, I don't have a favourite method. I eat both roasted and boiled Ukwa.

Source:Mbanese Mirrors

Mbanese Mirrors is a group designed for the progress of MBANESE(Akwaihedi,Ebenator,Ezinifite,Osumenyiand Utuh)where the projects,vision,ideology,activities of the Council,State,Region and other political cum social affairs as it concern MBANESE,is constructively discussed. Where its people find time to educate the good people of MBANESE on key political and social matters with informative reports.it has a sole purpose of PUBLICIZING, INTERACTING as well as doing JUSTICE to the SUSTENANCE of MBANESE.