1 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 ISSN: 1570-0178 Volume 2, Issue 6 (8 October 1999) The history of Zaire as told and painted by Tshibumba Kanda Matulu in conversation with Johannes Fabian Introduction First Session, Part 1 First Session, Part 2 Second Session, Part 1 Second Session, Part 2 Third Session, Part 1
2 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 Third Session, Part 2 Fourth Session Third Session, Part 1 TSHIBUMBA, HISTOIRE DU ZAIRE Third Session of November 12, 1974 Narrative 3 1. F: kumbe leo tuko mu: le douze novembre: na wee uta: maliza série yako: ya histoire du Zaire/ njo sawa ni kipande ya tatu/ T: kipande ingine/ F: na tuli: T: eeh/ F: simama: ile siku tuli: mu soixante deux: ma: femmes Katangaises/ T: femmes Katangaises/ 2. T: ni kweli wakati ile femmes Katangaises [rummages]: [Painting 64: The Kasavubu-Lumumba Conflict] nazania: ku Kinshasa vilevile: Lumumba alikuwa nae: naexister sawa premier ministre/ T: bon/ balikuwa na Kasavubu: alikuwa président/ sawa vile alikuwa président: kulikuwa fujo: ya bakubwa: kati yabo/ c'est que ni bakubwa na bakubwa iko secrets yabo atuwezi naijua/ nazania: kulikuwa ku kiwanza ya: ya sasa ni le: ni stade ya vingt mai: zamani ilikuwa Baudoin premier: Lumumba na Kasavubu balienda kule: Kasavubu alikuwa na nia ya kusema mbele ya batu/ mbele ya bapeuple tuseme mu Français/ bon/ ku: kuf: ku nkundi ile: Kasavubu: alionyesha kishilani yake mbele ya bapeuple: na Lumbumba/ alisema [rummages]: aliweza: kusema kama TSHIBUMBA, HISTOIRE DU ZAIRE Third Session of November 12, 1974 Narrative 3 1. F: So, today we are November 12th and you will complete your series of the history of Zaire. It is now the third chapter. T: Another chapter. F: And we stopped... T:...yes... F:... the other day with number sixty two 1, the Katangese women. T: The Katangese women. 2. T: Yes, at the time of the Katangese women [rummages, picks up Painting 64: The Kasavubu-Lumumba Conflict] Lumumba was prime minister in Kinshasa. T: Alright. They had Kasavubu as president. Because he was president there was conflict among the leaders. That's how it is with the leaders, and they have their secrets that we cannot know. I think it was in what is now called the May 20th Stadium, it used to be Baudouin I Stadium. Lumumba and Kasavubu went there and Kasavubu had the intention to speak before the people. 2 Alright. In this gathering Kasavabu showed his resentment against Lumumba before the people. He said [rummages] that, from this day on, Lumumba is no longer Prime Minister. After he had said that Lumumba is no longer
3 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 Lumumba kuanzia leo: ana premier ministre/ kisha kusema kwake kama Lumumba ana premier ministre: Lumumba aliondoka ndani ya kiwanza: na bisilani [sic]: nayee alienda ku radio vilevile/ nayee aliweza kusema: misemo yake/ nazania kila le trente juin: kama unafwata radio ya Kinshasa: inasemaka ile mambo Lumumba alisemaka/ kama: Kasavubu c'est un: c'est un homme de paille/ kama balikosana namna gani: vile alisema yee mwenyewe: bon: nazania: aliweza ku: baliweza kutuma muhimbe 1 kama bamufunge/ 3. sawa alikuwa kwake: Lumumba aliondokaka ile siku: anakimbia [Painting 65: Lumumba Is Arrested at Lodja]: na Peugeot quatre cent et trois: noire/ cou: couleur mweusi/ alikimbia: kutambuka: kutoka Kinshasa: mpaka: Kasai/ mu Lodja/ na: alifungwa ile shiku/ balimubambaka/ na kisha kumubamba: balimurudisha: mpaka: kumubamba kwake kwenewe balimubamba: alikuwa na mutoto yake/ tuseme/ kisha kubambiwa na mutoto yake: na bantu bengine balikuwa ndani nawazia: naweza kufahamu kama Nendaka: Victor Nendaka: jina yake ya zamani: na batu bengine: aliweza ku: baweze kumufunga nkamba: na kumurudisha mu Kinshasa/ 4. mu Kinshasa: ni tableau ingine: [Painting 66: Lumumba is Brought before the People] unaona naye [reading from painting] Lumumba devant le peuple au stade Baudoin premier: à Léopoldville/ ni kule: batu balikuya mingi sana/ na mambo ilipita kule: ni paka ya bakubwa: sawa vile nilikuelezea kama ni histoire: nitaweza kufwata juu ya histoire/ T: bon/ balimuonyesha mbele ya batu bote/ na balisema kama ni muntu mubaya: tutamufunga: tutamutuma: ku: Bulambemba/ Bulambemba nazania unafahamu: ni buloko: moya iko mu Zaire/ iko kati: maji inapita: bloko katikati/ F: eyo/ Prime Minister, Lumumba left the Stadium in anger and went on the radio. He, too, said what he had to say. I think, if you follow Radio Kinshasa, every June 30th Lumumba's speech re-broadcast: That Kasavubu is a straw man. Whatever went wrong between them, he himself spoke out. Alright. I think it was immediately afterward that an order for his arrest was issued. 3. Lumumba, who was at home at the time, left the same day and fled in a black Peugeot 403 [Painting 65: Lumumba Is Arrested at Lodja]. 3 He fled from Kinshasa to the Kasai, to Lodja. And he was locked up on that day, they arrested him. After his arrestation -- [by the way] when they arrested him he had his child with him -- so, he was arrested together with his child and I think there were others involved. I know there was Nendaka, Nendaka Victor, that was his former name. And there were other persons who tied him up and brought him back to Kinshasa. 4. In Kinshasa, this is now another painting on which you see [reading from Painting 66: Lumumba is Brought before the People] "Lumumba before the people in Baudouin I Stadium at Léopoldville." There was a huge crowd and what happened there -- those are things that regard the big shots, as I explained to you. [But] if it is history I shall be able to pursue it for the sake of history. T: At any rate, they displayed him in front of all the people and said: "This is a bad man, we are going to lock him up and send him to Bulambemba. Bulambemba, I think you know, is a prison in the Zaire [river]. The water flows by and
4 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 5. T: aah/ kisha kusema batamutuma kule: balimuingisha ndani ya avion: na ilikuwa mastajabu kwa kuona avion: aikuweza kufwata njia ya Bulambemba: ili: ou bien Kisangani: baliweza kumufunga kule: mais: ilifwata njia ya: Katanga/ wakati ile/ na kisha kuf: kufika Katanga: penyee pale ilikuwa mwenye kupikwa: balianzia kumupika: kumufunga nkamba: kumuteswa na vile alifika mu: Shaba/ njo tableau calvaire d'afrique/ [Paiting 67: African Calvary] T: na ni ile mi sawa niko artiste: minaitaka hii tableau kama: eeh: naita: niko na jina yake naitaka kama: tableau: ah quoi [tries to remember] ts: tableau historique: nasahabu jina: unaniexcuser/ F: mm T: bon: pale bo banamufunga nkamba: na kumu: peleka mu Lubumbashi/ ni ku Luano/ ni ku Luano: sawa unaona pa avion Sabena: njo ilimuleta: na balimushusha kule: ni bagendarmes Katangais balimufunga: balitelemuka naye: polepole: kama unafika karibu sawa minaisha kufika na mi ku ile nyumba inyewe: naisha kufika na ku ile nyumba/ F: mais: nazani tulikuwa tena: na tableau moya karibu: Lumumba karibu na ile nyumba/ [searching] T: bon/ pardon: ile tableau ni misemo ya: mukubwa: alisema kama: kuanzia leo: Lumumba ni héros national/ F: ah bon/ itafika tena/ T: itafika ku fasi yake sawa vile yee alisemaka/ 6. bon: sawa vile balimufunga nkamba: pa tableau calvaire d'afrique: balikwenda naye ku ile nyumba: iko karibu na Luano/ ile nyumba ilikuwa ya colon moya ya wabelges: aliuzisha eh: nani: gouvernement the prison is in the middle. F: I see. 5. T: Yes. After they had said they were going to send him there, they made him get on an airplane. By chance, the plane could not follow the route to Bulambemba or Kisangani were they could have locked him up. Rather it took the route to Katanga. On arriving in Katanga he was beaten right there, they beat him, tied him with a rope and made him suffer. That is how he arrived in Shaba. This is the painting [called] Africa's Calvary [Paiting 67: African Calvary]. T: As I am an artist, I call this painting, eh, I call it by a name, picture -- ah, what was it again? -- something like historical picture. I forgot the name, you'll excuse me. T: At any rate, they tied him up with a rope and brought him to Lubumbashi, to Luano [airport]. It was at Luano. As you can see, it was a Sabena plane that brought him. They made him step down and the Katanga Gendarmes kept him prisoner and escorted him off, slowly. [You can see for yourself] when you get close to the very house, as I did. I have been to this house. F: But, I thought we had another painting where Lumumba is standing near that house [searching for picture]. T: Alright. Excuse me, that picture is about a pronouncement of the Leader who said: "From this day on Lumumba is a national hero." F: Ah, well, it is still to come. T: It will come in its place [where it illustrates] what [Mobutu] said. 4 6. Alright. So tied him up with a rope, [as shown] in the picture "Africa's Calvary," and went with him to this house which is near Luano [airport]. That house belonged to a Belgian settler who
5 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 ya Katanga wakati ile/ bon/ balienda naye kule: mambo ilipita kule: ni mambo ya bakubwa tuseme/ alafu alipikwa mingi sana na zaidi/ na kisha kupikwa mingi: alikuwa: akukuye yee moja peke: alikuwa na batu mbili/ bale batu: jina yake: jina yabo: ilikuya: Mpolo: na Okito/ T: bon ni kiisha: balibapika mingi: na: tulisikia kama balimuua/ balimuuaka/ Lumumba na Mpolo na Okito/ [Painting 68: Deaths of Lumumba, Mpolo, and Okito] alafu ata banasema kama balimuuaka: hakuna muntu moja anafahamu kweli kama: Lumumba alikufa/ alikufwaka/ iko: na sasa bubishi ku bantu/ T: bengine balisema: alikufa: bengine asema wala wanamufuchika [sic]: atujue tu/ T: hatujue: hakuna muntu moja aliisha kusema mambo ya kweli/ alafu kwa kweli: alikufa/ njo pa tableau inakuonyesha kama le dix sept janvier: dix neuf cent soixante et un Bob Denard a tué Lumumba: Mpolo: et Okito/ F: Okito/ mm/ T: c'est que: Bob Denard/ kwa kufwata mi ile tableau nitaweza kuexpliquer: sababu na mi nalisomaka kitabu ya auteur moya Français/ bon: ule auteur Français alifwata vie ya Lumumba: na mufano Lumumba alikufaka/ yeye alisema: mufano balienda naye ku nyumba kule: mufano balimupika kule ku nyumba: na palikuwa madame moya: alikuwa wa Croix Rouge: mais namusahabu puisque wakati nilikuwa Croix Rouge: alikuya: présidente wetu: T: ku Likasi/ minamufahamu muzuri huyu madame/ et puis: balisema kama nayee alikuyaka pa ile wakati waliua Lumumba/ ni kweli ile journal imetokeaka wakati niko Kambove: T: nalisoma ile journal/ [looks for something, aside] oui/ nalisoma ile journal/ ilisemaka ile journal ile wakati ilikuwa mu had by then sold it to the government of Katanga. Alright. That is where they went with him and what happened there -- let's just say it is something that regards the big shots. At any rate, he was brutally beaten and he was not alone. Two persons were with him, their names were Mpolo and Okito. T: Alright. So they beat him up and we heard that they killed him. Lumumba, together with Mpolo and Okito [Painting 68: Deaths of Lumumba, Mpolo, and Okito]. However, even though they say that they killed him, there is not a single person who knows for certain that Lumumba died, that he really died. Even now this a matter of dispute among the people. T: Some said he died, others that they hid him -- we just don't know. T: We don't know. There is not a single person who spoke the truth. But the truth is, he died. That is what the picture shows to you [reading from painting]: "On January 17, 1961, Bob Denard killed Lumumba, Mpolo, and Okito." F: Okito, mm-hmm. T: About Bob Denard -- beyond this picture, I could explain [more], because I read a book by a French author. Alright, this French author followed the life of Lumumba and the way Lumumba died. He said, for instance, that they went with him to that house there, [and he told] how they beat him at the house, and there was a white lady present. She was of the Red Cross. But I forgot [her name], although at the time I was a member of the Red Cross, and she was our president. T: In Likasi. I knew this lady well. So they said, that she also was there when they killed Lumumba. Actually, this was a newspaper report that came out when I was in Kambove.
6 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 soixante cinq? soixante cinq/ soixante six/ ilis: ilikuwa Essor du Katanga/ ilisemaka kama Lumumba: eh: ilisemaka mu: Tshombe et Munongo ont tué Lumumba/ T: bon: bali ab: balimuua: ku njia ya: Bob Denard: njo alimutwangaka: lame moya ilikuwa kama na neuf milimètres vile njo ilimuuaka/ nalisikiaka mi: nalisomaka ile journal/ F: lame/ T: lame: c'est à dire: kisu moja vile eh? kitu moya ya makali/ et puis kisha kufa kwake: mwili yake: atujue fasi iko/ masoupçons benginge banasema kama balituma: balitupa mu: acide: kama iko: sufulcirique ou bien? T: oui/ acide moja kama unatupa mwili ya mutu ao kitu yote: inabakia paka maji: bunga: kunaisha/ njo bengine balisema/ ni kweli unaona minafanya: nani: misalaba tatu pale: maana ile tableau: nasema kama: Lumumba alik: [interrupts himself] mimi kwangu: mimi: artiste Tshibumba: minaona kama Lumumba: alikuwa sawa Bwana Yezu: ya Zaire/ T: eeh/ bon: yulu minafanya six étoiles: c'est que alikufia unité/ na nazania: kama unaona: damu: damu ile inatoka: ni kusema inasambalala: inaandika pale chini: unité/ njo kusema alikufiaka umoja ya: Zaire/ akupenda batu bakabulane: non/ alipenda muntu abakie paka pa muntu/ sawa mawazo iko nayee mukubwa leo/ bon: nazani tuko na mwisho ya hii bande: nitaweza kugeuza bande: tuendele na...?.../ njo mwisho ya: T: ya lufu ya: F: ya lufu: ya Lumumba/ mm/ T: I read that newspaper [looks for something: aside:] Yes. I read that newspaper. That paper appeared in sixty-five, sixty-five or sixty-six. It was the Essor du Katanga. It said that Lumumba, or rather that Tshombe and Munongo killed Lumumba. T: Alright. They killed him on the road; Bob Denard stabbed him with a blade that was something like nine millimeters [wide], that's how he killed him. I heard about that, I read about it [in] a newspaper. F: Blade? 5 T: A blade, that is to say, like a knife, right? Something sharp. So he died, but we don't know the place where his body lies. There are suspicions. Some say that they threw it into sulfuric acid, or what do you call it? T: Yes, if you put a human body or whatever in it, this acid leaves only a liquid and some solid residue, and that's it. That is what some people said. In fact, you see that I painted three crosses there. I am saying that Lumumba -- I, [speaking] for myself, the artist Tshibumba -- in my view, Lumumba was like the Lord Jesus of Zaire. T: Yes. Alright. Above I painted six stars, because he died for unity. And I think that you see the blood that is flowing, that is to say, it spreads and writes there on the ground: Unity. What it means is he died for the unity of Zaire. He did not want people to separate. What he wanted was that people should stay together 6, an idea also held by the leader today. I think we are at the end of this tape. I can change it and we'll go with...?... You got to the end [of the story] T: Of the death. F: Of the death of Lumumba. Mm-hmm.
7 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 7. T: ni kweli sawa kisha lufu ya Lumumba: pa tableau tunasema le dix sept janvier dix neuf cent soixante et un: Bob Denard a tué Lumumba: Mpolo: et Okito: ile wakati kisha kufa kwa Lumumba: fujo ilikuwa tu mu Zaire: mingi na zaidi/ sawa vile: tunaona hapa mu Katanga/[Painting 69: The Deaths of the Innocent Children] Lumumba: tuseme kisha kufwa kwa Lumumba Kinshasa: alikombolewa na Cyril Adou: ah non: alikombolewa na Joseph Ileo/ wakati ile/ kisha Joseph Ileo kumukombola: ni tableau vile vile: nitaweza ku: kuletea: bon: alikombolewa: nazania: ilikuya vita mu Shaba/ vita ilipikana zaidi/ aikukuwa na mwisho na mwanzo/ kisha Joseph Ileo alitoshwa/ baliweka Cyril/ Adoula/ [rummaging] T: non: pardon: ni kusema tu: F:...?... T: kisha Cyril Adoula: eh: kisha Cyril Adoula: vita ilizidi tu kuendelea/ nazani Cyril Adoula: pale l'onu anaisha kufika sawa vile uko na tableau moya: inaandika kama: l'appel a l'onu/ déjà l'onu iko mu: mu Congo/ bon: ni vile: l'onu alikombana mara ya kwanza vita na Katanga/ ilikuwa [reading form painting] la le: la sécession Katangaise: la mort des innocents/ la mort des innocents ni kusema: wakati ile vita ilipikana: bale bamama balianza kutoka mu commune eh: mu commune Kenya wakati ile: sasa ni zone: nazania: balianza ku: kufika pa: Lubumbashi: pa mutoni Lubumbashi/ humu Lubumbashi: balianza kutupa: batoto/ ule eko na mutoto: kama anashikia buzhito mingi: na mutoto iko napenda kulia: asema atanivumbula: anakamata: anatupa mu mayi mule/ njo unaona batoto bale balikufwa: naandika kama la mort des innocents/ puisque bo abakujue neno: baliweza kufwa tu/ 7. T: The fact is, 7 following Lumumba's death -- on the painting we said [reading again from painting] "On January 17, 1961, Bob Denard killed Lumumba, Mpolo, and Okito" -- following Lumumba's death there was a time of much fighting in Zaire, as we can see here in Katanga [Painting 69: The Deaths of the Innocent Children]. In Kinshasa, after Lumumba had died he was replaced by Cyril Adoula --no, he was replaced by Joseph Ileo. So Joseph Ileo replaced him -- that is also a picture I could bring you -- anyway, he was replaced and I think there was war in Shaba. A ferocious, senseless war was fought. Then Joseph Ileo was removed and Cyril Adoula put in [his] place. [Rummaging] T: No, sorry, this I'm just telling. 8 F:...?... T: After Cyril Adoula, the war continued even more ferociously. By the time Cyril Adoula [was in power] the UN had arrived. You have a picture inscribed as "Appeal to the UN." The UN was already in the Congo. Alright. So the UN first went to war with Katanga. That was [reading from painting] "The Katangese Secession. The Death of the Innocent [Children]." This is what "The Death of the Innocent Children" means: When this war was fought, mothers began to leave Kenya township -- now it is called "Zone [Kenya]" -- and they got to the Lubumbashi, the river Lubumbashi. Here at the Lubumbashi they began to throw their children [into the river]. What happened was that if a woman found that her child was getting to heavy and kept whining she told herself: "It is going to give me away." So she just took it and threw it into the water there. What you see [on the picture] is how those children died and I inscribed it "Death of the Innocent Children." Because they did not know what all this
8 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 8. ni kweli wakati ile: makabila ni mingi mu: mu Shaba/ kulikuwa kabila ingine ya ku Nord Katanga: ile banaita asema Balubakat/ bale nabo abakuye d'accord: na: gouvernement ya Katanga/ balikatala sana na zaidi/ nazania bale: bali: bali: weka drapeau ya six étoiles mu Likasi ile wakati/ [Painting 70: Katanga Soldiers Shooting People in Jadotville] balisema kama shee tunatafuta paka: mambo ya Lumumba/ ata anaisha kufwa: tunapenda paka ile mambo tu/ ni ile shiku: bagendarmes Katangais: bapoliciers Katangais: baliweza kwenda kubaua: mingi: na zaidi/ ilipatikanapo na Miketo Pierre: alikuya inspecteur de la police mu Likasi mule nayee vilevile/ njo alikuwa na: diriger bapoliciers na bagendarmes/ na kuuana kule/ 9. bon/ vita ilizidi kuendelea/ mvita ya pili: Katanga: alifanya kitu kya mastajabu kwa lakini/ ile kitu ilifanyikwa: mu Comekat/ ya Likasi/ ile: atélier ya: pilerie/ baliyenga: chuma moya munene/ mule ndani baliweka: eh muchanga/ kisha uku chuma: uku chuma/ banaweka muchanga kule: banaweka banaweka banafunga ile chuma/ wala unapika masasi: wala unapika nini: aiwezi inaingie/ ile chuma baliita: kama: mammouth/ mammouth ni tembo ile ya zamani: ya préhistorique/ bon/ ili: yee a: ilianza kutembea/ ilitembea ilifika: ilitembea kutembea kwake: balipima namna ya kuua yee balishinda/ ata avion de chase: iliangusha bombe kule: ya kama ikufe: yee iko paka natembea/ iko paka natembea/ nazani unaona kule mbele: naweka: eh: ONU moja: anatwanga magoti/ ule ONU: ni ule: aliponeshaka: nazania baonu bote/ baonusiens bote tuseme/ alipimaka bunduki ndani ya ile chuma: ndani ya tundu: lisasi iliingiaka: na ilipasukaka/ na bote balikuwa ndani: balikufwaka paka pale/ T: na kisha kufwa pale: nazania akukuwa mufano ya Katanga tena was about, they just died. 8. At that time there were many ethnic organizations in North Katanga, among the one called Balubakat. They did not get along with the government of Katanga, they were absolutely opposed to it. I think they were the ones who at the time raised the flag with the six stars in Likasi [Painting 70: Katanga Soldiers Shooting People in Jadotville]. They said: "We only follow Lumumba's line. He may be dead, we support his line." On that day the Katanga Gendarmes and the Katanga Police went out to kill many, many people. There happened to be Miketo Pierre who was a police inspector in Likasi, and he was also involved. He directed the policemen and the gendarmes in that massacre. 9. Alright. The war just went on and on. In the second [part of the] war, Katanga came up with something that was amazing. This thing was built in the Comekat factory at Likasi, actually in the [ore] crushing shop. They built a big iron [vehicle] [Painting 71: The Monster of the Secession]. Inside [the armor] they put sand, and then iron on both sides. So they put sand in there and enclosed it in iron. You could shoot a bullet at it, or whatever, it could not penetrate. This iron vehicle they called "Mammoth." A mammoth is an elephant from way back in prehistorical times. Alright. It began to move and as it moved around, attempts were made to destroy it, but they did not succeed. Even a fighter plane dropped a bomb on it to destroy it, the thing just kept moving around. I think you see there, in front of it, I put a UN soldier who is down on one knee. That UN soldier, I believe, was the one who saved the entire UN contingent. He aimed his gun inside that iron vehicle, through a hole, and a bullet entered and
9 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 kuendelea: balipikana tu mingi na zaidi: vita ilimalizika/ ni mvita ya kwanza/ ya pili pardon/ 10. bon: ile wakati: [Painting 72: The Massacre of the Luba at Kipushi] Munongo ni: ministre de l'intérieur/ Tshombe: ni: président ya: Katanga/ mu Kipushi: ilikuya: ni adisi kwa lakini abakie sawa tuko nasema histoire/ mu Kipushi: mulikuya: bakasai: ya Kasai vilevile/ c'est que ni baluba ya Kasai njo banabaitaka/ bon/ bale: ilikuwa siku moja: mangaribi nazania: kulikuwa matata ya mwanamuke na mwanaume/ bibi na bwana/ balifanyaka matata pa mulango ya nsoko/ ni kweli ile vita: ilizidi kuendelea kupikana kule balipikana banasema bakasai banatomboka/ na balifwataka mule ndani ya: ya Kipushi: ilikuwaka kuua batu: miiiingi: mingi: na zaidi/ mm/ T: ah mingi na zaidi/ ile lufu: nazania: iko: lufu moya shiwezi na: kuelezea: inaleta: ilikuwa sawa boucherie: ya batu tuseme/ na vile naliweka mu histoire: puisque ni mambo ilipita: munene zaidi/ baliua kuua na batoto kidogo/ na wala mutoto wa majimaji/ na Munongo alifikaka kule: kisha kufika kule aliita batu ku s: ku centre: ya: ku territoire: ya nani: ya Kipushi: bantu balienda mingi: balifika tu paka mu kuwawa tu/ 11. bon: sawa vile mambo ilipita mingi: ilifika na ku l'onu/ ni kweli mukubwa ya bal'onu: wakati ile ali: secretaire général alikuwa Dag: mais: jina yake shifahamu muzuri ingine: kama ni amarzhold: kama ni amarshold: bon: aliwezaka kutoka: juu ya kufika tu Shaba: kama aliweza kusikilizana ni mambo ya bakubwa tuseme/ exploded. All those who were inside died on the spot. T: After that, I think, Katanga could go on no longer. There had been a lot of fighting, but then the war came to an end. That was the first war, sorry, the second war. 10. Alright. At that time [pulls out Painting 72: The Massacre of the Luba at Kipushi] Munongo was Minister of the Interior, Tshombe President of Katanga. Something happened in Kipushi that is a story but it should be counted as what we call history. Among others, there were people from Kasai living at Kipushi. Those are the Luba-Kasai, as they were calles. Alright, it happened one day, I believe it was in the afternoon, there was a quarrel between a woman and a man, wife and husband. They quarreled at entrance to the market. That fight developed into a brawl, and it was said that the Kasaians went on a rampage. They followed them all over Kipushi and lots of people, many, many were killed. F: Mm, mm. T: Ah, many, many. This massacre was something, I think, I cannot explain. Let's just say it was a slaughter of people. So I put it into the History, because it was an important event. Just for the sake of killing, they killed even small children, even helpless babies. And then Munongo arrived there and called the people together at the territorial administration building of Kipushi. Many people went there and became victims of a massacre. 11. Alright, because many events of this sort happened this got to the attention of the UN. At that time, the Secretary General was Dag -- I don't really know [how to pronounce] his name, it was something like Amarzhold, or Amarshol. Alright. He took off for Shaba to try to negotiate some kind of truce. Let's just say that
10 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 tunayua histoire/ ni kweli yee alitoka: alifika na avion: avion iliweza kulongoa mu njia: mu kipande ya Zambie: mu Ndola/ nayee alikufwaka ile wakati/ [Painting 73: The Death of Dag Hammarskjöld] bale unaona ni bapompiers: balipima kuua avion: na balitosha tu maiti ndani: bote balikufwaka/ 12. bon/ kipande ingine wakati ile: vita ya Shaba: ya Katanga: ina: aikumalizika: ilizidi tu kuendelea: cho nani: Sendwe Janson/ ule alikuya: mukubwa ya balubakat: alikuwa parti yake politique: nazania na yeye: alibambiwa: aluuwawa/ balimuuaka/ kisha kufwa kwa chef Kabongo/ bon: balimuuaka nayee balimukata kichwa/ kisha Sendwe: alizhikwa/ [Painting 74: Jason Sendwe's Tomb] nazania: makati moja: sawa mu kufwata histoire: Mobutu alifika ku tuburi yake: alimu: honorer: kama ni medaille gani: i: ni muntu anaisha kufwa/ 13. bon: wakati ile vita ilizidi tu kuendelea [looks for next painting]: F: oui: T: vita ilizidi tu kuendelea: bon: balifika: nazania: est vita ya mwisho: balikamata: Shaba/ mambo ya Shaba: iliisha: [aiplane noise from outside, stop the narrative] F: juu ya avion/ inafanya makelele hivi/ T: o lala lala/ F:...?... T: mm/ pika/ pika ou bien una...?... F: hapana/ F: tuendelee/ T: ah: bon/ tuendelee? F: [far from microphone] acha: niangarie [steps outside to look: returns] oui eko naenda sasa/ T: naenda? F: [noise of door slamming] tulifika kwa mort de: quoi? T: tulifika pa nani: cheminée: ya Gécamines ya: ya Union Minière/ this was another affair involving the leaders. We know that it is historical. He really took off and arrived in an airplane. That plane followed a route over Zambian territory, at Ndola. He, too, died at that time [Painting 73: The Death of Dag Hammarskjöld]. What you see there are the firemen who tried to put out the fire 9 in the plane and rescue the bodies, all of them had died. 12. Alright. Now to another chapter from that time when the Shaba, or rather Katanga war was still going on and on. This is about Jason Sendwe. He was the leader of Balubakat, that was his political party. I think he also was caught and killed. They just killed him. After that came the death of Chief Kabongo. 10 Alright. They killed [Sendwe] and cut off his head. Then Sendwe was buried [Painting 74: Jason Sendwe's Tomb]. I think, at one time, if we follow history, Mobutu visited his grave and honored him with some sort of posthumous medal. 13. Alright. At that time the war just went on and on [looks for next painting]: F: Yes. T: The war continued. Alright. I think that they got to the last battle and took Shaba. The Shaba affair was finished. [airplane noise from outside, gives sign stop the narrative] F: Because of the plane, it makes all that noise. T: Oh lala lala. F:...?... T: Mm-hmm. Press [the stop button], stop it or else you...?... F: No. T: Mm-hmm. F: Let's go on. T: Ah. alright. Shall we go on? F: [Far from microphone] Wait, I'll take a look [steps outside to look, returns]. Yes, it's going away now. T: Is it? F: [Noise of door slamming] We got
11 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 [Painting 75: Planes Attacking the Lubumbashi Smelter] 14. bon/ nazania: vita: balipikana: na balikamata Katanga/ na mambo ya Katanga iliisha: ilimalizika/ bon: sawa vile tuko nasema kama ilikuwa mambo ya Katanga: sababu shi inye kusema mara mbili: histoire: ma: sawa hivi nasema kama mu Kasai: na mu Katanga/ T: na vilevile mu Kasai namo [sic]: mulikuya mambo tena/ ile mambo ilikuwa mu Kasai: ni kusema: wakati ile: kuko: uko na tableau moja: unaona kama balulua: na baluba: balipikanaka/ kisha kupikana kwabo: ba: baluba abakukuye: baliba: fukuza kwabo tuseme/ asema mwende kwenu/ balitoka mu Kananga: eh: Luluabourg: balienda: kwabo ku: Bakwanga/ bon: balifika ku Bakwanga: balifika ku Bakwanga: ni apa nazania: ii tableau/ [Painting 76: The Building of the Town of Mbuji-Mayi] balifika ku Bakwanga: T: unaona banamuke na: bintu: bintu mu kichwa: na bengine tena: banaume pale: unaona tembo minafanya: c'est que ilikuwa fasi ya poli tu/ poli: apakukuye kitu ao wala nini/ bon bale batu balifika banaikala pale: na kuanza: kukata miti: na kujenga: mukini/ na ile mukini leo banaita asema: Mbuji-Mayi/ 15. bon: chef yabo: ule baliweka: alikuya Kalonji: Albert/ ex-albert/ bon: Kalonji Albert: pale alifika mu busultani: alikuwa mbele président/ na kiisha alisema kama: anakuya roi/ na kisha roi: alikuya empereur/ [Painting 77: Kalonji, Emperor of South Kasai] sawa vile minakuambia kama: to the death of, what was it again? T: We had gotten to the [painting of the] smoke stack of the Gécamines, or rather Union Minière [Painting 75: Planes Attacking the Lubumbashi Smelter]. 14. Alright. I think, they fought [another] war and took Katanga. The Katanga affair was over, finished. Alright. But since we said that this was about the events that took place in Katanga is this not telling history twice? 11 Because my story is set in the Kasai as well as in Katanga. T: In the Kasai, too, things were happening. What went on there was this: At that time -- you have one picture where you see that the Lulua and the Luba where fighting each other -- when the fighting was over the Luba were chased away to their home country. "Go home," they were told. They left Kananga, which was then called Luluabourg, and went home to Bakwanga. Alright. They arrived in Bakwanga [looking for painting], they arrived in Bakwanga, here it is, on this picture [Painting 76: The Building of the Town of Mbuji-Mayi] 12. So they got to Bakwanga. T: You see some women carrying loads on their heads and others, also the men there. You see the elephant I painted, which is to say that the place was in the bush. It was bush; there was nothing. Alright. Those people got there and settled. They began cutting trees and building a town. Today this town is called Mbuji-Mayi. 15. Alright, the chief whom they installed was Kalonji Albert, formerly Albert. Alright. Before he became chief, Kalonji Albert had been President [of South Kasai]. Then he called himself king and finally emperor [Painting 77: Kalonji, Emperor of South Kasai]. So I am telling you
12 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 royaume ya baluba ya mu vingtième siècle/ puisque baluba balikuwka royaume zamani/ ile ilikuwa tena royaume: ya mu vingtième siècle/ ilikuwa ya Kalonji: alifanyaka ile royaume yake/ 16. bon/ kisha kufanya royaume: ndani ya Kasai: ya: Sud Kasai/ mulikuwa bakanioka: mulikuya bakabinda: mulikuya batetela: bale nabo: bengine balipenda: bengine habakupende/ ni vile bakanioka bo: abakupenda kwenda ku Congo: mais bo balikuwa na roho ya kufanya: prov: province ya: bali: kuwa na roho ya kufanya province yabo ya: Mwene Ditu/ [Painting 78: The Kanioka Revolt] ikuye province ya midi/ c'est que: iko compter: ku Katanga/ T: ni vile wanaweka: drapeau ya Katanga/ bon: bakasai: bale ba: nani: Kalonji alisema apana: alikwenda ku: Mwene Ditu: ku Luputa: ni vile kama unachuka uku ii njia ii: apa: peko gare/ ya: ma: ya KDL/ ii ni magazin: ii ni njia inakwenda Ngandajika: ii ni njia inakwenda Mwene Ditu/ F: ile fasi ni wapi? ni? T: ni ku: Luputa/ F: Luputa/ T: Luputa/ bon: ii njo inakwenda Mwene Ditu: ii njia inakwenda: Ngandajika/ ni kweli bamilitaires ya Sud Kasai: balikuya: baliua sana ba: bakanioka/ kiisha kuua kwa bakanioka: balitoka: Kanioka yote ilikimbia: akukuwe tena mufano ilikuwa paka: na royaume ya Kalonji iliingia: c'est que busultani ya Kalonji buliingia/ inakuwa: nani: Sud Kasai/ 17. bon: mu: kuingia royaume ya: ya Kalonji: nitaweza kuelezea mingi: juu ya kupata ile: sawa vile nilikuambia kama nikatirisha matableaux ingine/ ni kweli mu nkundi ya baluba: baluba Kasai: na bakanioka: akukuwe tena maneno/ sasa: Kalonji: sawa basoldats balikuwa kombanisha: balikuwa [reading from painting] "the twentieth century kingdom of the Luba." Because the Luba had had a kingdom long before. This one was their kingdom in the twentieth century. It was Kalonji's; he founded this kingdom of his. 16. Alright. So the kingdom in the Kasai, of South Kasai, was founded. In its territory there lived Kanioka, Kabinda, and Tetela. Sone among them were for [Kalonji's kingdom], others against. The Kanioka, for instance, did not want to be part of a [united] Congo, rather they had the ambition to set up their own province, that of Mwene Ditu [Painting 78: The Kanioka Revolt]. It was to be called Southern Province and to belong to Katanga. T: That is why they used the flag of Katanga. Alright. The Kasaians, those who were on Kalonji's side, rejected this. Kalonji traveled to Mwene Ditu and to Luputa. So, when he got off the train [this is what he saw] [pointing to the picture]: There was the road and there the KDL station. Those are shops and this is the road to Ngandajika, and that one goes to Mwene Ditu. F: This place is where? T: It's in Luputa. F: Luputa. T: Luputa. Alright. This goes to Mwene Ditu and this to Ngandajika. What happened is the South Kasai military came and killed many Kanioka. After that massacre, all the Kanioka left and fled. There was nothing they could do about it, Kalonji's kingdom took over, [their country] was under Kalonji's rule. It was [part of] South Kasai. 17. Alright, I could explain at length to you about the way Kalonji's kingdom took over [but], as I told you, I am taking a short cut by leaving out some pictures. The truth is that among the Luba, the Luba Kasai and the Kanioka, the matter was settled. Now back to Kalonji. There were conflicts
13 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 basoldats ya baluba: na Bena Mutwa: Mukuna/ T: andika/ Bena Tshibanda: na Bena Mutwa Mukuna/ utaweza kuandika vile/ Bena Tshibanda na Bena Mutwa Mukuna muko: F:...?... T: oui/ ça va: d'accord: angaria naisha kusahabu/ [chuckles] bon/ sawa vile Bene Mutwa wa Mukuna na Bene Tshibanda/ abakuwe tena: masikilizano/ masikilizano ilipotea pale pa: katikati yabo/ kisha kupotea kwa masikilizano: sawa vile: empereur: alikuya: mwene Tshibanda/ genéral: commandant: wa armée: alikuya: mwana Mutwa wa Mukuna/ ministre de l'interieur: Joseph Ngalula alikuya: mwana Mutwa wa Mukuna/ bon: akukuwe masikilizano sasa/ bon: uyu aliona: Kalonji vile aliingia mu busultani: bandugu yake na Kalonji: bali: anza kuua sasa Bena: Bena Mutwa wa Mukuna: ni ya kusema kama shee tuko bachef: mwee amuna kintu ingine ya kusema/ kutokea ku kuuana kule: ilikuwa bishilani: Chinyama: genéral Chinyama: alifanya coup d'état/ [Painting 79: The End of the Luba Empire] alimufukuza Kalonji: mu busultani/ T: Kalonzi 2 : alitokaka ile shiku: pa kufwata vile ilikuya: alikimbia mu Shaba umu mu Katanga/ kisha kukimbilia mu Katanga: bon: akukuwe tena maneno: yee genéral alikuwa na nia ya kupeleka Sud Kasai: ku: Congo: sawa province ya Congo/ ni kweli bakinshasa balimutuma: Joseph Ngalula sawa: gouverneur/ nazani ile mambo iliisha/ sawa vile nalikuelezea tena histoire ya Katanga nayo: iliisha/ sécession ya Kasai: na sécession ya Katanga: inamalizika/ 18. T: bon: Kasavubu: ni chef de l: ni chef de l'état: Adoula ni: premier ministre/ bon: kiisha Adoula premier ministre: balimutosha: Adoula/ mu kiti/ kisha kumutosha among the soldiers. Among the Luba soldiers there were those from Bena Mutwa Mukuna. T: Write it down: "Bena Tshibanda and Bena Mutwa Mukuna." You can write it down like that. Among them were Bena Tshibanda and Bena Mutwa Mukuna. F:...?... T: Yes, right. You see, I forgot [chuckles]. 13 Alright. So it was Bene Mutwa wa Mukuna and Bene Tshibanda. They no longer got along with each other. Agreement among them came to an end. Now, the emperor belonged to the Tshibanda, the general and commander of the army, was a member of the Mutwa wa Mukuna. The Minister of the Interior, Joseph Ngalula, was Mutwa wa Mukuna. Alright. So there was no mutual understanding any more. [The general] saw what happened when Kalonji became the ruler. Kalonji's relatives began to kill Bena Mutwa wa Mukuna. "We are the bosses now," they said, "you have nothing to say anymore." As a result of the killing there was open conflict and General Chinyama staged a coup d'état [Painting 79: The End of the Luba Empire]. He removed Kalonji from power. T: As a result, Kalonji left the same day and took refuge here in Katanga. So he had fled to Katanga. Alright. Things were settled, the general planned to hand South Kasai over to the Congo, as a province of the Congo. What happened is that the powers in Kinshasa appointed Joseph Ngalula governor. [With that], I believe, the affair was settled. And as I explained to you, the history of Katanga had ended. The secessions of Kasai and Katanga were finished. 18. T: Alright. [Meanwhile] Kasavubu was head of state, Adoula prime minister. Then they removed Adoula from his seat. After that, they called on Moïse Tshombe. He had
14 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 Adoula mu kiti: balifanya nini: baliita: Moïse Tshombe: ule alikuya: alikimbia mu Madrid: mu Espagne: balimuita asema urudie: ukuye ukamate kiti: ya bu: premier ministre umu mu Zaire/ [Painting 80: Tshombe Prime Minister] ni kweli nayee haikukawaka: alitokaka: alifika mu: nani: mu Congo: mu Congo: alikamata ile kiti ya bupremier ministre/ ni vile nakuambia kama ii tableau moya: sawa vile ulisema kama niko na safari nakatirisha mingi: niko na tableau mingi ya kuenea pa ile fasi: na mufano balimupa busultani ile shiku balilamukia na Kasavubu/ 19. T: bon: voilà: kisha kuingia mu busultani: kulikuya mambo ya contentieux belgo-congolais/ bon: ile mambo ya contentieux belgo-congolais: ilikuwa politique moja: bapoliticiens benyewe bote habakushikiakayo: habakujuayo hapana/ Tshombe aliendaka kule/ sawa vile alifikaka kule: kama ni kweli: kama ni bongo: ni mambo ya bakubwa: balimupatiaka: ile r: ile: nani: diplomate: mina: naweka pale juu: banaandika erdécé eh? alikuyaka nayo: alifika mu: mu Kinshasa/ [Painting 81: Tshombe Returning from the Brussels Talks] mais nitaweza tena kurudia ku mukongo: haidéranger: ni mambo: nazani mbele ya kukamata busultani: aliambiaka bapeuple Zairois: ya kusema: donnez-moi trois mois: et je vous donnerai un nouveau Congo/ ni kweli njo: aliendaka ku Kinshasa sawa vile natoka mu kusema/ [correcting himself] kufi: eh: ku Bruxelles pardon: ku Bruxelles: balikwenda kumupa ile: diplomate: na diplomate: alirudia aliambia ba: Zairois: bacongolais: aliambia bacongolais: ya kama: kunaisha: mambo ya contentieux: inaisha/ ile ilikuwa politique: wala sheye: wale ba: tuseme ilikuya: kufunga kwa akili kwa babelges/ balifunga: akili ya bacongolais: abaj: basijue kintu bien politique ashiende fasi ingine: tuzhungulukane tu mu mambo ya fled to Madrid in Spain. They said: "Come back and take the seat of prime minister here in Zaire [Painting 80: Tshombe Prime Minister]. Indeed, he did not hesitate and left right away and came to the Congo. In the Congo he took the seat of prime minister. I must tell you that this is just one picture. Since you told me that you are about to leave, I took many short cuts. I have [in mind] a great number of pictures that would fit here to show how he was given power and how he was received by Kasavubu. 19. Alright. There we are. After he had risen to power, there was the affair of the contentieux belgo-congolais, unsettled claims between Belgium and the Congo. Alright. This matter of claims was a political issue so complicated the all the politicians themselves did not understand what it really was about. Tshombe went there [to Belgium]. When he arrived -- whether this is true or a lie, that is a matter which regards the big shots -- he was given an attaché-case. I put the inscription "RDC" on it, right? With it he arrived in Kinshasa [Painting 81: Tshombe Returning from the Brussels Talks]. I should back up here, I hope this doesn't bother you but it is important. I think before he took power, [Tshombe] had told the people of Zaire [reading from painting] "Give me three months and I shall give you a new Congo." That was really what his trip to Kinshasa was about as I just told you. [Correcting himself] Sorry, it was Brussels. In Brussels they gave him this attaché case. With that attaché-case he came back and told the people of Zaire, of the Congo, that the matter of claims was settled. This was a political trick, neither we nor [others] -- let's just say, it was something that the Belgians kept a secret in their minds. They kept it a secret from the Congolese, who were not
15 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 contentieux: voilà ni politique/ 20. bon: siku kidogo: nani: kulikuwa élection présidentielle/ ni tableau: élection présidentielle ya mille neuf cent soixante quatre/ [Painting 82: The 1964 Presidential Election] entre Kasavubu: na Tshombe/ bon: sawa vile ilikuya vile: Kasavubu alikuwa na parti politique yake Abako ya tangu zamani/ bon: Tshombe nayee alifanya: parti politique yake: ya Conaco/ c'est que Conaco: ilibeba mapartis politiques yote ya mu Zaire/ bakalonji: bamnc Kalonji: ilikuwa paka ndani ya Conaco/ ma a: ma: PCA ilikuwa ndani ya Conaco/ mapartis yote politiques ile nitaweza kutaya na ile sijue: ilikuwa ndani ya: Conaco/ sawa vile ilikuwa ndani ya Conaco: bon: na aide ya Gécamines: ya Union Minière: nani: nani: Tshombe: aliemporter ile élection/ c'est que aliweza: élection/ 21. sasa vile aliwezaka ile election akukuwa mufano: ku mukongo yake kulikuwa bishilani: sawa vile ilikuwa financé: mulikuwa vita ya: ku Kwilu: kulikuwa vita ya bamulelistes balitomboka/ [Painting 83: The Mulelist Uprising] bamulelistes balitomboka: ilikuwa vita ya kuua asema tukamate shee Co: nani: Congo mu nguvu: au lieu ya ile élection: yee anatafuta kuikala mu kiti: alikuwa sécessioniste/ balikatala ile maneno/ 22. bon: ba: banani: Nguebe: Soumialot: na bengine bale nazani kama unaweza kufahamu na wee: ba nabo balitomboka ku Kisangani vilevile/ [Painting 84: The Rebellion in Stanleyville] sawa: au lieu ya kutomboka muzuri: bo balianza kukamata: batu: kuua: kukata bichwa: unaona ku bale bengine: kukamata essence kuchoma: vile ilikuya tu: [aside] ah oui: to understand clearly that it was a political maneuver designed to lead nowhere. [They had decided] to stall around the matter of claims. Well, that's politics. 20. Alright. Not much later there were presidential elections. The picture shows the presidential election of 1964 [Painting 82: The 1964 Presidential Election]. [The race] was between Kasavubu and Tshombe. Alright. This was the situation: Kasavubu had his party, the Abako, founded long before then. Tshombe formed his political party, the Conaco. What happened is that Conaco incorporated all the [other] political parties in Zaire. The Kalonji-faction, MNC-Kalonji, was part of Conaco and so was the PCA, all those political parties I could name and others I don't know about; they were all part of Conaco. Alright. With the help of the Gécamines, the Union Minière, Tshombe carried the election. He won the election. 21. Now, since he won the election because he had financial backing there inevitably was conflict in its aftermath. War broke out in Kwilu, it was the war of the Mulelist uprising [Painting 83: The Mulelist Uprising]. The followers of Mulele rose and there was a killing war. Let us take the Congo by force instead of this election. [Tshombe] just wants to keep his seat; he used to be a secessionist. They opposed [all] this. 22. Alright. Nguebe, Soumialot, and those others whom I think you may know, they also staged a revolt in Kisangani [Painting 84: The Rebellion in Stanleyville]. But instead of rising up for a good cause, they just grabbed people, killed them, cut their heads off. There you see some who were doused with gasoline and set on fire, that's how it was. [Aside] Yes,
16 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 ile tableau/ T: vile ilikuya/ bon/ ni sawa [looking at the painting]: oui/ kukata bichwa: nakufanya vile balipenda/ na ilikuwa sikitiko habakuene kuua vile: habauake vile: batu balipita mingi sana/ 23. sawa vile mu ile histoire yote nalitoka kukuelezea: uko nayo ndani ya matableaux yangu: nazania aikupendeza muntu huyu: moya/ ule muntu aliona kama: ni mubaya sana: akuna muntu ataweza kudiriger politique: mu Zaire: ile ni: inakuwa catastrophe: c'est que bantu banakufa bule/ hakuna maana/ ni Mobutu: Sese Seko: sawa hivi anasema: alikuwa Mobutu: Joseph Desiré/ [Painting 85: November 24: Mobutu and Party Symbols] T: mu le vingt quatre novembre: akutamani ile maneno apana: ni kweli: alikuwa militaire: alikuwa géneral: alikamata pouvoir/ sijue kama ni coup d'état: ou bien ni prise: quoi: tuseme: nani: haut commandement militaire: inakamata pouvoir mu Zaire/ mu le vingt quatre novembre/ ilikamata ile: nani: pouvoir: ilikatakala ile mambo yote/ na ni vile: ilikamata c'est à dire: wanasema le vingt quatre novembre: ilikuwa minuit: le vingt trois: njo kufwata kwetu shee tunafwataka uku kwetu tunasema le vingt trois hata minuit le vingt: le vingt trois/ mais bafrançais nabo wanasema kama le vingt trois à minuit: inachanger: inakuwa le vingt quatre/ 24. asubui yake ya le vingt quatre: Mobutu aliita batu mu: stade: [Painting 86: Mobutu Rolling Up his Sleeves] makati ile asema Tata Raphael/ alichanger ile stade ilikuwa Tata Raphael: aliita batu mingi/ alibaelezeaka mambo yake ile discours ile ile shiku: kama uko mufano utapataka ku mapapiers: utasomaka kwa lakini/ that's the picture. T: That's how it was. Alright. It's like [looking at the painting] -- yes, cutting off heads and doing as they liked. There was desolation, they did not get enough of this killing. [But] kill as they might, lots of people were passed over. 14 23. Now, in this whole history that I just told you about and that you have before you in my paintings, there was, I think, this one person who did not like it. This man saw how bad it was, that there was no one able to give some direction to politics in Zaire. It was a catastrophe, people died for nothing. It was beyond comprehension. This [person] is Mobutu Sese Seko, as he calls [himself now]; he used to be Mobutu Joseph Desiré [Painting 85: November 24: Mobutu and Party Symbols]. T: On November 24, he was fed up with all this and, being a military man, a general, he seized power. I don't know whether it was a coup d'état or what. Or, let's say, it was a take-over by the military high command which then took power in Zaire. On November 24, it seized power and condemned everything that had been happening [up to then]. So it seized [power] and usually the date is given as November 24. Actually it was at midnight on the 23rd -- that's the way we count it here, saying "the 23rd" or "midnight 23rd." But for French speakers "the 23rd at midnight" becomes the 24th. 24. On the morning of the 24th, Mobutu called the people to the stadium [Painting 86: Mobutu Rolling Up his Sleeves], which, at that time, was called "Tata Raphael." He had changed the [former name of the] stadium and it was now Tata Raphael and he called together a large crowd. He explained to them his concerns. But you can get the documentation and read that
17 sur 25 05.02.2006 0:37 25. bon: kwa kusema ile mambo alisemaka: na mi nilikuwaka mutoto nalisikiaka ile mambo naanza kushikia Français ile wakati bien: alisemaka kama kuanzia leo: mu Zaire: amuwezi inakuya parti politique ata moja/ sawa mulidiviser: maprovinces sept: kama ni quarante quatre: kama ni mapartis politiques quarante quatre: à partir ya leo ile yote: inaisha/ muniangarie vile nitafanya/ kama ni mubaya pendant cinq ans: kama ni muzuri: ni: paka vile nita: taangaria/ na alitayaka tena mu kinywa yake [turns away to look for next painting] ya kama: angalia tuliuuwisha nduku yetu hapa: bila sababu/ eh? ule muntu alikuwa na akili/ mais: shee bote hatukujue akili yee aliwazaka hapana/ akili yake kumbe ilikuwa muzuri/ ni vile: nataya leo kama: Lumumba: eko héros: national/ [Painting 87: The MPR Makes Lumumba a National Hero] na alifwata namna gani balimuuaka sawa vile inatoka ku matableaux ingine nakuelezea: ku ile nyumba: inaonekana pale: iko mu Lubumbashi/ kule chini karibu na: na kiwanza ya Luano/ ya avion/ 26. bon: sawa vile alikuwa mu pouvoir: suivant l'histoire: sawa tunakatulula kwa kipande: nazania kipande ingine aikupendeza: bwana Moïse Tshombe kule alikuya ku Espagne hapana/ ilimusilikisha sana kuona: yeye anarudie mu busultani/ na: alifanya nguvu yake: aliuza bamercenaires/ alibatuma mu: Bukavu/ na ilikuwa bushiku/ batu balisikia tu avions: inafiaka inachuka/ avion mu kuchuka: nayee alisa: balisagaa sana na zaidi: baliona paka baparachistes: baparachistes oui: ni vile: banaanza kuanguka/ [Painting 88: The Mercenaries Landing at Bukavu] kuanguka kule banaanza kuanguka: na bugomvi: pamoja/ na kukamata ville ya: Bukavu/ ata balikamata ville ya Bukavu: ni wakati ile atukukuye: speech. 25. Alright. So he said what he had to say. I was a very young then and I heard what he had to say because at that time I began to understand French well. He declared: "In Zaire, from this day on, not a single political party will be allowed. You have divided [the country] into seven provinces and there are forty four --- forty four! -- political parties. From this day on, all this is over. Watch me how I am going to act. For five years I am going to see whether this is good or bad." And then he mentioned this, in his own voice 15 [turns to look for the next painting]: "See how we got our brother killed. It seems a pointless death, right? He was a person of intelligence. But we all failed to appreciate the insights he had. Now it turns out that he was right. Therefore, today I declare Lumumba a national hero" [Painting 87: The MPR Makes Lumumba a National Hero]. And he went on to talk about how they killed him -- as it appears in those paintings I explained to you -- in that house there in Lubumbashi, down there near the airport of Luano. 26. Alright. So he was in power. Since, following the course of history, we break it up into chapters, [we may say] there was another chapter he did not like, namely that Mr. Moïse Tshombe was living in Spain. He did everything to convince him that he should return to his high office. And [Tshombe] did what was in his power to hire mercenaries whom he sent to Bukavu. It was night and suddenly the people heard an airplane approaching and descending. And as the plane descended they saw to their great surprise paratroopers 16 jumping down [Painting 88: The Mercenaries Landing at Bukavu]. As soon as they came down there was fighting and they took the town of Bukavu. It is not clear whether they