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Paper short abstract:

The analysis focuses on the major political and ideological influence exerted by two key political players, Pierre Mulele and Anicet Kashamura, in the process of decolonisation of the Congo and the establishment of the first government, as well as in the continuation of Lumumba's struggle.

Paper long abstract:

This presentation explores the evolution of Patrice Lumumba's socialist consciousness through the pivotal roles of two influential figures, Pierre Mulele and Anicet Kashamura in Lumumba's political action.

Examining Pierre Mulele, the Minister of National Education in Lumumba's government, the analysis portrays him as a key figure who helped shape Lumumba's socialist and communist consciousness. The presentation explains how Mulele's revolutionary ideas gradually shaped Lumumba's political outlook, fostering a more resolute embrace of socialist values and the direction of the Lumumba government's international policy.

By examining Anicet Kashamura, Lumumba's Minister of Information and Culture, the presentation assesses his significant role in influencing the ideologies centred on Lumumba's African consciousness. The paper highlights Kashamura's contributions to the formation of Lumumba's political vision, particularly in the areas of information and culture, emphasising the importance of this influence in the early government.

In addition, the article explores the critical impact of these influences on the decolonisation of the Congo and the establishment of Lumumba's first government. The article looks at the collaborative efforts between Mulele (close to the communist Gizenga) and Kashamura to support the Lumumbist struggle. While Pierre Mulele led Africa's largest peasant revolution, resisting Lumumba's assassination in the midst of an international communist rebellion that engulfed two-thirds of the country, Kashamura left a profound intellectual legacy in the early days of Congo's decolonisation. He was a pioneer in the question of how to reconcile communism with African values, providing insightful perspectives on the mental decolonisation of the Congolese and their public institutions.