Quote by Patrice Lumumba: “We have known sarcasm, insults, and blows night and morning.”

This quote vividly describes the relentless and pervasive nature of colonial oppression, detailing not just physical violence but also the psychological torment of constant humiliation. It emphasizes the deep suffering inflicted by colonizers on the colonized people, reflecting a painful, enduring history of abuse.

In his powerful Independence Day speech, Lumumba boldly recounted the brutal realities of Belgian colonial rule in Congo, directly challenging the celebratory tone of the Belgian king. This passage highlighted the everyday indignities and violence endured by the Congolese.

Congolese independence leader and the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following independence from Belgium in 1960. He was deposed in a coup backed by Belgian and American intelligence services and assassinated in 1961. He remains one of the most iconic figures of African independence.