Pauline Opango

Pauline Opango Lumumba (January 1, 1937 – December 23, 2014), also known as Pauline Opangu, was a Congolese activist, and the wife of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo. She was born in Wembonyama, Sankuru, Belgian Congo.

Pauline Lumumba was a Congolese activist for independence and women's rights. After marrying Lumumba, a key leader of the anti-colonial political movement, Mouvement National Congolais (MNC), the pair would successfully mobilized various sectors of the Congolese population for independence from Belgium. She is well-known for a heartfelt letter from her late husband that was never delivered to her, and instead transcribed via news outlets. The letter became a poignant symbol of their commitment to Congo's independence.

Early life Opango was born in Sankura province in the Belgian Congo in 1937. She grew up during the colonial era. During this period, civil unrest, resistance movements, and anti-colonial movements were prevalent. Mine workers and indigenous populations protested for their rights and equity in the legal system, but were often met with extreme brutality.

She married Patrice Lumumba on March 15, 1951, at the age of 14, as arranged by Patrice's brother. After the marriage, she moved to Stanleyville with her husband and sister. She briefly returned to her village to stay with her parents in 1952, for the birth of her first son, Patrice.

Personal life Pauline Opango was married to Patrice Lumumba until his death in 1961. She was his third wife following Henriette Maletaua (1945–1947) and Hortense Sombosia (1947–1951). Together they had four children, named Patrice, Juliana, Roland and Marie-Christine, although Marie-Christine died shortly after birth in 1960. During their marriage, it was reported that Patrice had extramarital relationships, which was not uncommon for men in the evolue sector. Pauline did try to separate from Patrice due to disagreements, particularly around her role as a traditional wife.

Activism

Women's rights Opango was a strong advocate for women's rights in the Congo. Along with other influential feminist figures, she worked tirelessly to challenge the colonial family structure that threatened traditional Congolese families. In Opango's view, the gradual emergence of a new type of family structure among the political class or evolue class posed a threat to role of women – like herself – in the home. At the UN HQ Pauline, with Albert Lumumba, Joseph Lutula, and Pauline's young son, whom she carried in her arms, met with Rajeshwar Dayal, a UN representative. The letter was never sent to her; it was recovered by journalists and Pauline learned about it in news reports.

In 1978, Opango attended a broadcast hosted by the Belgian government where they officially acknowledged their role in the assassination of her husband, Patrice Lumumba, who was the first leader of the newly independent Congo. During an interview with a reporter at the event, Pauline expressed her satisfaction with the acknowledgement. The interviewer went on to summarize Pauline's relationship with her late husband, including her most well-known connection to him – a letter he wrote to her that she has never physically held. Pauline had only seen and read the letter through newspapers and articles, as it was intercepted by a journalist and given to Francois, Lumumba's first son from his first marriage. Further Congolese artists cite Pauline's resistance as an inspiration in their art.