Africa Cup 2025: The Fan Who Brought the Spirit of Leader Lumumba Back to the Stadiums
In the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, one fan stood out uniquely among the crowds, not only for his enthusiasm for the team but in a strange and inspiring way: remaining completely still throughout the match, taking the pose of the PatriceLumumba memorial in Kinshasa.
Michel Nkuka Mbouladinga, or as he is known in the media as "Living Lumumba", became the talk of the tournament after adopting this method to express his appreciation for the hero of the Democratic Republic of Congo's independence, Patrice Lumumba, the country’s first Prime Minister who was assassinated in 1961.
Nkuka is keen to raise his right arm and remain still like a living statue throughout the match, even when his team scores, in stark contrast to the surrounding fans filled with movement and excitement.
Lumumba is historically known for his struggle against Belgian colonialism and was brutally assassinated:
Four days after his death, his body was cut into small pieces and dissolved in acid.
A former Belgian police officer, Gerard Soet, explained in a television interview in 1999 that he was tasked with the job and kept Lumumba's teeth as a souvenir for many years.
In a symbolic gesture, Belgium returned Lumumba's only remaining tooth to his family in 2022.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Nkuka said:
"I remain still to give the team strength and energy. Everyone plays their role, and I play mine."
He adds that he trains before each match to remain still for 45-50 minutes, making additional tasks like extra time and penalty kicks much harder.
Despite the fatigue and media exhaustion, Nkuka feels proud to represent Lumumba's spirit and provide the team with extraordinary moral support.
He affirms: "He is the one who gave us the freedom to express ourselves, sacrificed his life to give us freedom, he is a role model and a family member."
So far, Nkuka has not met the players in person, but he knows they appreciate his efforts and support for the team, as a living symbol of courage and sacrifice, just like the Congolese leader himself.
