DR Congo supporter ‘living statue’ of Lumumba attends World Cup after quarantine delays
The fan, known for posing as independence hero Patrice Lumumba, joins the squad in Guadalajara following a 21-day quarantine and administrative hurdles.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, a supporter renowned for his impersonation of Patrice Lumumba, attended the Democratic Republic of Congo’s match against Colombia at Estadio Akron on Tuesday. The fan, who gained prominence during the Africa Cup of Nations by remaining motionless on a pedestal throughout games, stood behind the team bench for the duration of the 1-0 defeat.
Mboladinga missed the national team’s opening fixture against Portugal in Houston due to a combination of mandatory Ebola quarantine requirements and visa delays. The squad, making its first World Cup appearance since 1974 when the nation competed as Zaire, arrived in the United States on Thursday following a 21-day isolation period mandated by US authorities in response to an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prior to the tournament, Mboladinga had already been unable to attend the World Cup playoff match against Jamaica earlier in the year. He had travelled to Kenya and Ethiopia to secure the necessary documentation for the game, which was held in Guadalajara, but was ultimately unable to obtain a visa in time.
During the match against Colombia, Mboladinga wore a bright red jacket and tie, a yellow shirt, and blue pants. He assumed his pose on the pedestal approximately an hour before kickoff, standing with his right arm raised. Although he was a few minutes late returning to the pedestal after halftime, he remained in position until the final whistle and for several minutes thereafter.
The supporter declined to give interviews but nodded and smiled when asked if he was happy to have finally reached the World Cup. His presence highlights the continued cultural resonance of Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister after independence from Belgium in 1960, who was assassinated within a year of taking office.
In March, a Belgian court ordered 93-year-old former diplomat Etienne Davignon to stand trial for his role in Lumumba’s assassination. Davignon is the last living among 10 Belgians suspected of involvement in the killing and has been charged with participation in war crimes related to the unlawful detention and transfer of the independence leader.
The national team is currently based in Houston, Texas, for the tournament. Coach Sebastien Desabre has expressed hope that the squad’s performance on the international stage will lift the spirits of supporters back home in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
