This play by poet and political activist Aimé Césaire recounts the tragic death of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo and an African nationalist hero. It follows Lumumba’s efforts to free the Congolese from Belgian rule and the political struggles that led to his assassination in 1961. Born in Martinique and educated in Paris, Césaire was a revolutionary artist and lifelong political activist, who founded the Martinique Independent Revolution Party. His ardent personal opposition to Western imperialism and racism fuels both his profound sympathy for Lumumba and the emotional strength of A Season in the Congo.
Aimé Césaire (1913–2008) was the author of several volumes of poetry and plays, including Decapitated Sun, Lost Bodies, Putting in Fetters and The Tragedy of King Christophe.