News & Events

On the occasion of the Africa 2020 year, the ASCL has created Infosheets about the countries that became independent in 1960. Of the seventeen colonies gaining independence in that year, Congo (earlier known as Zaire, nowadays called the Democratic Republic of the Congo) was the fifth one: on 30 June. Congo had been a Belgian colony from 1908 until 1960, after having been a ‘Free State’ under a company owned by the Belgian King Leopold II from 1884.

The Library of the African Studies Centre of Leiden University is open for visitors - reservation by e-mail is compulsory. Studying in the ASCL Library will be possible during time slots of maximum 3 hours. Please remember that face masks are mandatory when you enter, leave and move around in the building. Read all about the new regulations.

On 30 June 1960, Patrice Lumumba gave his legendary speech at the Ceremony of the Proclamation of Congo's Independence. From that moment, and even more so after Lumumba’s controversial assassination in 1961, Lumumba has become one of the most iconic leaders of the African independence struggle. This month’s Library Highlight features Lumumba in the arts, edited by Matthias de Groof, a richly illustrated volume about the representation of Patrice Lumumba in various art forms. Read the Library Highlight!