Germany: 'Lumumba' drink sparks racism debate

The Christmas market season is just getting into full swing. In Frankfurt am Main, the drink will be named something different this year.

Lucas Meyer/t-online

In addition to the classic mulled wine, many people also enjoy a glass of cocoa at the Christmas markets. However, drinking chocolate made with rum alcohol is currently causing ill will on social networks. In the background is a document distributed to stall operators by the organizers of the Christmas market in Frankfurt am Main. The newspaper, which is available on t-online, said: “If you serve a drink that you describe as 'Lumumba', we strongly recommend that you change the name and make it unrecognizable on the menu card/drink card/signs.” make.”

In Germany, this alcoholic milk drink is known to many as “Lumumba”. The organizer “Tourismus+Congress GmbH” also suggested other names in the letter. That is: “Cocoa with rum/spirits or (hot) chocolate with rum/spirits”.

Organizers of the Frankfurt Christmas Market responded to t-online's inquiries: “We have suggested to our stall operators that they replace the drink name 'Lumumba' at the Frankfurt Christmas Market with an alternative name as its etymology is 'Lumumba' '. 'There is a variant that may give rise to racist stereotypes. ” But where did this allegation come from, which sparked a huge controversy in the financial metropolis last year?

Ambiguous naming

Even though the origin of the name “Lumumba” is not yet clear, it bears clear similarities to Congolese freedom fighter Patrice Lumumba. Lumumba was the leader of the Congolese independence movement, which seized the country on June 30, 1960. As Der Spiegel writes, from that day on, Lumumba became the first freely elected head of government in the former colonial country. The Belgian colony was infamous for the alleged atrocities in the Congo. Among other things, Belgian colonialists amputated the limbs of the oppressed, smoked them, and hung them around the necks of the tortured. Recordings and reports from the time provide evidence of the incident.

Because Lumumba did not appear to be opposed to cooperation with the then-Soviet Union, current U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower is said to have ordered Lumumba's assassination nearly 1.5 months after his election. “We have to get rid of him,” Der Spiegel said, citing minutes of the meeting. Lumumba was eventually killed in a hail of bullets on the night of January 17, 1961. The newspaper went on to say that the hail of bullets may have been carried out by Belgian-Congolese commandos. shot by a submachine gun.

Do you like “Dead Aunt” more?

Critics believe the name “Lumumba”, used to refer to a black drink with a shot, is a racist mockery of the freedom fighter. However, Frankfurt City Council leader Hirem Arslaner (Green Party) also made it clear last year that not everyone who clicks “Lumumba” is a racist. However, in the context of colonial history, certain problems arise, she was quoted as saying by the Frankfurter Review. As an alternative, she suggested a North German name for the drink: “Tote Aunt.”

On social networks, many German users were outraged by Frankfurt am Main's demands. The impetus for the online debate appears to have been a post from Anna Nguyen, a member of the AfD party in the Hessian state parliament. She shared a photo of what organizers requested, with the caption “Now even Lumumba should be renamed.”

Below, several users commented on their displeasure, saying: “Cancel a drink named after a freedom fighter. Only the left can come up with such nonsense.” Others went shorter: “Why?”, “Crazy” or “Just Frankfurt”. However, the North German variant “Dead Aunt” is also often suggested as an alternative.

The spokesperson of the German Black Initiative made it clear in December 2022 on the ARD radio program “Cosmo” that this was by no means an honor. “The central figures of resistance to colonization and racism are reduced here to a drink.”

Organizers hope to make impact

Last year, Frankfurt organizers pointed out the name issue to stallholders. At the time, Thomas Roie, president of the Frankfurt/Rhein-Main Performers Association, told the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper that “sales were expected to drop by 20 to 30 percent.” When asked, organizers said: “We cannot fully understand this statement, as the supply of this drink is not banned, but other names are suggested.”

Organizers also said they believed in the effectiveness of pure recommendations but reserved the right to take further steps.

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