“O Music, it was you who permitted us
To lift our face and peer into the eyes
Of future liberty, that would one day be ours”

- Patrice Lumumba

Soundtrack to a Coup d'État is a documentary that tells the story of the assassination of Congo’s first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. The film interweaves stories of resistance against imperialist forces, spanning Congo and the wider African continent, all set against the backdrop of jazz music—used at the time by the US as a form of soft power to counter liberation movements in Africa.

This special screening commemorates the life of Patrice Lumumba on the eve of the anniversary of his assassination and seeks to shed light on the ongoing exploitation and genocide in the Congo.

Following the screening, there will be a discussion featuring the Congolese Youth Action Platform, a collective of activists and members of the Congolese community in the UK and the wider diaspora, who campaign to raise awareness about the Congolese crisis.