Sport News Africa: You had great success at the AFCON 2025 representing a historical figure, the first Prime Minister of the DRC, Patrice Emery Lumumba, where did this idea come from?
Michel Nkuka: Everyone knows the great story of the late Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. He was an important person who notably fought for the independence of our country. After watching documentaries about him, I was inspired and I told myself that I had to embody this great character but in my work as an animator.
Why did you choose to portray Patrice Lumumba in sports animation when he was a politician?
I really like football and since I wanted to do animation, I brought this image in my work as an animator within the AS V. Club.
Lumumba said stop to the colonizers with his hand raised and I also say stop to all the opponents of the AS V. Club and the national team of the DRC.
In addition to your physical resemblance to the late Patrice Lumumba, your success is much more due to your ability to stay steady, with a raised arm during all the meetings of the DRC. This posture precisely resembles the statue of the late Prime Minister Lumumba, erected on his mausoleum in Kinshasa. For you, does this gesture have a particular meaning?
The statue of Lumumba in Kinshasa is on the road leading to the airport. And this raised hand sign has a meaning for me. Lumumba said stop to the colonizers with his hand raised and I also say stop to all the opponents of the AS V. Club and the national team of the DRC. To show the strength of the teams I support.
And have you started your career as an animator?
Since 2013
When did you experience your first success?
I experienced my first success in 2014, during the final of the CAF Champions League between AS V. Club and Entente Sétifienne. We had talked a lot about me during that final.
Today your success goes beyond the Congolese framework alone, it is even a success that goes beyond Africa thanks to AFCON 2025. Did you expect that?
Maybe I couldn’t imagine that my success would reach the world level so quickly, but I hoped that one day my work with the character I played would bear fruit. And today I am very happy and I thank my God. It is a pride for all Congolese.
My hand raised is a message to encourage the players. When they play on the field, they see me, they are happy and they wet the jerseys even more.
How do you stay steady with a raised hand for 90 minutes?
It’s not easy to stay fixed for 90 minutes, or even longer. It is the result of several workouts in order to remain enduring.
They say that Lumumba’s raised hand will conquer the stadiums, is that true?
My hand raised is a message to encourage the players. When they play on the field, they see me, they are happy and they wet the jerseys even more.
Are you managing to master this success today? Has this success changed your life?
To be honest, it’s complicated to master this great success, I thank my God because it is thanks to him that I know this success. I also thank the Minister of Sports, Didier Budimbu, because it is thanks to him that I went to Morocco. It’s besides since his arrival that I started traveling with the national team, before him it was complicated. Now I think that the continuation will only be positive.
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À propos de l'auteur
Philemon MBALE
Rédacteur sportif
Passionné de sport depuis toujours, partage avec vous les dernières actualités et analyses du monde sportif.