The evolution of a revolutionary

 

 

Fidel Castro perhaps had the most profound infl uence on the philosophy and passion of Che Guevara, the revolutionary. But there were other inspirational leaders committed to the cause of their people who shaped the legend and leader called ‘Che’.

Jacobo Arbenz Guzman was elected president of Guatemala in 1951 but was ousted in a coup orchestrated by the CIA. Arbenz was a land reforms pioneer, who led the reforms from the front by giving up 1,700 acres of personal property to be distributed between the landless masses of his country. Che was present in Guatemala during the coup that led to Arbenz’s ouster and had pledged his support to Arbenz and his cause. Th e Guatemala experience remained a fountainhead of inspiration for him.

Another man who Che never met but admired enough to leave Cuba and fi ght alongside his loyalists was Patrice Emery Lumumba. Lumumba fought against Belgian rule in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in June 1960, became its fi rst democratically elected leader. Deposed in a coup 65 days aft er taking up offi ce, Lumumba was murdered by the Belgians but his legacy has survived the Mobutu (his usurper) era. His anti-colonial zeal and strident, defi ant voice echoes across the DRC even today and remains an inspiration for the continent’s leaders and its people