Kassel Christmas market: Lumumba ban sparks heated debate!

Kassel Christmas market: Lumumba ban sparks heated debate!

The Christmas market is in full swing in Kassel, but a decision by Kassel Marketing is causing a stir. The popular drink “Lumumba”, which is very popular in the cold season, can no longer be sold. This measure follows previous debate over the name of the chocolate drink, which refers to the famous Congolese freedom fighter Patrice Lumumba. Critics say it has racist connotations that can no longer be tolerated Hessian/Lower Saxony General.

There were calls for the controversial name to be changed as early as 2024, but at that time Kassel Marketing left it open whether there would be corresponding guidelines. On November 22nd, the stand operators received an email asking them to revise their product names. Otherwise there would be consequences, and if this happened again, the operators could even be excluded from the Christmas market.

Reactions from the stand operators

Reactions to the decision are mixed. Konrad Ruppert, operator of Ruppert's Alpine hut, is astonished by the excitement: “The name comes from Spain!” he says. Other stand operators are also angry, but have responded to the request and changed their names. Ruppert now sells the drink under the new name “Lamumba”.

In other cities, such as Frankfurt and Mainz, the drink is no longer offered under the name “Lumumba”. There it is now simply called “cocoa with a shot”. These renamings show that the discussion about the name is not only taking place in Kassel, but also in many other places. The southern German newspaper South Germans reports that providers in cities like Hamburg have already changed their names.

The background to the debate

Patrice Lumumba received international attention for his role as the first prime minister of the independent Congo and as a symbol of the African independence movement. Critics of keeping the name argue that the name alludes to the gruesome murder of Lumumba and is therefore inappropriate.

Simon Mputu Ngimbi, chairman of the German-Congolese Society, sees the discussion as an opportunity to engage with Lumumba's legacy and encourages reflection on the meaning of the name. Interestingly, some stall operators express their disappointment at the racism debate and compare it to other drinks, such as the Bloody Mary, whose origins of the name have also never been questioned in the past.

It remains to be seen whether Kassel Marketing's measures will actually meet with widespread acceptance or whether the discussion about the drink is not over yet. However, one thing is certain for the Kassel Christmas market: racism will not be tolerated. Kassel Marketing reiterates that the dialogue with relevant groups is not yet complete.