🎧 Audio
📖 Script
Many countries in Africa gained independence from colonial powers in the mid-20th century. However, the legacy of colonialism still affects political and social issues on the continent. Patrice Lumumba, who was the first Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a significant figure in this context. He played an important role in the country’s independence from Belgium in 1960. Lumumba was known for his vision of a united Africa that could stand independently from Western influence. Unfortunately, his ideas were considered a threat by both Western powers and local factions, leading to his assassination in 1961.
The case of Patrice Lumumba continues to raise questions about the political future and independence of African countries. Even today, many African nations struggle to fully embrace the kind of vision that Lumumba advocated. This vision included economic independence, political unity, and social progress. These goals remain relevant as African countries face challenges such as poverty, corruption, and political instability.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement in Africa to revisit the ideas of leaders like Lumumba. People are starting to ask questions about how their countries can achieve true independence and what role they should play in the global community. This movement is also tied to economic development, as many African countries are rich in resources but still face economic challenges. Bridging the gap between resource wealth and economic prosperity is a key issue for the continent.
To address these challenges, some African countries are beginning to focus on regional cooperation and integration. By working together, they hope to create stronger economies and more stable political systems. This approach is similar to the European Union, where countries collaborate to achieve common goals.
In conclusion, the legacy of Patrice Lumumba is still very much alive in Africa today. His vision for a united and independent Africa continues to inspire discussions about the continent’s future. As African countries work towards greater unity and economic development, Lumumba’s ideas remain an important part of the conversation.
📝 Vocabulary
- legacy: something handed down from the past（遺産）
例文: “The legacy of colonialism still impacts many countries today.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- leave a legacy
- cultural legacy
- historical legacy
- independence: freedom from control by another country（独立）
例文: “Many African countries gained independence in the 20th century.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- gain independence
- fight for independence
- declare independence
- assassination: the killing of a prominent person for political reasons（暗殺）
例文: “The assassination of the leader shocked the nation.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- political assassination
- prevent assassination
- assassination attempt
- unity: the state of being united or joined as a whole（団結）
例文: “Unity among the team members is essential for success.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- promote unity
- national unity
- sense of unity
- prosperity: the state of being successful and having a lot of money（繁栄）
例文: “Economic prosperity is a goal for many developing countries.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- economic prosperity
- bring prosperity
- prosperity and growth
✏️ Grammar Point
Past Perfect Tense – “Many countries in Africa gained independence from colonial powers in the mid-20th century.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
過去のある特定の時点までに何かが完了したことを強調する際に使われます。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: Patrice Lumumba was the first President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- MCQ: What was one of Patrice Lumumba’s visions for Africa?
a) Economic dependence on Western countries
b) Political division
c) A united and independent Africa
d) Increased foreign influence - MCQ: What is one of the current challenges faced by African countries?
a) Lack of natural resources
b) Strong political stability
c) Economic prosperity
d) Poverty and corruption
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- c) A united and independent Africa
- d) Poverty and corruption
📚 Reading Questions
- What was the role of Patrice Lumumba in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
- Why do some African countries want to focus on regional cooperation?
- What does the word “prosperity” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- He was the first Prime Minister and played a role in the country’s independence.
- To create stronger economies and more stable political systems.
- The state of being successful and having a lot of money.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
コンゴ民主共和国の初代首相であるパトリス・ルムンバは、アフリカの独立と団結を目指した重要な政治指導者でした。彼の暗殺は、西洋諸国と地元派閥の利害によるものでしたが、彼の掲げたビジョンは未だに多くのアフリカ諸国にとって重要な課題です。現在、多くのアフリカ諸国が経済的な自立と地域の協力を通じて、より強力で安定した経済と政治システムの構築を目指しています。今後、アフリカの資源を活用し、持続可能な成長を実現することが期待されています。
