FREDDY ILANGA: CHE'S SWAHILI TRANSLATOR

In April 1965, Freddy Ilanga, a fifteen-year-old Congolese youth became Che Guevara’s personal Swahili teacher and translator, during the latter’s secret mission in the Congo to train anti-Mobutu rebels. After seven intense months by Che Guevara’s side, the Cuban authorities sent Freddy to Cuba. During his early years, Freddy thought that his stay in Cuba would be temporary. However, 40 years passed during which time he lost all contact with his family and homeland. That is until 2003, when he received an unexpected phone call from Bukavu, his home town. His family had finally found him...