A tooth — the only remains left behind of Patrice Lumumba, The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s first elected leader — was returned to his family during a ceremony in Belgium.

Lumumba was the first democratically-elected Prime Minister of the DRC when Congo gained independence from Belgium in 1960. His leadership was short-lived; Lumumba was assassinated by Belgian operatives who attempted a coup. Lumumba, the handsome and charismatic leader who captivated an entire continent, was tortured and killed. His body is believed to have been dissolved in acid.

A tooth, the only known remains of Lumumba’s body, was taken by a Belgian police officer who brought it to Belgium as a memento. Lumumba’s children came to Belgium last week to reclaim their father’s tooth two years after his daughter Juliana wrote a letter to the king asking for it to be returned.

Lumumba was a national hero and inspiration to Congo and many Africans who struggled with gaining independence. This also made him a target. President Eisenhower wanted the CIA to assassinate him, but he was perhaps unknowingly competing with Belgian officials who were coordinating their own plot to kill Lumumba.

Lumumba is still celebrated and revered in Congo; the country celebrates Lumumba every January 17th.

More about Lumumba and his remains can be found here.