Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat

Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat is a documentary that explores the relationship between jazz music and the process of decolonization during the Cold War. The film focuses on the geopolitical tensions surrounding the murder of Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected prime minister of the Congo. It examines how the United States utilized jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong as cultural ambassadors to distract from post-colonial interventions in Africa, while other artists, including Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach, staged protests at the United Nations Security Council to denounce these events. Using archival footage and speeches, the narrative links African independence struggles with the civil rights movement.

The film was written and directed by Johan Grimonprez. It features archival appearances by Patrice Lumumba, Louis Armstrong, Nikita Khrushchev, Dizzy Gillespie, Andrée Blouin, and Abbey Lincoln. A co-production between companies from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the Netherlands Antilles, the movie has a runtime of 150 minutes. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary. Audience reception has been positive, with a 7.8 rating on IMDb based on 3,900 votes and a 7.7 on TMDB from 75 votes. Film critics gave the movie a slightly higher score of 7.9 based on 65 reviews.