On May 2, 1973, President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) formally advanced his policy of “Authenticité,” a program aimed at rejecting colonial culture and restoring African identity. The policy encouraged citizens to abandon European names, dress in traditional attire, and adopt indigenous languages and customs. While the intent was to foster pride and unity in postcolonial Zaire, it also reinforced Mobutu’s authoritarian regime. Internationally, “Authenticité” was a key example of how African nations grappled with postcolonial identity and sovereignty. Although controversial, the movement inspired other African leaders to explore cultural revitalization as a form of resistance to neocolonial influence and to assert a distinctly African modernity.