Joseph Lutula was born on 6 October 1927[1] in the village of Usumba-Wembo-Nyama, Katako-Kombe Territory, Belgian Congo to a Tetela family.
[5] Lutula joined the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC), and after the party split he aligned himself with Lumumba's faction, serving on the central committee.
[7] The participants resolved to create an Association des Akutshu-Anamongo to assist the MNC in the upcoming general elections in Kasai Province, and Lutula was given control of its permanent secretariat.
[13] Following the execution of numerous Lumumba supporters in Bakwanga over the course of the month, Lutula fled Léopoldville and joined Antoine Gizenga's government in Stanleyville as Minister of Agriculture.
[1][14] After a national political reconciliation in August, Lutula resumed his position in the central government under Prime Minister Cyrille Adoula.