“Go West, life is peaceful there.” At least that’s what The Pet Shop Boys sang two decades ago. And from the looks of it, the newly erected statue in Dakar, Senegal, to celebrate 50 years of independence – the Monument of African Renaissance – confirms the opening line: looking over the ocean as far as the eye can see, the statue is aimed straight at its more famous sister, Lady Liberty. However, the monument representing ‘freedom’ seems to attract more criticism than praise.
Upon arrival at the international airport of Dakar, it is hard not to stare at the gigantic bronze monument. With 50 metres in height, the statue is both more expensive and bigger than the Statue of Liberty, to which it is also pointing towards. The monument is truly an economic monster in a country where around half of the population still lives below the poverty line. It’s therefore quite understandable that more and more people are coming out, openly criticising the monument and its creator, the ruling President Wade. Depending on who you talk to and which group they belong to, the critiques take on a different form. A small overview:
- Labour: Despite the incredibly high level of unemployment – near to 50% - it was opted to bring in North Korean workers for the construction of the monument. That the statue is located in one of the poorest of Dakar’s districts, Ouakam, just adds insult to injury.
- Finance: In total, the monument will have cost close to $28m, a sum the President’s entourage hope to retrieve by increased earnings from the tourism sector. Because the President came up with the original drawings for the monument, he has decided to claim 35% off all income on the ground of intellectual property rights.
- Religion: The statue has endured much criticism from religious corners as well. The woman in the statue is wearing close to nothing, with especially the naked legs a point of criticism for the largely Muslim community. Moreover, the President had even likened the statue with the image of Christ, only to take it back after huge protests and a public apology.
- Politics: The monument is supposed to symbolise ‘freedom’, following the example of the Statue of Liberty, though it finds it architectural inspiration in communist art. Furthermore, it is being whispered that it is more representative for the power of the Senegalese government than for the freedom of its people…
- Gender: The woman in the statue is clearly being led by her husband, a preconception that does not correspond with African reality. Besides being branded as too expensive, not useful, and down right ugly, the monument has also received the label of sexist and “un-African”.
To be continued…
Luc
