Brussels, 31 August 2024 (Fatshimetrie). The city of Antwerp, located in the north of Belgium, will erect a memorial at the Schoonselhof cemetery in memory of the seven Congolese who died during the 1894 World’s Fair. This initiative, announced by the Belga Agency, aims to pay tribute to these men who lost their lives far from their country of origin.
At the time, these Congolese were housed in a reconstructed village intended to represent their daily life. Unfortunately, several of them succumbed to diseases such as dysentery and pneumonia. Of the 144 Congolese deported from the Congo to participate in the exhibition, seven unfortunately did not survive the difficult conditions they faced.
This village had been described as a “human zoo”, recalls the Belga Agency. The precarious living conditions and the distance from their usual environment had tragic consequences for these men, far from their homeland and their cultural references.
The seven victims had been buried in graves reserved for the poorest Antwerp residents in the Kiel cemetery, before being moved. Today, the city of Antwerp wishes to offer them a dignified and respectful place of remembrance in the Schoonselhof cemetery, in collaboration with the Congolese community living in Antwerp.
The mayor of Antwerp, Mr Bart De Wever, stresses the importance of looking at the past in the face to better understand the present. He considers that this memorial is vital to preserve the memory of the Congolese who died in 1894, because they are an integral part of Antwerp’s history and community. This symbolic gesture aims to keep the memory of these men alive and to pay them the tribute they deserve.
In conclusion, the creation of this memorial in Antwerp marks an important step towards the recognition of the shared history between Belgium and Congo. It is a poignant reminder of the need to remember past events in order to better build the future, with respect and mutual understanding.