This group of sculptures was placed in 1998 at the initiative of local history circles from Tervuren by the Buildings Agency. The sculpture group does not belong to the heritage of the AfricaMuseum. It was initially the intention to move the sculpture group elsewhere, closer to the center of Tervuren. In the end, the municipality and the Buildings Agency decided to place the sculpture group in the French garden behind the museum.
The artist did not provide the AfricaMuseum with the following text until 2018.
The title, "The Congo I Presume," parodies Henry Morton Stanley's words when meeting David Livingstone: "Dr Livingstone I presume?"
The sculpture group is set up in a water feature, the whole refers to the African village that was set up on the water during the exhibition of 1897. Seven African extras died of pneumonia.
The images in the water feature evoke this Congolese village, where both exotic animals and 'exotic' people were exhibited in a 'human zoo'.
The play of stone blocks refers to Leopold II's nickname as 'King Builder'.
The elephant and the lion symbolize the beautiful and mighty Congolese nature with its rich underground.
As a migratory bird, eight flamingos symbolize the Congolese diaspora.
In the middle of this evocation of nature: the bust of Leopold II, owner of the Congo Free State and for the Congolese: the undisputed 'father of the country'.
On the back of the bust: a peacock with gracefully spread feathers, an unmistakable reference to the man's vanity, megalomania, and pride.
The elephant looks away from the bust, symbolically distancing himself from the ivory looting with which Leopold II shamelessly enriched himself.
The lion, the so-called king of beasts, also looks ostentatiously in the other direction.
Three African warriors in splendid costume are arranged as submissive soldiers, 'on display' as three personal trophies of the king.
Striking: these tough warriors have severed feet: a clear reference to the less beautiful story of colonization.
This group of statues is the only anti-colonial statue in our country and can therefore be regarded as unique.
Tom Frantzen