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Jozef en Lieven Vandevelde met Sakala

Jozef and Lieven Vandevelde with Sakala

Jozef Vandevelde (1855 - 1882)
Lieven Vandevelde (1850 - 1888)
Congo explorers

Louis Mast
1888

Gent / Jozef en Lieven Vandevelde met Sakala

Description

Sculpture of an African boy sitting on a boulder with the relief portrait of the Vandevelde's.

Inscription(s)

jos – liev
VANDEVELDE
ganguila | leopoldville / 1888

Signature

on the portrait medaillon: L. Mast
On the book in the boy's hand: gieterij / herste... / ferruy

Annotation

The Gent explorers Joseph and Lieven Vandevelde made in the 1880s an expedition through the Congo. Jozef died there, but his brother Lieven brought in 1884 Sakala to Gent as living proof of the successful expedition. Sakala went in Ghent to school and was for some time very popular in Gent. But he was forgotten. When Lieven Vandevelde in 1887 returned to the Congo he took Sakala back. Lieven died a year later. Sakala was left to his fate, in Gent he was no longer welcome. Shortly afterwards he died. 'Il finite tristement,' the newspapers wrote about his life

Sculptor

Louis Mast

Sources & Information

TiensTiens, Gentse standbeelden … en hun vervelende koloniale verleden.
Het Nieuwsblad, Moorken-standbeeld vermist.

Locatie (N 51°2'21" - E 3°43'23") (Satellite view: Google Maps)

Item Code: beov019; Photograph: 30 May 2008
Of each statue we made photos from various angles and also detail photos of the various texts.
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© Website and photos: René & Peter van der Krogt

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