US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA396

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000396 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ECA/P/C MARIA KOUROUPAS; AF/PD 
DWHITMAN/PEHRNMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OIIP, ECIN, SCUL, CG 
SUBJECT: FY-05 PROPOSAL FOR AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR 
CULTURAL PRESERVATION 
 
REF: STATE 007967 
 
1. SUMMARY: Kinshasa would like to submit the following 
proposal as its primary Cultural Preservation Project. 
This grant will fund the preservation project of the 
ethnographic and archeological collections of the 
National Museum of Lubumbashi thereby preserving the 
cultural and archeological heritage of the southern 
Congo. End of summary. 
 
2. POINT OF CONCTACT: American Embassy, Kinshasa, 
Democratic Republic of the Congo 
A/PAO: Victoria J. DeLong 
Phone: (243) 81 88 04 928 
Fax: (243) 81 30 10 563 
E-mail: delongv@state.gov 
 
3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The National Museum of 
Lubumbashi is the second museum in the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo (DRC) after the national Museum 
in Kinshasa. This museum contains about 4,000 
ethnographic objects, around 70,000 archeological 
items, and around 70,000 entomological items. The 
national Museum of Lubumbashi is a particularly 
important center for preserving the cultural and 
archeological heritage of the southern Congo. As with 
the National Museum in Kinshasa and with other 
Congolese institutions, the National Museum of 
Lubumbashi has lost most of its international contacts 
and support due to the conflict in the DRC that began 
in the early 90's. The consequences of this conflict 
have also caused the Museum's infrastructure to be 
severely degraded. Consequently, a grant from the 
Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation could play 
a key role in helping the National Museum of Lubumbashi 
to stabilize and protect its important collection. 
 
The majority of this project would be devoted to 
preserving and protecting the Museum's collection. The 
rehabilitation of the infrastructure and security doors 
is key to preventing the collection from theft. 
Applying insecticides will help prevent the 
deterioration of artifacts.  It is also important to 
note that the museum has a paper inventory list. The 
acquisition of additional computers will allow the 
development of a computer-based catalogue. A secondary 
element would be to assist the Museum in developing a 
website that will introduce its collections to a 
worldwide audience.  The website will also provide a 
mechanism for coordinating with other museums on the 
theft of artifacts, resulting in the protection of the 
Museum's collection. The website will be developed 
following the rehabilitation and restoration work of 
the ethnographic and archeological collections. 
 
4. TIME FRAME AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants in this 
project would be members of the Museum's staff. The 
time frame required for the completion of the project 
will be approximately six months. 
 
5. PROJECT GOALS: The goal of this project is to help 
preserve the cultural heritage of the DRC by supporting 
the protection and maintenance of the Museum's 
collection. The following results are expected: 
 
  -    Preserving the Museum's collection and enhancing 
     its potential for education and tourism. 
-    Allowing the Museum to improve the quality of its 
facilities and methods for preserving its collection. 
-    Creating a professional computer-based catalogue 
for the museum's collection. 
-    Initiating the process of introducing the Museum's 
collection to the world-at-large through the 
development of a Museum website. 
 
6. BENEFIT TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY 
OBJECTIVES: A grant to the National Museum of 
Lubumbashi through the Ambassador's Fund for Cultural 
Preservation will demonstrate American respect for the 
Congolese culture and cultural heritage. This will 
enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of the 
Congo and the United States. 
 
7. RESUME OF THE PROJECT DIRECTOR:  The project will be 
managed by Dr Muya Wa Bitanko Kamwanga, Director of the 
Lubumbashi National Museum. Mr. Muya has master's 
degree in history from the University of Kinshasa, a 
master's degree in social and cultural anthropology 
from the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium), and 
a doctoral degree in archeology and history of art from 
the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium). He also 
teaches archeology at the University of Lubumbashi. As 
the Museum Director, Dr. Muya has made study and 
observation trips to Belgium, the Netherlands, Zambia 
and the United States. 
 
8. BUDGET IN USD: 
 
7A. Infrastructure: 
  -    Roofing and waterproofing (roofing, butane gas, 
     and installation and plates for plugging in holes in 
     the building) 
                              Subtotal (1) $ 7,000 
 
  -    Electric installation (circuit beaters, divisional 
     boards) 
                              Subtotal (2) $ 3,000 
 
  - Security doors each floor 
                              Subtotal (3) $ 1,500 
 
7B. Collections: 
 
1. Exposition: 
 
  - Entomology and Archeology: 12 display cases 
                              Subtotal (4) $ 4,800 
 
  - Interactive stone posts to make the artifacts more 
  lifelike 
 
                              Subtotal (5) $ 1,950 
 
2. Products and materials for maintenance and 
restoration of collections: 
 
  - Xylamon: 50 liters 
  - Baygon: 50 liters 
  - Cinto-bois: 50 liters 
  - Naptaline (protective fabric) 
  - Vapona 
                   Subtotal (6) (estimated) $ 3,000 
 
3. Overshadowing of facilities: 
 
Adjustable blinds (to protect against dust and strong 
light) 
                                 Subtotal (7) $ 680 
 
4. Five vacuum cleaners (to clean rooms and display 
cases) 
                                 Subtotal (8) $ 350 
 
5. Fifteen ventilator fans ventilator fans to maintain 
constant temperature: 
                                 Subtotal (9) $ 300 
 
6.Instruments of calibration (8 thermometers, 8 
hygrometers, and 8 thermo-hygrographs) all will be used 
to control the temperature: 
                                Subtotal (10) $ 720 
 
7C. Internet connection: 
                              Subtotal (11) $ 3,000 
 
7D. 2 computers and 1 printer: 
                              Subtotal (12) $ 3,700 
 
 
                              Grand Total: $ 30,000 
 
9. Comment: The National Museum in Lubumbashi conducts 
educational outreach programs for local schools and 
includes student tours for elementary and high schools. 
The museum offers study and research to university 
students. The museum's structure is one of a few in the 
country that has survived the war and has been well 
maintained. Through the heroic efforts of the Museum 
Director the many objects in the ethnographic 
collection, archeological artifacts and works of art 
were saved from pillaging. The attitude and 
infrastructure of the Lubumbashi museum is conducive 
for student programs. Post will work with the museum to 
draft an initiative to develop programs for student 
field trips at the museum, and plan hands-on 
activities. 
 
Meece