US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA399

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINSHASA 000399 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ECA/P/C - GRACHEL KUBAITIS and AF/PDPA for Ehrnman 
and Whitman 
 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
E.O.12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, ECIN, SCUL, CF, OXEC, UNESCO 
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: FY2005 AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR CULTURAL 
PRESERVATION - PROJECT PROPOSAL 
 
REF: STATE 007967 
 
1. Brazzaville Embassy Office submits the following 
FY2005 project application for the Ambassador's Fund 
for Cultural Preservation. 
 
A. HEADING WITH COUNTRY AND CONTACT INFORMATION 
Embassy: Brazzaville Embassy Office 
Country: Republic of Congo 
POC: George W. Indyke Jr. (Deputy Chief of Mission) 
Phone (mobile): [242] 526-3635 
Phone (land): [242] 81-14-82 
Fax (located in Kinshasa): [243] 884-1036 
Email: indykegw@hotmail.com (NOTE: Brazzaville is not 
connected to State Department OpenNet.) 
Alternate:  Margo Mulumba 
Phone: [242] 526-3564 
Email: margommulu@yahoo.com 
 
B. PROPOSAL SUMMARY 
Restoration and preservation of slave pillar memorial 
constructed in memory of slaves transported from the 
port of Loango to the Americas, from the 15th and to 
early 19th century. The slave pillar memorial rest on 
the site of departure of millions of slaves from both 
Congos, Central Africa and Angola.  The pillar is 
located at end of the original "slave route" and is in 
disrepair, crumbling, and has fallen over as a result 
of lack of maintenance caused by the years of conflict 
(1997-early 2002). Since then Congo has comeback from 
years of instability and as a post conflict country is 
seeking to restore one of its key historical symbols - 
the slave memorial pillar. 
 
 
C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
 
Historic Importance: Loango port is an important 
historical site. It is the only location in the Congos, 
which served as the point of departure for slaves from 
Central Africa and Angola, from 15th to early 19th 
century.  More than 3 million slaves departed for the 
Americas from this site. As one stands at the site it 
overlooks the Loango bay where slave ships from 
Portugal and other European nations were anchored in 
preparation for receiving slaves as cargo.  The site 
where the pillar (or stle) was located is at the end 
of the famous "slave route," and one can look up from 
the pillar to see the original "route." It is the site 
just before the point of embarkation to the slave 
ships. The pillar was erected in 1829, after slavery 
was officially abolished, to commemorate this tragic 
period in African history. 
 
Artistic/architectural/cultural importance: Restoration 
of the pillar, which collapsed during the years of 
civil war and instability in the Republic of Congo, 
will have artistic, architectural, and cultural 
importance.  The restored pillar will be designed to 
serve as an educational and historical site for the 
Congo, and all of Central Africa. It will be a restored 
obelisk and the Embassy along with other partners such 
as UNESCO will rededicate the site with a plaque. (NB: 
UNESCO is not providing any funding, but Embassy 
included them on its project proposals selection 
committee as well as an official from the Ministry of 
Culture). Congolese school children are taken to the 
site annually and taught about the slave trade as well 
as the cultural importance of the site for all of 
Central Africa.  A local NGO, l'Association Femme Sida 
Sant and Culture" located, in Point-Noire, 20 
kilometers south of Loango, project proposal was deemed 
the most capable to restore the pillar. The NGO is 
experienced in this field and the Association has 
partnered with 3 specialized civil engineers: one who 
holds a doctorate in civil engineering and will direct 
the project; one construction engineer, specializing in 
renovation and public works; and, one technical 
engineer. The rest of their team will consist of the 
following: three labors, three masons, three mason 
assistants, two plumbers and two carpenters. The 
project time-line is four months to complete the 
restoration of the pillar. 
 
D. IMPORTANCE OF OBJECT: 
The importance of this monument (obelisk/pillar) is to 
educate the Congolese as well as others about this 
historic site in the Central Africa Region. The slave 
site here is not as well known as those in West Africa. 
Increased visits to the site will also assist this post- 
conflict country in promoting tourism to the site and 
as a side benefit stimulate the local economy.  This 
obelisk/pillar symbolizes an important period in 
history regarding the transatlantic slave trade. 
 
E. URGENCY OF THE PROJECT 
The Loango site needs this monument restored because it 
supports the cultural history of the Republic of Congo 
and Central Africa. At the same time, the restoration 
of the pillar will encourage more people to visit this 
historical site and it is also important not to allow 
the obelisk to further deteriorate. Much of the 
Republic of Congo's infrastructure, including its 
cultural sites, artifacts and historic items, were 
damaged, lost, stolen or destroyed in the recent years 
of civil war. The pillar was knocked over and is 
deteriorating.  The preservation of the Loango "slave 
pillar" will encourage local, as well as, international 
visitors to further study the history and heritage of 
the Republic of Congo. 
 
F. IMPACT OF U.S. CONTRIBUTION 
No other funding source has been identified. The U.S. 
contribution would be the only one for the pillar, but 
the Ministry of Cultural has plans to reestablish a 
museum and better mark the original "slave route," 
making the entire area a slave memorial.  The U.S. 
contribution would enable the pillar to be restored as 
the first step in revitalizing this historic area. It 
also would be a way of recognizing, commemorating and 
publicizing the historic ties between the U.S. and the 
Republic of Congo as a result of the slave trade from 
this site to the Americas. 
 
G. ADVANCEMENT OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY OBJECTIVE 
Post's MPP goals include encouraging democracy, 
transparency, human rights and promoting American 
values.  We believe that these two MPP goals would be 
achieved with our contribution to restore the "slave 
pillar." There are human rights, and democracy values 
connected to the history of the slave trade, and the 
cultural importance will be highlighted in the restored 
pillar. Good-will and development through a better 
understanding of past wrongs also is a major part of 
transparency. 
 
H. DETAILED BUDGET 
The proposal's budget was presented in CFA francs (CFA) 
at the exchange rate of CFA 510 to the dollar. The 
exchange rate on March 1 was CFA 498 to the dollar. We 
would add approximately USD$5,000 more to the submitted 
budget to accommodate the exchange rate fluctuations 
which have been significant over the last year since 
the CFA is pegged to the EURO. 
 
ITEM                               FCFA      USD 
Preliminary Work                  500,000    980.3922 
Foundation Work                 2,600,700  5,099.412 
Elevation of the Obelisk        5,074,610  9,950.216 
Elevation of the walls            182,035  3,570.657 
TOTAL                           9,996.345 19,600.68 
 
 
 
I. OTHER FUNDING SOURCES 
No other funding source has been identified.  In-kind 
contributions of labor, expertise, consultations and 
guidance will be provided by the staff of the Museum of 
Loango (which falls under the Ministry of Culture). The 
total Embassy request to support the proposal is 
$25,000. 
 
2. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders 
MEECE