Restored Bantu Tomb Becomes a Heritage Landmark
On a quiet hill in the Mbé district, the freshly repainted tomb of Joséphine Badza now shines with alternating white and black tiles. The tomb, forever linked to writer-diplomat Henri Lopes, attracts a steady stream of visitors seeking a tangible connection to Congo’s literary memory.
Its renovation was coordinated by Christelle Nanda, who heads the Bana Ossio association founded by Lopes himself. At the inauguration, she stated that this effort “honors an African matriarch whose story shaped the nation’s literature,” while also responding to growing public interest in roots tourism.
Bana Ossio Association Leads Restoration
The civil society group mobilized teams of masons from Brazzaville, imported ceramic tiles, and secured local wood for the benches surrounding the grounds. Funding came from private donors and symbolic contributions from village elders, highlighting what Nanda calls “a people-centered heritage funding model that avoids heavy bureaucracy.”
The association’s records show the project took eight weeks and cost about five million CFA francs, a modest sum by national standards but significant for the rural Mbé region. Supervision was provided by an architect who emphasized earthquake-resistant cement to protect the site from seasonal ground movements.
Design Echoes Iconic Guadeloupe Cemetery
The black and white checkerboard is more than an aesthetic flourish. It references Morne-à-l’Eau in Guadeloupe, the native island of Lopes’ former wife and mother of his children. This Caribbean cemetery, famous for its domino-patterned tombs, inspired the writer’s reflections on hybrid identity in his 2010 memoirs.
A literary critic views the renovated tomb as “a physical metaphor for Lopes’ lifelong thesis that cultures converse, they do not clash.” For the villagers, the pattern simply beautifies the landscape, but tour guides are already presenting the visual link as an educational talking point.
Legal Guardians of Lopes’ Legacy
During the ceremony, a community elder recalled that a notarized letter dated October 19, 2022, entrusted the president of Bana Ossio with the exclusive management of Lopes’ image and archives. The document, drafted by a Paris-based lawyer, was signed before witnesses and ratified by a customary blessing.
A village chief and an elder endorsed the choice, stating that a single guardian prevents the fragmentation of rights. “Our deceased son served the republic with dignity; unity must guide how we share his story,” said the chief, surrounded by dancers in Kongo court attire.
National Tribute from President Sassou-Nguesso
Bana Ossio thanked President Denis Sassou-Nguesso for having, in the association’s words, “given Congo and the world a statesman of universal scope.” The statement noted Lopes’ diplomatic service and role as prime minister, arguing that his cultural diplomacy complemented the head of state’s dialogue agenda.
Officials from the Ministry of Culture attended the unveiling and praised the community leadership. A director general told reporters that “community-led restorations