Ambroise Boimbo
Ambroise Boimbo | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Died | 1981 |
| Burial place | KintamboCemetery,Kinshasa,Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Nationality | Congolese |
| Occupation(s) | Electrician, former soldier |
| Known for | Snatching KingBaudouin of Belgium's ceremonial sword just before theBelgian Congo's independence |
Ambroise Boimbo(died 1981) was aCongolesecitizen who snatched the ceremonial sword ofKing Baudouin I of Belgiumon June 29, 1960, inLéopoldville(now Kinshasa) on the eve of the independence of theBelgian Congo.He was a former soldier who originated fromMonkoto,Tshuapa.
The king's entourage was driving from the airport into the city when it slowed to enable the monarch to stand and salute the flag of an honour guard of theForce Publiquedrawn up by the side of the road. A widely published photograph, taken by journalistRobert Lebeck,shows an exuberant Ambroise Boimbo, in jacket and tie, flourishing the sword while Baudouin and Congolese PresidentJoseph Kasa-Vubuappear unaware of the incident.[1]Further photographs taken by Lebeck show Boimbo encircled by Belgian and Congolese colonialgendarmes,as they wrestled him to the ground. According to media reports the "nationalist demonstrator" was taken away in a police vehicle but released later the same day at the king's request. The sword was apparently quickly retrieved and returned to King Baudouin, who was filmed wearing it at theIndependence speech-making ceremoniesthe next day on June 30.
Ambroise Boimbo subsequently worked as an electrician. He died in 1981 and is interred at theKintambocemetery.[2]
Legacy
[edit]To some commentators the seizure of the sword symbolized the real independence of theCongo,[3]although others saw it as simply an instance of high-spirited behavior at a time of celebration.
A small Belgian film crew travelled to the Congo in 2009 and 2010 to document their search for Boimbo, releasing a documentary,Boyamba Belgique, or, Why a king should not lose his sword.[4]
South AfricanartistMary Sibandenoted an interest in Boimbo's motivations in a 2019 interview.[5]
References
[edit]- ^Van Reybrouck, David.Congo.pp. 269–270.ISBN978-0-00-756291-6.
- ^Etambala, Zana Aziza (2013), "How We Found Ambroise Boimbo, the Man Who Stole King Baudouin's Sword", inMuseum Folkwang(ed.),Voyage Retour,Göttingen: Edition Folkwang/Steidl, pp. 38–43,ISBN978-3-86930-744-2.Van Nieuwenhove, Henk (2010-05-25)."De sabelpikker ontmaskerd".Campuskrant ofKU Leuven(in Dutch).Retrieved2022-04-20.
- ^Belgische filmploeg vindt man die sable van koning Boudewijn roofde,De Morgen,3 mei 2010
- ^Engels, Dries; De Waele, Ellen; Serendipity Films; Canvas (Television station: Belgium); Radio-Télévision belge de la communauté culturelle française; Iota Production (Firm); Film Platform (2010).Boyamba Belgique, or, Why a king should not lose his sword.OCLC1158195647.
- ^"Quick questions with renowned South African artist Mary Sibande".Wanted Online.30 September 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 2019-12-30.Retrieved2020-10-01.
External links
[edit]- Robert Lebeck photoon theSternwebsite
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